Animals & Shapeshifters: Crash Course Latin American Literature #10

Crash Course Latin American Literature: Animals & Human Animals

Key Concepts:

• L'Oreal Maravioso (The Marvelous Real): A literary style distinct from magical realism, rooted in Afro-Asian folklore and presenting culturally specific “magical” elements as real.
• Metaphorical Animal Representation: Utilizing animals to symbolize human experiences, particularly power dynamics and oppression.
• Shapeshifting: A literal and symbolic transformation between human and animal forms, representing adaptation, resistance, and the persistence of power imbalances.
• Subversion of Societal Roles: Examining how animal behavior reflects and critiques human expectations, particularly regarding motherhood and conformity.
• Critique of Colonialism & Slavery: Using animal allegories to address sensitive political issues indirectly.

I. Introduction: The Animal Presence in Latin American Culture

Latin America boasts a diverse fauna – from large birds with 10.5-foot wingspans and formidable fish to massive anacondas and diminutive pink armadillos. This rich biodiversity has deeply influenced Latin American culture since ancient times. The Mayan civilization viewed animals as divine messengers, while the Aztecs worshipped Gats Kuat, a feathered serpent deity. This historical connection has provided fertile ground for centuries of literary exploration examining the parallels between humans and animals. The video establishes that animals in Latin American literature aren’t merely background elements, but often serve as potent symbols and even literal characters.

II. Antonio Vieira & The Sermon to the Fish (17th Century)

In the 17th century, Jesuit missionary Antonio Vieira employed a unique strategy to critique the Portuguese colonization of Brazil and the practice of enslaving indigenous populations. Recognizing the settlers’ resistance to direct criticism, he delivered Mau Desanto Antonio Alpas (The Sermon of St. Anthony to the Fish). This sermon, a literary work despite its form, avoids directly addressing the colonizers. Instead, Vieira compares human behavior to that of fish, illustrating how larger fish prey on smaller ones, mirroring the colonizers’ exploitation of indigenous communities.

He argues that even the “big fish” (colonizers) are not immune to being consumed by an even greater power (the Portuguese monarchy). He poses a rhetorical question to the fish, questioning the morality of their predatory behavior and implicitly invoking the Golden Rule. This indirect approach proved effective; days after the sermon, King Zuo IV of Portugal outlawed the forced labor of Brazil’s native population. However, the video acknowledges the complexity of Vieira’s legacy, noting his simultaneous efforts to erase native cultures through Catholic conversion.

III. Allejo Carpentier & El Reino de Este Mundo (Kingdom of This World) – The Marvelous Real

Cuban author Allejo Carpentier’s 1949 novel, El Reino de Este Mundo, offers a different approach to the human-animal connection. The novel reimagines the Haitian Revolution, the most successful slave revolt in history, incorporating elements of what Carpentier termed L'Oreal Maravioso (The Marvelous Real). This style differs from magical realism by grounding its fantastical elements in Afro-Asian culture and folklore, presenting them as authentic aspects of Latin American belief.

A key feature of the novel is the ability of characters to shapeshift into animals. The narrator, The Noel, and his friend Makandal, an enslaved man, both gain this ability. Makandal uses his transformations to escape enslavement and incite rebellion, appearing as various animals to aid other enslaved people. This shapeshifting isn’t merely a plot device; it symbolizes the subjugation of one group by another. Even after Haiti gains independence, internal power struggles persist, and The Noel finds the same oppressive dynamics replicated in the animal world – a goose struggling to be accepted by a flock. Carpentier suggests that oppression and abuse of power are inherent aspects of both the human and animal realms.

IV. Bilara Kintana & La Perra (The Female Dog) – Challenging Societal Expectations

Colombian author Bilara Kintana’s 2017 novel, La Perra (The Female Dog), presents a particularly unsettling exploration of the human-animal relationship. The story centers on a childless woman, the Maris, who adopts an orphaned puppy, Chidley. Initially, Chidley fulfills the role of a surrogate daughter, but her behavior deviates sharply from societal expectations. She repeatedly escapes, becomes pregnant, and ultimately abandons her puppies, even consuming one of them.

This rejection of maternal instincts triggers a violent reaction from the Maris, who becomes increasingly frustrated with Chidley’s non-conformity. Kintana uses this dynamic to critique societal pressures placed on women, particularly regarding motherhood. Both the Maris and Chidley share a history of abandonment, and the novel suggests that the Maris projects her own unresolved trauma onto the dog. The title itself, La Perra, carries a derogatory connotation for women who defy societal norms. Kintana’s work highlights the cyclical nature of abandonment and the challenges of fulfilling prescribed roles.

V. Conclusion: Understanding Ourselves Through Our Relationship with Animals

The video concludes by emphasizing the enduring connection between Latin American culture and the animal kingdom. Through literary examples ranging from Vieira’s allegorical sermon to Carpentier’s marvelous real and Kintana’s provocative novel, authors have used animals to explore complex themes of colonialism, slavery, power dynamics, and societal expectations. By examining these relationships, we gain a deeper understanding of both the animal world and ourselves, recognizing that, ultimately, “we’re all just animals.” The video previews the next episode, which will focus on the representation of science and technology in Latin American literature.