"This volume is a collection of critical essays on twelve keywords central in Latin American and Caribbean Studies: indigenismo, Americanism, colonialism, criollismo, race, transculturation, modernity, nation, gender, sexuality, testimonio, and popular culture. Each one of these keywords is conceived in conversation with a broader cluster of terms The central question motivating our work is how can we think--epistemologically and pedagogically--about Latin American Studies as a field that has taken different historical and institutional trajectories across the Caribbean, Latin America, and the United States. Each keyword is presented in the anthology through a lead essay that reflects on a notion in conversation with other terms that are either derived, related, or posed as potential responses, subversions, or interrogations of the original keyword. The response essays supplement the lead essay by exploring the debate from a different disciplinary perspective or field (including discussions in Latin American, American, Caribbean, Ethnic and Latino, and Women and Gender Studies), or exploring an angle or aspect of the concept that was not necessarily discussed in the lead essay. The lead essay and response format encourages further debate around each specific term, highlighting North-South, South-South and South-North approaches to each critical term"-- ""Critical Terms in Caribbean and Latin American Thought is a collection of critical essays and responses to twelve keywords central in Latin American and Caribbean Studies: indigenismo, Americanism, colonialism, criollismo, race, transculturation, modernity, nation, gender, sexuality, testimonio, and popular culture"--Provided by publisher"--