Offensive to Pious Ears Book Launch

On September 20th, the Rose O’Neill Literary House and World Languages Department welcomed Associate Professor of Spanish and Director of the Black Studies program Dr. Elena Deandra-Camacho at Washington College, to the Litrenta lecture hall in Toll Science Center to discuss her new book, Offensive to Pious Ears: Obscenity and Censorship in 18th Century Spain and New Spain. This discussion was accompanied by a faculty panel, including Associate Professor of English and Director of the Rose O’Neill Literary House Dr. James Hall, Assistant Professor of Eighteenth; Nineteenth-Century Literature Dr. Katherine Charles, and Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies and Director of the First-Year Seminar Dr. Martín Ponti. Dr. Deandra-Camacho’s book deals with censorship during the time of the Spanish Inquisition, both in Spain and what we now know as Latin America. She raises questions about who gets to determine what is “obscene,” who censorship primarily affects, and where censorship culture of the past overlaps with modern conversations surrounding it. Following Dr. Deandra-Camacho’s presentation was a few words from Dr. Charles and Dr. Ponti, who shared their thoughts and takeaways on the book and a Q&A panel.

Coverage by Amara Sorosiak ‘23