Spanish Literary History: Journalism and Drama in the 20th Century
The Interplay of Literature and Journalism in Spain
The Press as a Vehicle for Cultural Transmission (Pre-1950)
The press was key to primary cultural transmission and the formation of political criteria. Writers utilized journals to disseminate their ideas, and newspapers published high-quality weekly literary supplements.
Key Figures in Early Literary Journalism
- Unamuno: Started writing in El Noticiero Bilbaíno and contributed to many newspapers. His most famous work was published as a series of twelve articles in magazines.
- Azorín: A master of journalistic renewal, known for his agile and fluid writing style, focusing on essential content. He published many chronicles on public policies.
- Ortega y Gasset: Founded numerous newspapers and magazines, emphasizing rigorous, high-quality information. He stressed the importance of science and philosophy.
Post-War Spanish Journalism (1950s-1970s)
Censorship and the Rise of Literary Expression
The Civil War imposed strict newspaper censorship; reporting focused on transmitting the ideals of the clashing sides. During the 1930s and 1940s, the relationship between literature and journalism became very close, as writers utilized periodicals for literary expression. Journalists and novelists incorporated literary devices, such as story structure, into informative work.
- Camilo José Cela: Addressed political change in magazines like Literature and Thought.
The Creative Journalism Movement (1960s)
The 1960s marked a shift towards new forms of journalism, emphasizing expressive and narrative resources to capture attention. This style allowed the journalist to integrate into their own stories without sacrificing the informative function, blending creative information with literary techniques.
- Jaime Campmany: Pioneered new creative journalism, marking an era and featuring caricatures of celebrities.
- Francisco Umbral: Renewed journalistic language, finding stories in everyday life and frequently using metaphors.
Spanish Drama and Theater Evolution (Post-1940)
Fundamental Elements of Drama
- Core Elements: Action, characters, situations, environment, representation.
- Functional Elements: Dialogue, monologue, mime, stage blocking, apparel, representation.
Major Dramatic Subgenres
- Tragedy: Features a fatal action, often resulting in the protagonist’s death. It aims to produce fear in viewers and often involves the tragic hero’s pride against adversity and suffering.
- Comedy: Features characters of lower social condition and typically has a happy ending, focusing on everyday life.
- Drama: An intermediate form between tragedy and comedy. It sometimes incorporates comical elements but often concludes tragically.
Post-1940 Spanish Theater: Focus on Entertainment and Social Critique
Theater in Exile
- Rafael Alberti: Focused on the intolerance inherent in power structures.
- Max Aub: Addressed the flight of Jews from the Nazis.
- Alejandro Casona: Often distanced his work from immediate socio-historical circumstances.
The 1940s: Evasion and Bourgeois Comedy
This period was characterized by evasion and humor. Bourgeois comedy dominated, featuring humor, tenderness, and kindness. Works were typically divided into three acts, exalting themes of love and family.
The 1950s: Realistic Theater and Social Critique
This movement sought to renew Spanish theater and manifest rejection of the dictatorship and social injustices.
- Antonio Buero Vallejo: Developed in three stages:
- Existential (reflection on the human condition).
- Social Drama (focus on societal injustices).
- Innovations (presenting the scene through the characters’ vision to the viewer).
The 1960s and 1970s: Commercialism and Experimentation
- Commercial Theater: Exemplified by Antonio Gala.
- Experimentation: Sought new proposals opposing realism.
- Fernando Arrabal: Known for his surreal elements, imagination, and innovation on stage (often associated with the Panic Movement).
- This era also saw the rise of independent theater under Franco’s regime.
From 1975: Post-Dictatorship Renewal
The end of the dictatorship and censorship opened a new phase, requiring the creation of new theatrical institutions.
- Francisco Nieva: Considered the most experimental playwright of the latter half of the century. His theater is highly surreal and fantastic, often addressing themes like the human need for sexual liberation.