Spanish Literature: Franco Era & Transition
Literature of the Franco Era
1. Literature During the Franco Regime
At the end of the Civil War, Franco’s dictatorship ended the Silver Age and ushered in a literature expressing horror and anguish. In the late 1940s, the dire economic situation led to the creation of social literature, which focused on collective problems like poverty, hunger, and inequality. The 1960s saw new literary models emerge, including experimental novels and renewed narratives influenced by authors like Gabriel García Márquez and Mario Vargas Llosa. Opposition to the regime gained momentum in the following decade, culminating in Franco’s death in 1975 and the subsequent coronation of Juan Carlos I.
2. Lyrics Under Franco
2.1 From Uprooted to Social Poetry
Two types of poetry emerged in the 1940s:
- Rooted Poetry: (Leopoldo Panero and Luis Rosales) Characterized by its optimistic tone.
- Uprooted Poetry: Expressed anguish about life. (Hijos de la ira by Dámaso Alonso, Blas de Otero)
Uprooted poetry evolved into social poetry in the 1950s, serving as a tool to expose injustices. (Miguel Hernández, Blas de Otero)
2.2 The Generation of ’50
This group of poets, emerging in the late 1950s, sought to explore reality and personal memories. Members included Claudio Rodríguez, Jaime Gil de Biedma, José Ángel Valente, and Ángel González.
2.3 The Novísimos
Emerging in 1970, this group of poets focused on evolving aesthetics and poetic language. Key figures included Guillermo Carnero, Félix de Azúa, Ana María Moix, and Pere Gimferrer.
3. The Novel in the Franco Era
3.1 The Novel of the ’40s
Camilo José Cela marked the beginning of tremendismo, a literary movement aiming to depict the harsh realities of the era. A notable work is Nada by Carmen Laforet.
3.2 The Social Novel of the ’50s
Key features include:
- Objective narration and realistic dialogue.
- Focus on a collective protagonist.
- Critical descriptions of characters and everyday environments.
Authors include Miguel Delibes, Carmen Martín Gaite, and Ana María Matute.
3.3 The Experimental Novel of the ’60s
Emerging in the late 1950s and gaining momentum in 1962, the experimental novel moved away from realist aesthetics and renewed narrative techniques. It emphasized language and structure over plot and employed multiple points of view. (Cinco horas con Mario by Miguel Delibes, Camilo José Cela, Gonzalo Torrente Ballester)
3.4 The Latin American Novel
Concurrent with Spain’s narrative revolution was the Latin American Boom (García Márquez, Vargas Llosa). These works moved away from realism, employing new techniques like magical realism, which blends real and mythical elements.
4. Francoist Theater
Post-war theater included comedic works for the bourgeoisie in the 1940s, intellectual humor in the 1950s, and the emergence of social drama reflecting the country’s problems. The 1960s and 1970s saw increased experimentation, with emphasis on the spectacle. (Fernando Arrabal)
Current Literature
1. From Dictatorship to Democracy
The transitional period between Franco’s death (1975) and the establishment of democracy saw significant social and political changes. The 1978 Constitution was adopted, and a modernization process led to economic and political development, as well as international integration.
2. Postmodernism
The political and social changes of the 1980s gave rise to postmodernism, which rejected ideologies and embraced a mixture of languages. In literature, this manifested as a fusion of genres, incorporating elements of film, comics, and advertising. Relativism encouraged the use of humor and irony.
3. Current Literature Trends
From 1975 onwards, literature focused on regaining readership, particularly in the novel. Poetry emphasized personal experience and everyday issues with simple language. Theater alternated between commercial and smaller-scale works. There was also significant development in Catalan, Galician, and Basque literature. (Bernardo Atxaga, Manuel Rivas, Terenci Moix)
4. Lyrics from 1975 Onward
4.1 Main Features
- Focus on personal and everyday themes: The poet connects with the reader on a shared level. (Urban Stages)
- Simple, often colloquial language.
- Inclusion of dialogues and monologues: The poem becomes a dialogue between poet and reader. (Luis Alberto de Cuenca)
- Formal debugging: Precise and careful language.