20th Century Spanish Literature and Culture: From Modernism to Post-Civil War
20th Century Spanish Literature and Culture
Early 20th Century
Characteristics of Spanish Society
The early 20th century in Spain saw the decline of the Restoration political system. Social conflicts between the rising bourgeoisie and the proletariat led to Primo de Rivera’s dictatorship (1923). A subsequent social and economic boom among the middle classes favored the proclamation of the Second Republic (1931). However, tensions between the labor movement and conservative forces ultimately precipitated the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).
Novecentismo
Young writers of this era, known as the Novecentistas, viewed Modernism as outdated. They rejected the traditionalist and dramatic tone of the Generation of ’98, proposing a new artistic ideal rooted in European values of rationality and modernity. This movement embraced anti-romanticism, emphasizing balance over emotional sensitivity. Artistic purity and intellectual rigor were also central tenets, with writers often having strong academic backgrounds.
Juan Ramón Jiménez
Juan Ramón Jiménez dedicated his life to poetry and received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1956. His unstable temperament and the trauma of the Civil War led him to live in exile in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, where he died.
Vanguardism
Beginning in Spain around 1920, Vanguardism marked a sharp break with previous artistic styles. It arose from the internal evolution of Spanish poetry and the influence of European artistic movements. Its surprising, unexpected, and often incomprehensible nature was a defining characteristic.
Generation of ’27
This group of poets, named for their tribute to Luis de Góngora in 1927, was characterized by heterogeneity. Despite their diverse inspirations and poetic styles, they shared common literary training and published their work in the same magazines.
Evolution of the Generation of ’27
- Pure Poetry: Initially, these poets focused on form over the expression of feelings.
- Neopopularismo and Classicism: They also experimented with neopopular and classical forms, drawing inspiration from poets like Garcilaso de la Vega and Góngora.
- Surrealism: Later, their poetry became more rebellious and engaged with human existence and sociopolitical issues, embracing the primacy of human impulses.
The Civil War and the subsequent exile of many poets marked the end of this generation.
Miguel Hernández
Hernández represents the transition from the Generation of ’27 to the Generation of ’36. His poetry became an expression of commitment to the concrete existence of individuals, both in their individual and social dimensions.
Post-Civil War Literature
Historical Context
After the Civil War, General Franco established a dictatorship, abolishing basic freedoms. This regime, supported by the military, the Falange, and the Church, lasted nearly 40 years, evolving through different phases:
- Autarquía: Spain was isolated internationally, maintaining the social, economic, and technological backwardness of previous years.
- Opening: Eventually, the regime accepted the need for international engagement. The low standard of living attracted foreign investment, particularly through tourism.
- Crisis: By the end, Franco’s rule was seen as an obstacle to development.
Poetry
Post-Civil War poetry can be divided into three stages:
- Rooted and Uprooted Poetry: Rooted poetry addressed traditional themes like love, family, landscape, and religious sentiments. Uprooted poetry, in contrast, reflected a torn and desolate world, marked by violence and the absence of God.
- Social Realism: This stage saw the emergence of poetry as a form of rebellion against social injustice and oppression.
- Intimate and Committed Poetry: Poets explored more personal themes while maintaining their commitment to freedom and justice. In the late sixties, a new generation of poets emerged, proposing bold and imaginative poetic formulas.
The Novel
The post-Civil War novel also went through several phases:
- Propaganda and Tremendismo: Initially, some novels justified and glorified the war. Others, influenced by writers like Pío Baroja, depicted a brutal, impoverished, and sordid Spain.
- Social Realism: The novel increasingly addressed social problems.
- Renewal of Realism: The focus remained on the mediocrity and squalor of contemporary Spanish life, but with renewed narrative techniques.
Theater
Commercial theater served as a form of escapism, while more serious plays criticized the hypocrisy and selfishness of the bourgeoisie.
Latin American Literature (1960s)
Key figures include Jorge Luis Borges, Juan Rulfo, Gabriel García Márquez, Alejo Carpentier, Julio Cortázar, Mario Vargas Llosa, and Isabel Allende.
Gabriel García Márquez
Born in Aracataca, Colombia in 1928, García Márquez began his career as a writer and journalist in Bogotá.
Magical Realism
García Márquez blended the real and the fantastical in his narratives. His narrators treat dreams and everyday objects as equally wondrous, and magical phenomena are presented as perfectly normal occurrences.
Temporal Structure
In works like One Hundred Years of Solitude, the narrative is often told from a future perspective. The narrator knows the entire story, and the narrator’s time eventually merges with the time of the narrative’s conclusion.