Spanish Literature After Franco: Trends & Key Authors
Contemporary Spanish Literature
From Dictatorship to Democracy (1975-1978)
The transitional period between Franco’s death (1975) and the establishment of democracy was marked by significant social and political changes. The 1978 Constitution was adopted, leading to modernization in the economy, politics, and international integration.
Postmodernization in the 1980s
Political and social shifts in the 1980s gave rise to new ways of thinking, a postmodern perspective. This rejected traditional ideologies and theories, often incorporating a mixture of languages.
In literature, this is reflected in the taste for genre fusion, allowing elements of film, comic strips, and advertising to be included in literary texts. Relativism encourages the use of humor and irony.
Current Literature: Trends
Since 1975, literature has shown an attempt to regain the reader, especially in the novel, which has gained wider acceptance.
In lyric poetry, there’s an emphasis on the poetry of experience, dealing with everyday issues using simple language. In theater, commercial works alternate with smaller, more experimental productions.
There has also been significant development in literature in Catalan, Galician, and Basque (Bernardo Atxaga, Manuel Rivas, Terenci Moix).
Lyric Poetry from 1975
Main Features
- Variety of lyric styles
- Focus on personal and everyday items. The poet is presented as being close to the reader, sharing common experiences (Urban settings).
- Simple and often colloquial language.
- Inclusion of dialogues or monologues. The poem becomes a dialogue between the poet and the recipient (Luis Alberto de Cuenca).
- Debugger formal, precise and careful language
The Poetry of Experience
After 1975, many trends and styles emerged. Authors from the previous generation (Antonio Colinas, Luis Alberto de Cuenca, etc.) also published their most important works.
Poetry of experience focuses on the author’s real or fictitious experiences. It draws inspiration from the poetry of the 1950s (Luis García Montero, Felipe Benítez Reyes).
The Novel Since 1975
Main Trends
Contemporary novels aim to engage the reader more effectively, after a period of excessive experimental techniques. Content and plot structure are prioritized.
Different types of novels:
- Mystery novel: Often related to a crime.
- Historical novel: Recreates events of the past.
- Intimate novel: Represents the personal and emotional conflicts of characters.
- Testimonial novel: Addresses topical issues from a critical perspective.
Most Prominent Novelists
Eduardo Mendoza is a key author who changed the narrative landscape, known for humorous novels and stories set in 20th-century Barcelona.
Other notable novelists include Antonio Muñoz Molina, known for his command of narrative language, Javier Marías, and Luis Landero.
The Theater Since 1975
Trends
Two main trends:
- Commercial theater: Light musicals and comedies.
- Alternative theater: Performed in smaller venues, committed to experimentation with text and staging.
Most Representative Authors
- Francisco Nieva: Intellectual theater with a strong emphasis on staging. His works often relate to major events.
- José Sanchis Sinisterra: Playwright focused on renewing theatrical language.
- José Luis Alonso de Santos: Author of comedies of manners.