20th Century Spanish Literature: Avant-Garde & Generation of ’27
20th Century Spanish Literature
Avant-Garde Movements
Between the two World Wars, Europe witnessed groundbreaking aesthetic and artistic revolutions, giving rise to avant-garde movements. One prominent movement was Surrealism, which emerged in France in 1924, spearheaded by André Breton with his manifesto. Surrealism had a significant impact on film, painting, and poetry. It sought to explore beyond reality and logic, delving into the realm of repressed desires and dreams. Automatic writing was a
Read MoreJournalistic Genres and 20th Century Literature
Journalistic Genres
Types of Journalistic Texts
According to their objectives, journalistic texts can be classified into different genres:
- Information through news: This genre focuses on delivering factual information about recent events.
- Information and interpretation: This includes genres like stories, reportages, and interviews that provide context and analysis along with information.
- Opinion and commentary: This genre includes articles, editorials, and criticisms that express subjective viewpoints
20th Century Spanish Lyric: Movements and Poets
20th Century Spanish Lyric
1. Currents of Thought in the Second Half of the 20th Century
In the latter half of the 20th century, Marxism and the Frankfurt School continued to influence many writers. Existentialism, with thinkers like Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, explored the absurdity of existence and the perceived failure of humanism. In the early 1980s, postmodern thought (Vattimo and Lyotard) emerged, challenging the rationalist and progressive ideals of preceding decades.
This period also
Read MoreSpanish Literature in the Middle Ages: A Concise Overview
The Middle Ages: School of Alfonso X
King Alfonso X the Wise gathered at his court learned Hebrew, Arabic, and Latin Christians to help translate into Castilian and systematize all knowledge known at the time. The Method of Work: King Alfonso X did not personally compose his works, but he directed the expert team and supervised the outcome of their work. The School of Alfonso X began by collecting Latin, Arabic, and Jewish sources. The Works of Alfonso X: The Seven Parts is a complete compilation
Read MoreContemporary Catalan Literature: An Overview
Catalan Short Stories: Quim Monzó
Reflecting Contemporary Society
Quim Monzó (born 1952) is a renowned Catalan short story writer. His collection, Eighty-Six (1999), showcases his masterful use of language, avoiding the overly formal style that sometimes plagues Catalan literature. Monzó’s prose is captivating, precise, and avoids unnecessary ornamentation. Each word is carefully chosen, giving his phrases a unique and memorable quality.
Monzó’s stories delve into the complexities of contemporary
Read MoreAncient Roman Oratory: A History and Analysis
Ancient Roman Oratory
The First Speakers (3rd and 2nd Century BC)
Testimony of ancient Roman oratory includes funeral laudations and memorial speeches, which are sometimes not very realistic. This genre is considered an original literary manifestation of the Roman people. Elections and the Senate necessitated oratory to persuade the public. The Romans had a good dialectic and political system, which enabled oratory. The study of Greek eloquence was favored when Hellenism expanded and Latin rhetoric
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