With a renewed excitement surrounding the beloved and classic West Side Story, New Canaan Library is pleased to welcome renowned West Side Story scholar Ernesto Acevedo-Muñoz, who will discuss his trajectory and connection with the acclaimed film and its history – from his childhood in Puerto Rico to his best-selling book. The live webinar will take place on Tuesday, January 18 at 7 PM EST; register at newcanaanlibrary.org for Zoom sign in.
Detailing his meticulous research, writing process, historical and theoretical findings, and his involvement with the Steven Spielberg remake, Acevedo-Muñoz offers a perspective that is both personal and academic. Acevedo-Muñoz puts the film and its content—controversial among Puerto Rican academic circles—in a new light, offering fresh perspectives on a piece of American popular culture we all think we know.
Ernesto R. Acevedo-Muñoz (B.A. University of Puerto Rico, M.A., Ph.D. University of Iowa) is Professor of Cinema Studies and Chair of the Department of Cinema Studies & Moving Image Arts at the University of Colorado, Boulder. He is a film historian whose works and publications have ranged from the cinemas of Spain and Latin America to Hollywood film genres, to the