Spanish Poetry from 1975 to Today: Trends and Influences

Posted on Oct 9, 2024 in Latin

V. – SPANISH POETRY SINCE 1975

The Poetry of Recent Years

The poetry of recent years presents a complex panorama due to the amount and variety of trends. This complexity arises from the confluence of poets from different generations, including both established authors and those pioneering new poetic territories. The difficulty of classification stems from the individualistic nature of these poets, who prioritize expressing intimate experiences over adhering to general trends, foregoing grand ambitions of explaining the world.

Formally, there’s a departure from the fierce avant-garde of the early 1970s and a greater inclination towards traditional forms.

VI. – VANGUARDS

The avant-garde movements represent a profound shift in the aesthetic evolution of the West. In terms of geographical scope, it’s an international trend that unfolded rapidly in Europe. Some movements emerged as ephemeral fads, while others left a lasting impact on subsequent artistic expressions. The term “avant-garde” was first used in France and has military connotations. It signifies a rejection of realism and fosters interrelations with other art forms, including music and film. Poetry stands out as the most cultivated genre within the avant-garde.

CUBISM

Born in 1906, Cubism was a Platonic movement (it prioritized reflection over direct representation). Its main representative is Picasso. In Cubist poetry, reality is not depicted as a continuous entity but as a multifaceted, geometric construct. The Cubist poem is a juxtaposition of still images, detached from each other, creating a mosaic effect. Anecdotes are absent, and the author’s presence is minimized. A key figure is Apollinaire.

Characteristics:

  • Free use of words.
  • Creation of new words.
  • Absence of punctuation and syntactic structures.

FUTURISM

Futurism first appeared in the magazine “Le Figaro.” It emphasizes violence, proclaiming that “war is the hygiene of the world.” This movement is linked to fascism and imperialism. In Spain, it didn’t gain widespread recognition as a distinct movement, but many authors incorporated futuristic elements in their early works.

DADAISM

Dadaism emerged in Switzerland and the USA in 1916. It’s characterized by its embrace of the illogical and the absurd. It champions spontaneous creation, and language becomes a tool for provocation. Dadaist poetry prioritizes provocation and aggression over aesthetic pleasure.

SURREALISM

In 1924, Breton published a manifesto that mentioned Apollinaire for the first time (and coined the term “Surrealism”). In 1925, Surrealism gained wider exposure and became politicized. It’s based on the power of imagination and suggestion, transcending formalism in art and emphasizing dreams, images, and creative freedom. Surrealist writing is often automatic, and language becomes a random assemblage of words, resembling a collage. Alongside collage, it employs free association of words, unusual images, symbols, and metaphors.

LITERATURE VANGUARD IN SPAIN

The dissemination of the avant-garde in Spain was significantly aided by publications such as Revista de Occidente, España magazine, Sol magazine, and Prometeo magazine.

STAGES:

The Spanish avant-garde can be divided into four stages:

  1. FIRST (1908-1918): Early avant-garde manifestations. Key figure: Ramón Gómez de la Serna.
  2. SECOND (1918-1925): From the arrival of Huidobro in Spain until the initial encounters with Surrealism. Rise of Ultraism and Creationism.
  3. THIRD (1925-1930): Influence of Surrealism and the beginning of a re-humanization process.
  4. FOURTH (1930-1936): Emergence of New Romanticism and the decline of the Spanish avant-garde.

PROMOTERS:

  1. Literary Magazines
  2. Ramón Gómez de la Serna
  3. Cansino-Assens
  4. Juan Larrea
  5. Gerardo Diego
  6. Guillermo de la Torre

RAMÓN GÓMEZ DE LA SERNA

Both in his work and life, Ramón Gómez de la Serna challenged the social and artistic conventions of his time. He promoted new art forms in magazines like Prometeo and through gatherings at “El Pombo.” His life and work reflect a keen awareness of the latest artistic developments in Europe. He believed that the world is absurd, a ridiculous circus that can only be described through humor. His work aims to break with previous artistic traditions, surprising the reader and rejecting sentimentality.

Professor Ricardo Senabre categorized his “Greguerías” (short, witty aphorisms) into four groups:

  1. Based on a false etymology.
  2. Based on paronomasias (puns).
  3. Based on parody of clichés.
  4. Based on double meanings.

In addition to Greguerías, Ramón Gómez de la Serna produced a vast body of work, including plays, novels, and short stories.

TYPICAL SPANISH MOVEMENT: ULTRAISM

The main figure of Ultraism was Guillermo de la Torre, who published his work in magazines like Grecia and Cervantes. “Ultra” is the motto of the movement and signifies “beyond.” It encompasses various avant-garde trends. Its zeal for innovation led to the elimination of narrative, adjectives, and conjunctions. Ultraism places great importance on imagery and dreams (showing proximity to Surrealism).

CREATIONISM

Key authors of Creationism include Vicente Huidobro, Juan Larrea, and Gerardo Diego. This movement is characterized by the absence of punctuation and the juxtaposition of images without a central theme. The poet is seen as a creator, akin to nature creating a tree. Creationism dispenses with descriptive and anecdotal elements.

IV. – MODERNISM

I. – GENERAL

A) SPACE AND TIME

Modernism is a literary movement that originated in Latin America in the last quarter of the 19th century and was introduced to Spain by Rubén Darío. Although its peak period was relatively short (its influence waned by 1915), its impact on the evolution of Spanish poetry was crucial, as it brought about a complete renovation of the genre. It was primarily a poetic movement, although examples can also be found in novels and theater.

B) MODERNISM AND THE GENERATION OF ’98

There isn’t a clear-cut separation between Modernism and the Generation of ’98. Some authors, especially in the early years, exhibited characteristics of both movements. Modernism can be broadly understood as the Hispanic manifestation of the European spiritual and artistic crisis of the late 19th century. Within Modernism, we can identify different orientations: one leaning towards escapism and elitism (Modernism in the strict sense) and another characterized by a more critical and radical spirit (the Generation of ’98).

II. – MODERNISM AND ITS FEATURES

A) INFLUENCES

Modernism introduced foreign literary movements to Spain, such as French Symbolism and Parnassianism, Italian and English Decadence, and aestheticism, all mediated through the poetry of Rubén Darío. It also drew inspiration from Spanish and French Romantic poetry.

B) TONE AND ATTITUDE

Modernist literature adopts an aristocratic tone that disdains the vulgar and the everyday, focusing on the exaltation of beauty. Writers often embraced a bohemian lifestyle that aligned with their artistic ideals, rejecting bourgeois values and commercialism.

C) THEMES

There are two main thematic lines within Modernism:

ESCAPISM

Highly representative of Modernism, escapism involves the poet seeking refuge in exotic, historical, or fantastical realms. There are no geographical limitations if the chosen world allows the poet to evade the perceived ugliness of contemporary reality.