Latin American Literature: Movements and Authors
Modernism and Postmodernism
Modernism reached its peak in the early 20th century, with Rubén Darío as its maximum representative. Postmodernism followed, characterized by a stylistic cleansing that moderated the excessive aestheticism of Modernism. It featured a lyrical expressiveness with sincere, human accents and a greater commitment to the social realities of each country. A prominent women’s group emerged during this stage, including:
- Delmira Agustini (Empty Chalices)
- Juana de Ibarbourou (The Languages of the Diamond)
- Alfonsina Storni (The Sweet Damage)
- Gabriela Mistral (Desolation, Tala)
Other notable authors of this period include:
- Amado Nervo (Fullness, Beloved Motionless)
- Leopoldo Lugones (Sentimental Lunario)
- Julio Herrera y Reissig (The Matins of the Night)
Avant-Garde in Latin America
The Avant-garde movement was deeply rooted in Latin America. Its main representatives maintained a strong relationship with the poets of Generation of ’27. Key figures include:
- César Vallejo: Initially a Postmodernist, Vallejo later embraced an Avant-garde extreme, evident in works like “Human Poems.”
- Vicente Huidobro: Founder of Creationism.
- Pablo Neruda: His work evolved from Postmodernism to a Surrealist stage, and later, a period of strong social and political commitment, exemplified in “Spain in the Heart.”
Traditional Realism
Traditional Realism maintained a lasting attachment to the Latin American narrative channels, marked by the 19th-century realist novel. Recurrent themes included nature (often overpowering humanity) and social problems. Prominent authors and works are:
- Ciro Alegría: The World is Wide and Alien
- Rómulo Gallegos: Doña Bárbara
- Ricardo Güiraldes: Don Segundo Sombra
- José Eustasio Rivera: The Vortex
Existential Poetry
Existential Poetry was a line followed by some authors who started with the Avant-garde but moved away from social poetry. Notable figures include:
- Jorge Luis Borges: “Fervor de Buenos Aires” showcases an apparent simplicity that masks internal complexity and thematic depth.
- Octavio Paz: “Parole” reflects various trends (Romanticism, Surrealism, pure poetry) and foreshadows his later conceptual style.
The Impact of Black Poetry
Black Poetry, a current already present in Indian Modernism, features themes referring to the Black or Mulatto world, often with a heavy burden of social criticism. It draws its aesthetics from Black folklore. A key author is:
- Nicolás Guillén: “Motives of Son”
Magical Realism (1940s)
Magical Realism emerged in the 1940s as a radical evolution of the then-prevailing Traditional Realism. It arose from the conviction that realism was unable to capture the unusual and complex reality of Latin America. Magical Realism introduced fantasy elements, myths, and other devices, enriching the narrative language. This often resulted in a Baroque style, incorporating modern narrative techniques like chronological disorder, internal monologue, and shifting narrative perspectives. Jorge Luis Borges is considered a forerunner of this trend. Other authors include:
- Miguel Ángel Asturias: Mr. President
- Alejo Carpentier: The Kingdom of This World
- Juan Rulfo: Pedro Páramo
The New Novel and the “Boom”
The New Novel is the culmination of the narrative renovation initiated by Magical Realism. It is difficult to establish a clear dividing line between the two. Mario Vargas Llosa’s “The City and the Dogs” is a key work of the Boom Latinoamericano. Gabriel García Márquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude” consolidated the Boom, giving Hispanic narrative three critical functions: discovering previously unknown authors, providing a framework for these and other younger authors, and establishing guidelines for the New Novel. Some notable names include:
- Ernesto Sábato: On Heroes and Tombs
- Julio Cortázar: Secret Weapons
- Juan Carlos Onetti: The Shipyard
- José Lezama Lima: Paradiso
- Carlos Fuentes: The Death of Artemio Cruz
The Boom decisively influenced the new direction taken by the Spanish novel at the time.