As of 2012, Bless Me, Ultima has become the best-selling Chicano novel of all time. The New York Times reports that Anaya is the most widely read author in Hispanic communities, and sales of his classic, Bless Me, Ultima (1972) have surpassed 360,000.[2]
After Quinto Sol's initial publication of Bless Me, Ultima in 1972, critics by and large responded enthusiastically. The general consensus was that the novel provided Chicano literature with a new and refreshing voice.[42] Scott Wood, writing for America Press, asserted:
This is a remarkable book, worthy not only of the Premio Quinto Sol literary award. . .but [also]. . . for its communication of tender emotion and powerful spirituality ...; for its eloquent presentation of Chicano consciousness in all its intriguing complexity; finally, for being an American novel which accomplishes a harmonious resolution, transcendent and hopeful.[43]
By 1976, four years after Bless Me Ultima's initial publication, the new author was finding fans and fame among Chicano readers and scholars. He was in high demand as a speaker and the subject of numerous interviews primarily among journalists and publicists who were Chicanos or deeply interested in the development of Chicano literature. In the preface to his 1976 interview with Anaya reprinted in Conversations with Rudolfo Anaya (1998), Ishmael Reed states that, Bless Me Ultima, as of July 1, 1976, had sold 80,000 copies without a review in the major media.[44]
For twenty-two years after the novel's initial publication (its only availability through a small publisher notwithstanding), the novel sold 300,000 copies primarily through word of mouth.[45] In this period the novel generated the largest body of review, interpretation, and analysis of any work of Chicano Literature (p. 1).[3] Finally in 1994, a major publisher (Grand Central Publishing) issued a mass-market edition of Bless Me, Ultima to rave reviews.
Terri Windling described the 1994 re-issue as "an important novel which beautifully melds Old World and New World folklore into a contemporary story".[46]
In 2001, the first edition of The Chicano Studies Reader was published as a collection of the classic essays that have helped shape and influence Chicano studies. The 2001 anthology brings together a selection of twenty-one essays with three different goals in mind: 1) to reprint some of the classic essays that have helped shape and influence Chicano studies 2) to include work that suggests the broad disciplinary and thematic range of Chicano studies scholarship over the past three decades and 3) to historicize the journal and the field in a different way that both engages and challenges previous paradigms.[47] The essay by David Carrasco titled "A Perspective for a Study of Religious Dimensions in Chicano Experience: 'Bless Me, Ultima' as a Religious Text" was included in this anthology highlighting the importance of the religious dimension of Bless Me,Última in the field of Chicano Studies.
Censorship and challenges
After its publication in 1972, Bless Me, Ultima emerged as one of the "Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books" in the years 2013 and 2008.[48] According to the American Library association, a challenge is an attempt to restrict access of a book through the removal of the text in curriculum and libraries.[49] Specific reasons for the challenges in 2013 were "occult/Satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit" and similarly in 2008 of "occult/satanism, offensive language, religious viewpoint, sexually explicit, violence".[48]
A particularly vivid experience in the censorship of this book for the author, Rudolfo Anaya, was in 1981: the Bloomfield School Board in San Juan County, New Mexico burned copies of the Bless Me, Ultima.[50]
Round Rock Independent School District (Round Rock, Texas)
In 1996, after appearing on advanced placement and local high school reading lists in Round Rock Independent school district, the novel came to parents attention, which according to Foerstel led to “seven hours of boisterous debate over a proposal to remove a dozen books”, one of which was Bless Me, Ultima. It came on January 19, 1996, from Round Rock Independent School District Board member Nelda Click.[51]: 228 One of the worries of the parents was excessive violence.[51]: 228 [52] However, a local paper, The Austin American Statesman, claimed “ Refusing to allow credit for those celebrated literary works would have been an unnecessary intrusion by the school board.” After multiple hearing and proposals, the board came to a 4–2 vote against the banning of the book.[51]: 228–229 [53]
Laton School Board (Laton, California)
In May 1999, the Laton School Board removed two books, one being Bless Me, Ultima, from teacher Carol Bennett's English classes.[54]: 229 The removal was proposed by board member Jerry Haroldsen based on complaints from parents of Benett's students about the violence and profanity within the book.[54]: 229 Haroldsen articulated the reasoning for the board's action: "What we are doing is trying to protect the children. And you got a teacher that's trying to do what we do not think is right".[54]: 229 All copies of Bless Me, Ultima were pulled from the classes and placed in the principal's office.[54]: 229
John Jay High School (Hopewell Junction, New York)
In October 1999, Deidra DiMaso was troubled when she read Bless Me, Ultima to her two daughters.[54]: 229 She was prompted to challenge the book's placement in the high school's ninth grade curriculum at at John Jay High School in the Wappingers Central School District.[54]: 229 She addressed officials within the school and district and also spoke at a school board meeting in November of that year.[54]: 229 Her reasoning was that the book “is full of sex and cursing”; she later expanded on her claims by saying “I asked the board members to please review all the books for any sexual content, violence, or foul language prior to any book becoming required reading.”[54]: 229 Superintendent Wayne Gersen followed the standard protocol for addressing challenged materials.[54]: 229 In November 1999, after a review by an ad hoc "Instructional Materials Review Committee" he accepted the recommendation of the committee to not ban the book. DiMaso appealed to the local school board, who denied her appeal in December 1999. The New York State Education Commissioner, Richard Paul Mills also denied a further appeal from DiMaso in June 2000.[55]
Norwood School District (Norwood, Colorado)
In early 2005, Superintendent Bob Conder of the Norwood School District had banned Bless Me, Ultima in Norwood High School after a group of parents objected to the profanity and other themes the book contains; he himself had not read it but did enough reading to make the decision on the basis of the themes presented.[56] Copies were removed from Lisa Doyle's English class after she had used them while telling parents Conder had approved of its usage; Conder had Doyle apologize to the parents for the themes the book contains as well as lying about the status of Conder's approval.[56] At least twenty-four of the books were given to the group who destroyed the copies.[56] Conder still approved the presence of copies available in the school library, but in hindsight wished to have donated the book.[56]
In protest of the decision, on February 5, 2005, students formed a sit-in while reading passages from the center of the school gymnasium.[56] They had shirts with handwritten designs of Bless Me, Ultima; however, only eight of the twenty students had heard or read of the book.[56] Despite staying with his decision to keep the book banned, he acknowledged and respected the decision of the students to make a vocal protest.[56] He told the students his choice was made in order to protect them while a student, Serena Campbell, responded by stating “If we’re sheltered all our lives, what are we going to do when we get to college? If I’m not exposed now, how am I going to get by in life?”.[56] Conder ended the protest at midday by telling the students that he plans to stand with the decision of what a new a curriculum review committee, that will have two representatives from each grade alongside parents.[56] Moreover, he planned to apologize to Doyle.[56]
Blue Valley School District (Overland Park, Kansas)
In June 2005, Blue Valley School District held a challenge of Bless Me, Ultima from Georgiane Skid, a resident of the district.[57] She requested the school board discuss the appropriateness of this novel being studied by the freshman class in a communications arts class.[57] A committee made up of two students, two teachers, and two parents unanimously voted to keep the novel in the curriculum.[57]
Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District (Newman, California)
In Orestimba High School on November 23, 2008, Superintendent Rick Fauss from the Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District banned the book on the grounds of a parental complaint that it was unsuitable for children due to profanity and anti-Catholic messages; teachers complained about Fauss's decision as he overrode school board decisions at Stanislaus County Office of Education and Modesto City Schools that both came up with the conclusion to keep the book within the curriculum.[58] The parents within the community were quiet on voicing any complaints.[58] It came after a parent filed a complaint regarding Bless Me, Ultima, the novel was withdrawn from the classroom, which affected the 200 students of whom were expected to read it over the course of the year. However, the policy's responsibility was then handed over to the school board of Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District after Fauss stayed with his ban even after two panel decisions made up of educators within the district and outside the district.[59] The final decision would be brought to the school board.[60] The parent who made the original complaint argued that the text used explicit wording and anti-Catholic views “that undermine the conservative family values in our homes.”[60] However, one attendee of the special meeting noted in favor of the book that "I can't think of a book, I can't think of a newspaper article that's not offensive to some people."[60] The policy's responsibility after the superintendent was then handed over to the school board of Newman-Crows Landing Unified School District.[59] Ultimately, the board trustees voted 4–1 to remove Bless Me, Ultima from the curriculum however the novel will continue to remain in the library based on the grounds of the previous complaint made.[61][62]
Opinions on censorship
Linda Varvel is an English teacher who used Bless Me, Ultima for her students.[63] Her essay on the censorship and the provoking aspects of the novel provide an opinion on why the novel caused issues within various school districts.[63] She believes the novel should stay as a beneficial source of education to students. The book may utilize a critical lens of Catholicism, the overall theme of a child coming to terms with the world around him and forming opinions is a valuable story for all children and parents: "The deeper message is one that many readers who would censor this novel must also believe: no one but God is all-powerful, and the mystery of life cannot be known entirely by human beings. This message might be the common ground to initiate any discussion around this kind of censorship challenge".[63]
In reviewing the above cases of censorship where a group or individual challenges and/or ends up censoring this book, the reasoning is that the themes of anti-Catholic values, sex, excessive violence, adult language, and/or others are problematic for the values children of a community should have.
Adaptations
Theatrical adaptations
On April 10 and 12, 2008, in partnership with The National Endowment for the Arts' Big Read, Roberto Cantú, professor of Chicano Studies and English, who is intimately familiar with Bless Me, Ultima, produced a dramatic reading as a stage adaptation of the novel at Cal State L.A. Cantú first reviewed the work when it was published in 1972, and has published and lectured extensively on its art, structure, and significance. The production featured veteran television and film actress Alejandra Flores (A Walk in the Clouds, Friends with Money) as Ultima. Theresa Larkin, a theatre arts professor at Cal State L.A., adapted and directed it.[64]
Also in partnership with The Big Read program, Denver, Colorado's premier Chicano theater company, Su Teatro, produced a full-length workshop stage production of Bless Me, Ultima, for which Anaya himself wrote the adaptation. The play opened on February 12, 2009, at El Centro Su Teatro, directed by Jennifer McCray Rinn,[65] with the title roles of Ultima played by Yolanda Ortega,[66] Antonio Márez by Carlo Rincón, and The Author by Jose Aguila.[67] An encore production was done at The Shadow Theater in Denver on June 26 and 27, 2009, with the title roles of Ultima played by Yolanda Ortega, Antonio Marez by Isabelle Fries, and The Author by Jose Aguila.
The Vortex Theatre in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in partnership with the National Hispanic Center, produced a full stage production of the show from March 26, to April 25, 2010. It was directed by Valli Marie Rivera and again adapted by the author himself.[68] Juanita Sena-Shannon played Ultima to rave reviews.[69] The Vortex Production toured through various cities in New Mexico in October and November 2010. The final performance took place on November 19, 2010.
Film adaptation
Variety reported on March 2, 2009[70] that Christy Walton, heiress to the Walton fortune, had set up Tenaja Productions company solely to finance a film adaptation of Bless Me, Ultima. Monkey Hill Films' Sarah DiLeo is billed as producer with collaboration and support from Mark Johnson (producer) of Gran Via Productions (Rain Man, Chronicles of Narnia) and Jesse B. Franklin of Monarch Pictures. Carl Franklin (One False Move, Devil in a Blue Dress, Out of Time) was tapped as a writer and director. Walton and DiLeo shared a passion for the book, and the latter had succeeded in convincing Anaya to agree to the adaptation over six years back.[71]
Shooting was scheduled in the Abiquiú area, and then resumed in Santa Fe for some interiors at Garson Studios on the Santa Fe University of Art and Design campus during the last week in October 2010.[72] Filming wrapped in Santa Fe, New Mexico in late 2010.[73] The film premiered at the Plaza Theatre in El Paso, Texas on September 17, 2012[74] and received a general release in February 2013.[75]
Operatic adaptation
An opera based on Bless Me, Ultima by composer and librettist Héctor Armienta had its premiere at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in partnership with Opera Southwest, from February 18 through 25, 2018. The San Francisco Chronicle credited it with "grand moments".[76]
