Late 20th and Early 21st Century Galician Poetry
The Post-Franco Era: A Literary Renaissance
1975 marked a turning point in Galician literature. The death of Franco ushered in a democratic era, granting the Galician language official status and fostering a literary resurgence. This led to a surge in publishing houses, literary awards, and magazines, promoting literature in Galician.
In poetry, With Gunpowder and Magnolia, alongside Arcadio López Casanova’s Trades (1976), spearheaded this transformation. Authored by José Luís Méndez Ferrín, a prominent figure in political and social protest, With Gunpowder and Magnolia broke away from social realism. It explored new themes: existential introspection, metaphysics, mythology, cultural identity, and a rediscovery of language, all expressed in a more cultured style.
1980s: Key Characteristics of Galician Poetry
- Departure from social realism, creating a distance between poet and society.
- Exploration of new lyrical subjects, moving beyond the autobiographical.
- Experimentation and interdisciplinary approaches, incorporating music and visual arts.
- Cultural and intertextual references, drawing from literary, philosophical, mythological, and musical sources.
- Integration of urban and marginal cultural elements, including drugs and depression.
- Incorporation of explicit eroticism.
- Reimagining mythology.
- Formalist and baroque concerns, emphasizing poetry as the art of language.
Prominent Poets and Trends
While challenging to select representative authors without historical perspective, a subjective selection based on personal taste includes:
Bridging social realism and the new trend is Darío Xohán Cabana (1952). Many of his poems are sung by groups like The Four Winds. A master of verse and language, he is also a Galician translator of Dante and Petrarch, and a recognized name in narrative.
The initial wave of innovators (1976-78) emerged from various poetic groups: Rompente (including Manuel Antonio and Romona Grade), Cravo Fondo, and others. From 1980 onward, the renewal consolidated, though not uniformly adopted. Different aesthetic choices and unique voices emerged, including:
- Manuel Vilanova (1944), known for his mythical and symbolist works like I Write and You Need the Snake (1980).
- Xosé Mª Álvarez Cáccamo (1950), whose poetry, including Praia das Furnas (1983), reflects on reality through family experiences.
- Miguel Anxo Fernán-Vello (1958), whose poetic themes revolve around love, the body, desire, shadow, and absence.
1990s and Beyond: Individualism and Plurality
In the nineties, common trends become harder to define due to the individualistic nature of each poet. Plurality is the dominant characteristic. Formally, styles range from classical sonnets (Miro Villar) to free verse. Expression varies from contained minimalism to torrential, almost narrative styles. Thematically, some poets adopt demystifying, combative, or provocative stances (sexual, ideological, literary), while others explore traditional themes (love, loss, loneliness, death).
Shared Characteristics
- More direct and colloquial language, creating greater accessibility for readers.
- Emphasis on live performances, fostering connection between poet and listener, democratizing poetry.
- Addressing social issues with new sensibilities: rebellion, environmentalism, feminism.
- Sharing verses online, in text, audio, and video formats.
This period also sees a significant rise in women’s poetry, building on the previous decade, offering feminine and feminist perspectives (deconstruction of the male-dominated universe, female sexuality and eroticism): Luísa Villalta, Chus Pato, Yolanda Castaño, Lupe Gómez. Earlier authors continue to publish, and new voices emerge: Xosé Carlos Caneiro, Anxo Quintela, Millán Otero, Miro Villar, and many others.