Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Arts (MA)
Major/Program
Religious Studies
First Advisor's Name
Terry Rey
First Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Chair
Second Advisor's Name
Lesley Northup
Third Advisor's Name
Alex Stepick
Date of Defense
3-29-2001
Abstract
This Master's thesis explores the hypothesis that Elian Gonzalez functions as a religious and ideological symbol for Cuban-Americans similarly to La Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre. Both La Caridad and Eliin are contested symbols among most Cuban and Cuban-American individuals, meaning both groups appropriate them toward their religious and ideological ends. The Virgin aids in the formulation of a collective identity for members of the Cuban exile community. Her shrine in Miami bridges the spatial and temporal gap between the exile community and the homeland of Cuba and represents the exile's hope for a return to a free Cuba. Elian functions as a metaphor of the Cuban exile experience, and thus a multi-leveled, transnational, religious and ideological symbol. In order to assess this, theoretical and journalistic materials are used, along with personal interviews and participant observation. This methodology is used to determine the function Elian serves for this community.
Identifier
FI13101523
Recommended Citation
Acosta, Ikam, "Boy exile turned saint: Elián Gonzalez as a contested religio-ideological symbol among cuban-american catholics" (2001). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1103.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/1103
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