Introduction to Latin American Literature: Crash Course Latin American Literature #1

Key Concepts

• Latin America: A region defined by shared history of colonization by Spain and Portugal, followed by independence, and the commonality of Romance languages. The definition is fluid and debated.
• Imperialism: The policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force.
• Romance Languages: Languages that evolved from Vulgar Latin, such as Spanish, Portuguese, and French.
• Mestizo: A person of mixed Indigenous and Spanish ancestry.
• Malinchista: An insult used to denounce those corrupted by foreign influences, stemming from the historical figure of La Malinche.
• Cultural Cannibalism (Antropofagia): A concept advocating for the assimilation and reappropriation of foreign cultural influences to create something new and distinctly local.
• Postcolonialism: The academic study of the cultural legacy of colonialism and imperialism, focusing on the human consequences of the control and exploitation of colonized people and their lands.

Defining Latin America and its Literature

The video begins by addressing the ambiguity of the term "Latin America," highlighting that its definition can range from anywhere south of the U.S. to areas where Romance languages are spoken. This ambiguity, encompassing 20 to 52 countries and territories with hundreds of languages, raises the question of why such diverse nations are grouped under one identity and what defines a "Latin American."

The term "Latin America" itself is relatively new, with some historians tracing its origins to the 1830s and French imperial ambitions in Mexico under Napoleon III. The French sought to emphasize shared Latin linguistic roots between France and Mexico. This act is presented as an example of imperialism, a significant theme in Latin American history, alongside resistance to it. Alternatively, the term is credited to Chilean politician Francisco Bilbao, who advocated for regional unity against global imperial powers. The continued use of the term is debated: it could be seen as an external imposition that flattens diverse cultures, or as a reflection of a genuine sense of shared community among people of the region.

For the purpose of this series, "Latin America" will encompass countries with a shared history of colonization by Spain and Portugal, followed by independence. The series will also explore Indigenous literature and Latin American authors in the U.S. who write in English, acknowledging the complexity and diversity of the region.

Identity and Terminology

The video emphasizes the challenge of finding a single label for the diverse populations of Latin America. It contrasts terms like "Latino" or "Latina" (referring to immigrants from Latin America and their descendants), "Latinx" or "Latine" (gender-neutral alternatives), and "Hispanic" (referring to people of Spanish-speaking descent). A key distinction is made: someone from Spain is Hispanic but not Latino, while a Portuguese-speaking Brazilian might be Latino but not Hispanic. The existence of numerous community-specific terms like "Chicano" (Mexican descent in the U.S.), "Afro-Latino" (African ancestry in Latin America), and "Nuyorican" (Puerto Ricans in New York) further illustrates this diversity.

This linguistic and cultural mosaic is reflected in Latin American literature, where authors grapple with the question of "Who are we?"

Language and Literary Expression

Latin American literature is characterized by its multilingualism and the blending of languages. Authors may write primarily in English (e.g., Silvia Moreno-Garcia), in both Spanish and English, or even switch between languages within a single text. Examples include:

• José María Arguedas's "Los ríos profundos" ("Deep Rivers"): Uses both Spanish and the Indigenous language Quechua.
• Sandra Cisneros's "The House on Mango Street": Features Spanglish, a mixture of Spanish and English.
• Fabián Severo's "Noite nu norte" ("Night in the North"): Incorporates Portuñol, a blend of Portuguese and Spanish.

The international availability of Latin American literature is influenced by language, power dynamics, and capitalism. U.S. publishers have historically shown more interest in books from countries like Argentina and Mexico, leading to their greater translation and inclusion in English-language curricula.

The series will adopt a broad definition of "literature," encompassing poetry, novels, short stories, historical accounts, and political essays. Authors often have ties to multiple countries, such as Clarice Lispector (born in Ukraine, lived in Brazil) and José Martí (Cuban writer who wrote for an Argentine newspaper while in exile in New York).

Wrestling with Identity: Historical and Philosophical Perspectives

Latin American literature frequently explores profound questions about identity, particularly in the wake of colonization and independence. These questions include:

• What is our relationship with Europe and the rest of the world after colonization?
• What is our relationship with our Indigenous and African ancestors?
• Given the blend of Indigenous, African, and European influences, who are we?

Octavio Paz and "The Sons of Malinche"

The Mexican writer Octavio Paz's 1950 essay "Los hijos de la Malinche" ("The Sons of Malinche") is examined. The essay focuses on La Malinche, an Indigenous woman who served as an interpreter for Hernán Cortés during the Spanish conquest of Tenochtitlán. She is often remembered as a traitor, and the term "malinchista" became an insult for those influenced by foreign cultures.

Paz argues that the condemnation of Malinche is an attempt by Mexicans to distance themselves from a painful past and transcend it. He suggests that Mexicans deny their Indigenous and Spanish heritage, seeking to define themselves as an abstraction rather than a mixture. This perspective highlights the complex and often conflicted relationship with historical legacies.

Carlos Fuentes and "Terra Nostra"

Carlos Fuentes, another Mexican writer, explores similar questions of identity in his 1975 novel "Terra Nostra." Instead of focusing on a single historical figure, Fuentes traverses history, blending ancient Rome, pre-colonial Mexico, 16th-century Spain, and 1999 Paris. The novel links Spain's colonization of the Americas to a broader narrative of civilization.

"Terra Nostra" is described as a "panoramic Hispano-American creation myth" that examines Mexican identity through universal myth and history. Fuentes posits that all civilizations are products of violent histories and shifting borders, where peoples clash, meld, and create something new. The novel's focus on the Spanish King Felipe II and his elaborate Escorial palace is interpreted as a critique of the emptiness of the colonial project, which was "based on death…on nada" (nothing).

Jorge Luis Borges and Tradition

Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges, with his Spanish, Portuguese, and English heritage and European education, also grappled with identity at the crossroads of various influences. In his 1951 essay "El escritor argentino y la tradición" ("The Argentine Writer and Tradition"), Borges encourages writers to embrace these intersections. He rejects the notion that Argentine literature should be confined to local themes, advocating for the belief that "the universe is our birthright and try out every subject." Borges captures the tension between the local and the global inherent in much Latin American literature, where understanding one's identity necessitates looking beyond immediate surroundings.

Cultural Cannibalism: Oswald de Andrade's Manifesto

The Brazilian writer Oswald de Andrade offers a provocative approach to navigating cultural influences in his 1928 essay "Manifesto Antropófago" ("Cannibalist Manifesto"). He proposes "cultural cannibalism," advocating for the assimilation and reappropriation of foreign influences to create something uniquely Brazilian. The essay famously uses the line "Tupi or not tupi, that is the question," a playful reappropriation of Shakespeare's "To be or not to be" from Hamlet, referencing an Indigenous Brazilian people. Andrade encourages Brazilians to "devour and Brazil-ify" external influences, blending them into something entirely new. This concept is presented as a "postcolonial protein smoothie," a metaphor for creating a distinct cultural identity from diverse inputs.

Conclusion

The video concludes by reiterating that in a vastly diverse region like Latin America, a single answer to the question of identity is elusive. Latin American literature is produced across numerous communities, in multiple languages, and draws from a rich blend of influences. When Latin American writers explore identity, they navigate the tension between local influences and those from afar, embracing the idea of "Why not both?" The series will continue to explore how stories, history, and politics intersect in this rich literary tradition.