Week 10

The Boom, Post-Boom and Contemporary or Post Modern Era of Latin America

The Boom time period from 1960 through 1970 refers to a literary movement in Latin America when a small group of writers from Latin America had their works published in Europe and received literary recognition outside of their homeland.  Due to the political climate in Latin America, writers from this time period challenged the established practices of Latin American literature by producing experimental works often with political themes or undertones.  Magic Realism also became a popular writing technique during this era.  This literary mode is characterized by two conflicting perspectives where the writer has the ability to create normal settings and infuse an element of the supernatural whereby the reader is caught up in a dream-like situation that leaves the reader wondering if this is true or could actually happen.

The Post-Boom era is the literary movement of the 1980's and 1990's for authors who's works had reached public awareness during the Boom era and continued to publish new work.  Additionally during this time, woman authors, particularly novelists, were being recognized.

The final literacy era, Post Modern, is difficult to define.  This literary period tends to overlap and extend into and beyond the Boom and Post Boom eras.  It tends to link all the time periods while embracing "fluid and multiple perspectives, typically refusing to privilege any one truth claim over another...Truth points only to other ideasand artifacts, themselves subject to interpretation and re-interpretation" (Knowledgerush).  In summary, the Post Modern Era links all the literacy eras together while allowing all the disciplines in life - art, philosophy, theology, film, TV, music, fashion, technology, literature, communications, etc. - to influence and challenge preconceived ideas and concepts.

References

I used the following references because the information was either confirmed by a different source and/or the author noted their references, which were verified.

Teh Boom Novels, Latin American Literature. Encyclopedia Britannica. 2009. 19 October 2009.  http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/331811/Latin-American-literature/236896/The-boom-novels

Latin America Boom, Wikipedia. 19 October 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_American_Boom

Post Boom Writers, Latin American Literature.  Encyclopedia Britannica.  2009. 18 October 2009.  http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/331811/Latin-American-literature/236897/Post-boom-writers

Post Modernism. Knowledgerush. 19 October 2009. http://www.knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/Postmodernism/

Post Modern Literature. Wikipedia. 19 October 2009. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postmodern_literature

Rigoberta Menchu

When researching the different topics for this week,  I began to read about a woman who I had never heard of before:  Rigoberta Menchu.  Her story of events that occurred 13 to 30 years ago was compelling, frightening and encouraging.

Rigoberta Menchu was born in 1959 in the small village of Chimel, located in the northern highlands of Guatemala.  Her family was Quiche Indian and very poor.  Her family owned a small plot of land but it did not produce enough to sustain the family.  So, like most of the people in their village, they had to work on the coastal coffee or cotton plantations for most of the year.  Working on the plantation was harsh and as a result, two of Rigoberta's brothers died.  One died from malnutrition and the other from poisoning from the pesticides that are sprayed on the coffee plants.

Similarly, as in the time of the Conquest era, the indigenous people in Guatemala, including Rigoberta's family, did not have rights of citizenship.  Only people of Spanish descent were eligible for citizenship.  As a result, Rigoberta's family and the other people in her village were vulnerable to the military-led government and the wealthy landowners that were starting to take over Indian occupied lands through force.  Her father began to petition the government and organized protests to help secure the lands rightfully belonging to the people.  Her entire family became activists in the movement her father organized:  The United Peasant Committee.  In 1979, Rigoberta's 16-year-old brother was kidnapped by soldiers, tortured and burned alive while the family watched.  A year later, her father was killed and in 1981 Rigoberta's mother was kidnapped, raped, tortured and killed.  Wanted by the Guatemalan government, Rigoberta fled to Mexico.  While in exile, she dictated her autobiography, "I...Rigoberta Menchu" (1984).  She was 25 years old.  Rigoberta wanted to tell the world not only her own story, but also the story of other Indians in Guatemala and their conflict with the military government.  She wanted to bring about international attention to this conflict with the purpose of pursuing peace and jsutice for indigenous and poor people in Guatemala.

In 1992, Rigoberta Menchu was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.  She used the cash prize to set up a foundation to continue the fight for the rights of the indigenous people.  As a result of her efforts, the United Nations claimed 1993 the "International Year for Indigenous Populations".  The efforts of Rigoberta and this foundation has focused on actively pursuing the case against soldiers involved in the Xaman Massacre where on October 5, 1995, eleven people were killed and 27 injured during a celebration for a group fo Guatemalan refuges who had just returned from Mexico.

In the YouTube video "Rigoberta Menchu  Live at the Human Forum", Rigoberta spoke about being a light of goodness for others.  She said that she's been asked if she has hatred for those who murdered her family and she said, "Hatred is a disease of the spirit and I don't want to get sick.  But, I do fight for justice."  She sums up her life work with, "The final goal is to do something that produces results.  Not to focus on just yourself - To do something for others and other life.  Awareness and action.  Awareness without action is useless.  It doesn't do any good."

References

This is a great reference because Bois lists his sources that confirm his information.

Bois, Danuta. Rigoberta Menchu.  Distinguished Women of Past and Present.  1996. 19 October 2009.  http//www.distinguishedwomen.com/biographies/menchu.html

The YouTube source is a valid 1st person source.  Rigoberta Menchu is the actual speaker.

Rigoberta Menchu - Live at the Human Forum. You Tube.  22 May 2007. 20 October 2009. http://youtube.com/watch?v=yvnUEup1hC4

Credits were not noted in the following article.  However, I was able to confirm most of the information on this site and many of the exerpts are taken directly from her autobiography.

Rigoberta's Story. World Trek for Service and Education. The Odyssey Latin American Stage. 20 October 2009. http://www.worldtrek.org/odyssey/latinamerican/rigoberta/rigoberta_story.html

Week 9 - Classmates Reviews
Julisa researched Our Lady of Guadalupe. One interesting fact - The bishop told Juan to bring back a sign of is apparition and he came back with some Castillian roses, which were native only to Spain.

Kathy researched Simon Bolivar who was a South American political leader who played a key role in Latin America's independence from Spain.

Kelsey was researched the Virgin of Guadalupe because she wanted to learn more about her and how she became the symbol of Mexico.

Logan researched Father Hidalgo of Mexico.  Hidalgo’s liberal ideas led him to join forces with a group of people who opposed the Spanish Dominance and together this strong group of liberals would begin a revolution. 

Michael wrote about Camila O'Gorman who at 8 months pregnant was executed, along with her priest-lover. These events contributed to the demise of then Argentine dictator Juan Manuel de Rosas. 

Nancy researched José Martí, national hero of the Cuban liberation movement in the late 1800’s.  he is often called the Apostle of Cuban independence because his writings inspired and helped produce the independence movement

Nicole also wrote about Virgin of Guadalupe.  Many Catholics believe that it was Our lady of Guadalupe who told Juan Diego to build a church in what is now known as Mexico City.

Robert also researched Father Hidalgo who was an integral part of Mexico’s independence movement.  Robert felt that Hidalgo should be recognized for his contributions and ultimate sacrifice.

Shannon researched Jose Marti, a Cuban revolutionary who died in combat fighting for independence for Cuba from Spain.  Additionally, Shannon noted that Marti had an intense passion for Cuban independence but even more so for the decency of mankind.

Stacy wrote about Camila O'Gorman who is a portrayal of the consequences of a woman asserting her own will.