The Kiss of the Spider Woman | Literary Criticism & Book Review

The Kiss of the Spider Woman Critical Overview

Manuel Puig has been most prominently noted for his novels, which make use of experimental narrative techniques and include extensive references to popular cultural genres such as classic Hollywood movies and various forms of popular fiction (including the serial, romance, and detective novel). Puig's success as a novelist is indicated, according to Jonathan Tittler, by "the broad dissemination of his works" which resulted in "considerable financial success and artistic independence."

"The name of Manuel Puig has for almost 25 years brought with it associations with popular and mass culture," Tittler claims, noting that, while "widely recognized as an innovator of narrative technique," Puig was early on criticized for his blatant use of mass-cultural genres and references: "He was for many years mistakenly viewed as either a parodist of vulgar, mass-produced cultural products or a victim and purveyor of bad taste." Pamela Barcarisse also makes note of a general dismissal...
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