“Acrobatique”, by John Keene: Miss La La flies so high
Miss La La flies so high
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https://doi.org/10.55702/3m.v30i61.70127Palavras-chave:
John Keene, “Acrobatique”, Miss La La, trapeze artist, rewriting historyResumo
This article focuses on the short-story “Acrobatique”, by African American writer and professor John Keene, featured in his award-winning book Counternarratives (2015). In it, the author brings to life the powerful aerialist Miss La La, immortalized in Degas’ painting Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando (1879). Keene recreates, based on a real character, the experiences of an artist who is magnificent for her skill in the heights and her immense strength. The story brings beautiful mental images, reproduced during Miss La La’s flights on the trapeze. From above, the protagonist sees the world and responds with awareness and courage.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Marcele Aires Franceschini, Hertz Wendell de Camargo

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