20th Century Spanish Theater: Realism, Avant-Garde, and Innovation
Early 20th Century Theater: Realism and Renewal
At the beginning of the 20th century, the predominant trend in drama was **realistic and naturalistic theater**. This was the most commercial form of theater, aiming to reflect the social reality of the moment. The characteristics of this stage included:
- Sets that created the illusion of reality for the viewer.
- Actors embodying characters as if they were real individuals.
- The audience forgetting they were in a theater.
During the first decades of this century,
Read MoreClassical Mythology & Philosophical Thought: Key Figures & Myths
Classical Mythology and Philosophical Thought
Sigmund Freud: Pioneer of Psychoanalysis
Sigmund Schlomo Freud, born May 6, 1856, in Freiberg, and who died September 23, 1939, in London, was an Austrian neurologist and physician. He is widely recognized as the creator and principal exponent of psychoanalysis.
Addressing concepts like the Oedipus complex, which describes a child’s sexual attraction to the parent of the opposite sex, Freud’s theories (and later interpretations like the Electra complex)
Read MoreSpanish Literary Movements: Novecento, Avant-Garde, Gen ’27
Read More20th Century Spanish Literary Movements
Novecento: Intellectual & Poetic Renewal
This movement is notable for its contributions to the essay, novel, and poetry:
- Essay: José Ortega y Gasset, with a clear and careful style, addresses various topics in his writings, such as culture, art, and daily life.
- Novel: Ramón Pérez de Ayala.
- Poetry: Juan Ramón Jiménez, whose work evolves from the intimacy found in Arias Tristes to the naked poetry of Diario de un poeta recién casado. His poetry evolves
Mario Vargas Llosa: Creative Process, Major Themes, and Narrative Devices
An author’s novel writing process begins with a daydream, a kind of speculation about a character or a certain situation, something that just occasionally happens in the mind. Then, I start taking notes, chipping away at ideas. First, I create a general outline of the story, then change it completely. After that, I start to write, composing very quickly, almost without stopping, without any concern for style or repeating episodes. I think what I like is not to write and rewrite, cut, or edit. The
Read MoreDon Juan Tenorio: Plot, Characters, and Literary Analysis
Don Juan Tenorio: Plot Summary
Part One: The Bet and Betrayal
Don Luis Mejía had lost the bet he made with Don Juan Tenorio a year ago. When they meet to see who has lost, Don Juan bets Don Luis that he will seduce his fiancée, Doña Ana de Pantoja, and also conquer a novice.
Commander Don Gonzalo de Ulloa, father of Doña Inés (who was to marry Don Juan), undoes the marriage upon learning of Don Juan’s challenge.
Don Juan swears to Don Gonzalo that he will abduct his daughter, who is in a convent
Read MoreGalician Literary Voices in Exile (1936-1950)
Galician Literature of Exile (1936-1950)
London, Mexico, Venezuela, and above all, Buenos Aires were the destinations for Galician exiles fleeing Franco’s repression. They established cultural initiatives, publishing magazines like Vieiros, founding publishers such as Citania, and broadcasting on Radio Portugal for immigrants.
This period highlights dramatic and poetic genres, influenced by the avant-garde and the prose style of Celso Emilio Ferreiro. Common themes include protest-oriented sentiments
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