Review by Booklist Review
Cultural critic Rand takes an unusual and provocative approach to assessing the mythology that has coalesced around Ellis Island. Closed in 1954, then restored in the 1980s as a heritage museum, Ellis Island is now a tourist mecca, gift shop and all. Rand anchors her deconstruction of easy assumptions regarding the huddled masses to analyses of the souvenirs offered for sale, which include Ellis Island snow globes, back scratchers, pens, and golf balls. Her study of kitsch leads to an extended inquiry into the commercialization of the site, but Rand, writing from a queer studies perspective, also outs neglected issues of sexuality and race. Accordingly, she presents evidence of prostitution and homosexuality, and compares the heroic (read white) immigrants of the past with perceptions of today's illegal aliens of color. Aside from patches of academic jargon and ludicrous language (she refers to heterosexual couples with children as breeders and the Statue of Liberty as one hot butch ), Rand's grappling with complex questions of social justice, image, and products is gutsy and fascinating. --Donna Seaman Copyright 2005 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
