Carlos Monsiváis
Carlos Monsiváis | |
---|---|
Carlos Monsivais | |
Born |
Carlos Monsiváis Aceves May 4, 1938 Mexico City, Mexico |
Died |
June 19, 2010 72) Mexico City, Mexico | (aged
Occupation | Writer and journalist |
Nationality | Mexican |
Citizenship | Mexican |
Genre | Chronicle, Essay |
Literary movement | GeneraciĂłn del '68 (1968 Generation)[1] |
Notable works | DĂas de guardar (1971)[1] |
Notable awards |
1977 "Premio Nacional de Periodismo" Award (1977 "National Journalism Prize Award") 2006 "Premio Anagrama de Ensayo" (2006 "Anagram of Essay Prize") |
Spouse | None |
Children | None |
Carlos Monsiváis Aceves (May 4, 1938 – June 19, 2010) was a Mexican writer, critic, political activist,[2] and journalist.[3][4] He also wrote political opinion columns in leading newspapers leader within the country's progressive sectors.[5] His generation of writers includes Elena Poniatowska, José Emilio Pacheco, and Carlos Fuentes.[2][6] Monsiváis has won more than 33 awards, including the 1986 Jorge Cuesta Prize (named after a fellow writer about whom he wrote a book),[5] the 1989 Mazatlán Prize, and the 1996 Xavier Villaurrutia Award.[2] Considered a leading intellectual of his time, Monsiváis documented contemporary Mexican themes, values, class struggles, and societal change in his essays, books and opinion pieces.[3][6][7][8] He was a staunch critic of the long-ruling Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), leaned towards the left-wing, and was ubiquitous in disseminating his views on radio and television.[9][10] As a founding member of "Gatos Olvidados", Monsiváis wanted his and other "forgotten cats" to be provided for beyond his lifetime.[11][12]
Early life and education
Carlos Monsiváis Aceves was born in Mexico City on May 4, 1938.[2][5][7][13][14] He studied economics and philosophy at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM).[5][6] As a student, Monsiváis was involved with protests that reestablished Mexican democracy.[6] From 1956 to 1958, he worked at Medio Siglo ("Half Century") magazine and "Estaciones" ("Seasons") from 1957 to 1959.[5] From 1956 to 1958, he worked as an editor at Medio Siglo, and at Estaciones from 1957 to 1959.[5]
His writings, some of which are written with an ironic undertone, show a deep understanding of the origin and development of Mexican popular culture.[6] As a movie critic during this time period, he is considered one of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema's premiere observers.[2] Monsiváis enjoyed reviewing many different media, to include movies, art and football.[6]
Literary career
From 1962 to 1963 and 1967 to 1968, Monsiváis was a fellow at the "Centro Mexicano de Escritores" ("Mexican Writers's Center").[5] In 1965, he attended Harvard University's Center for International Studies.[5]
In 1969, Monsiváis published his first two essays: "Principios y potestades" (lit. "Principles and powers") and "CaracterĂsticas de la cultura nacional" (lit. "Characteristics of the national culture").[5] They were characterized as being filled with a universal curiosity and the ability to distill the core essence of Mexican political and cultural life.[5] In 1971, he penned a chronicle called DĂas de guardar, which was compiled into a book with his first essays.[5] In 1976, Monsiváis composed Amor perdido, which detailed mythical film characters based upon popular song, left-wing politics, and the bourgeoisie.[5]
During the 1980s, Monsiváis prolifically wrote the bulk of many works that shaped and destined his career.[5] Those works include 1984's De quĂ© se rĂe el licenciado, Entrada libre, crĂłnicas de la sociedad que se organiza in 1987, and 1988's Escenas de pudor y liviandad.[5] In 1982, he also wrote a book called Nuevo catecismo para indios remisos, which narrated an understanding or cathecism about Mexico's native Indians.[5] DĂas de guarda and Escenas de pudor y liviandad are considered his epic works.[1][2] In narrative form, Monsiváis recounted the 1985 Mexico City earthquake that killed thousands.[6] He wrote "Historias para temblar: 19 de septiembre de 1985" ("Stories to tremble: September 19, 1985") which documented the earthquake.[5]
In 1992, Monsiváis created a biography on Frida Kahlo entitled Frida Kahlo: Una vida, una obra.[5][6]
In addition to these books, Monsiváis wrote several anthologies including La poesĂa mexicana del siglo X in 1966, Los narradores ante el pĂşblico in 1969, and in 1986 an autobiography about Jorge Cuesta.[2][5]
Monsiváis remained creative into his latter years and in 2002 wrote an essay called Yo te bendigo, vida, about Amado Nervo.[5]
Political involvement
He was known as an activist for leftist causes.[2][9]
In 1968, the Tlatelolco massacre left a distinct mark on Monsiváis.[2] His critics maintained that Monsiváis' life was filled with social movements interweaved with real life politics and entertainment figures[5] as he wrote about that "1968 army massacre"[6] whose death toll varied from 25 to 350 depending on the sources.[2] Monsiváis became an early defender of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation.[2] In 1994, he supported the Zapatistas's Chiapas revolt on behalf of Mexico's indigenous peoples.[2] Monsiváis along with Portuguese writer Jose Saramago visited rebel camps in Chiapas.[2]
In 2002, he spoke critically against Subcomandante Marcos's letter which supported a Basque terrorist group and criticized Baltasar Garzón.[2] In 2006, Monsiváis signed a petition in support of the independence of Puerto Rico from the United States of America.
Later life and death
Monsiváis had struggled for years with pulmonary fibrosis and could be seen in his latter years with an oxygen tank.[5] His weariness led to several hospital stays.[5]
In 2007, Monsiváis he opened the Museo de El Estanquillo with an exhibition of Gabriel Vargas' La Familia BurrĂłn paintings with the artist in person.[15][16] Vargas sat paralyzed because of an affiction he had suffered for the past twenty years.[15][16] In funding the museum, he paid homage to Vargas, La Familia BurrĂłn and Eduardo del RĂo.[5] The Estanquillo Museum also exhibits many of his varied works.[6] It holds approximately 12,000 items that Monsiváis accumulated over 30 years.[5]
In 2008, Monsiváis' love for his 20 cats led him to bequest funds for an animal shelter known as "Gatos Olvidados" (English: Forgotten Cats).[11][12][17][18] For eight years, he had been attached deeply to "Miss Oginia", a cat he had saved from being euthanasized and a kitten he had adopted.[11] Monsiváis approached the Distrito Federal de México about a plot of land for 50 homeless cats because a young girl, Claudia Vázquez Lozano, sent him an email requesting his support.[11] As a founding member of "Gatos Olvidados", Monsiváis wanted his and other forgotten cats to be provided for beyond his lifetime.[11][12]
As recently as March 2010, Monsiváis presented his last collection of chronicles named Apocalipstick.[1]
On June 19, 2010, Monsiváis was declared dead after respiratory problems by the staff of the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición 'Salvador Zubirán'.[1][7][14][19] He had entered the hospital on April 2, 2010 and had declined in health.[2][9]
Tributes
EZLN spokesman Subcomandante Marcos regarded Monsiváis as an influence. While some of his critics did not appreciate his omnipresence in all forms of the media, in a country with "low reading levels" this made him more well-known amongst the people.[9] Pacheco, a Cervantes Prize winner, once commented that Monsiváis was the "only writer people knew on the street."[1] Poniatowska, who knew him since 1957, said, "I think he is one of the great minds of Mexico, and an intellectual of the left."[2] Carlos Fuentes, who was in London at the time of Monsiváis' death said, "great writer who renewed the essay genre in Mexico."[8][20] Mexican President Felipe Calderón lamented his death with "profound sorrow".[6]
Of his own autobiography that he wrote at age 28, Monsiváis once said "aceptĂ© esta suerte de autobiografĂa con el mezquino fin de hacerme ver como una mezcla de Albert Camus y Ringo" ("I accepted this sort of autobiography with the petty purpose of making myself look like a mix of Albert Camus and Ringo").[5]
Personal life
Monsiváis never married and had no children.[6] According to Poniatowska, he is survived by several nephews.[2] Monsiváis owned a small two-story house in Mexico City’s Colonia Portales.[3][5][21] In lieu of children, he owned 13 small cats[3][5] and gave interviews with them in his lap.[9] In his spare time, Monsiváis enjoyed reading and cinematography.[5][9]
Bibliography
- Chronicles
- DĂas de guardar (1971)
- Amor perdido (1976)
- De quĂ© se rĂe el licenciado (una crĂłnica de los 40) (1984)
- Entrada libre. CrĂłnicas de la sociedad que se organiza (1987)
- Escenas de pudor y liviandad (1988)
- Luneta y galerĂa (AtmĂłsferas de la capital 1920-1959) (1994)
- Los rituales del caos (1995)
- «No sin nosotros». Los dĂas del terremoto 1985-2005 (2005)
- Essays
- CaracterĂsticas de la cultura nacional (1969)
- Principios y potestades (1969)
- «Notas sobre la cultura mexicana en el siglo XX» en Historia General de México (1976)
- El Crimen en el cine (1977)
- Cultura urbana y creaciĂłn intelectual. El caso mexicano (1981)
- Cuando los banqueros se van (1982)
- Conferencias (1985)
- El poder de la imagen y la imagen del poder. FotografĂas de prensa del porfiriato a la Ă©poca actual (1985)
- Historias para temblar: 19 de septiembre de 1985 (1988)
- El género epistolar. Un homenaje a manera de carta abierta (1991)
- Sin lĂmite de tiempo con lĂmite de espacio: arte, ciudad, gente, colecciĂłn de Carlos Monsiváis (1993)
- Rostros del cine mexicano (1993)
- Por mi madre, bohemios I (1993)
- El teatro de los Insurgentes: 1953-1993 (1993)
- Los mil y un velorios. CrĂłnica de la nota roja (1994)
- Cultura popular mexicana (1995)
- Aire de familia. Colección de Carlos Monsiváis (1995)
- El bolero (1995)
- Recetario del cine mexicano (1996)
- Diez segundos del cine nacional (1996)
- Del rancho al internet (1999)
- Aires de familia. Cultura y sociedad en América Latina (2000)
- Las herencias ocultas del pensamiento liberal del siglo XIX (2000)
- Las tradiciones de la imagen: notas sobre poesĂa mexicana (2001)
- Protestantismo, diversidad y tolerancia (2002)
- Bolero: clave del corazĂłn (2004)
- Las herencias ocultas de la Reforma Liberal del Siglo XIX (2006)
- Imágenes de la tradición viva (2006)
- Las alusiones perdidas (2007)
- El estado laico y sus malquerientes (2008)
- El 68, La tradiciĂłn de la resistencia (2008)
- Biography
- Carlos Monsiváis (AutobiografĂa) (1966)
- Celia Montalván (te brindas voluptuosa e impudente) (1982)
- MarĂa Izquierdo (1986)
- Luis GarcĂa Guerrero (1987)
- José Chávez Morado (1989)
- Escenas mexicanas en la obra de Teresa Nava (1997)
- Salvador Novo. Lo marginal en el centro (2000)
- Adonde yo soy tĂş somos nosotros. Octavio Paz: crĂłnica de vida y obra (2000)
- Novoamor (2001)
- Yo te bendigo, vida. Amado Nervo: crĂłnica de vida y obra (2002)
- Leopoldo MĂ©ndez 1902-2002 (2002)
- Carlos Pellicer: iconografĂa (2003)
- Annita Brenner: visiĂłn de una Ă©poca (2006)
- Frida Kahlo (2007)
- Rosa Covarrubias: una americana que amĂł MĂ©xico (2007)
- Pedro Infante: las leyes del querer (2008)
- Narrative
- Nuevo catecismo para indios remisos (1982)
- Other books in collaboration
- "Historia General de MĂ©xico" (1972)/ Colegio de MĂ©xico
- Frida Kahlo. Una vida, una obra (1992) / Rafael Vázquez Bayod
- A través del espejo: el cine mexicano y su público (1994) / Carlos Bonfil
- Parte de guerra. Tlatelolco 1968. Documentos del general Marcelino GarcĂa Barragán. Los hechos y la historia (1999) / Julio Scherer
- Parte de Guerra II. Los rostros del 68 (2002) / Julio Scherer
- Tiempo de saber (2003) / Julio Scherer
- El centro histĂłrico de la Ciudad de MĂ©xico (2006) / Francis AlĂżs
- El viajero lĂşgubre: Julio Ruelas modernista, 1870-1907 (2007) / Antonio Saborit y Teresa del Conde
- El hombre de negro (2007) / Helioflores
- Anthologies
- La poesĂa mexicana del Siglo XX (1966)
- PoesĂa mexicana II, 1915-1979 (1979)
- A Ustedes Les Consta. AntologĂa de la CrĂłnica en MĂ©xico (1980)
- Lo fugitivo permanece. 21 cuentos mexicanos (1984)
- La poesĂa mexicana II, 1915-1985 (1985)
- Translations
- Mexican postcards (1997) / Trans. John Kraniauskas.
- A new catechism for recalcitrant indians (2007) / Trans. Jeffrey Browitt and Nidia Esperanza CastrillĂłn.
- Obřady chaosu (2007) / Trans. Markéta Riebová.
Further reading
Spanish
- La conciencia imprescindible. Ensayos sobre Carlos Monsiváis / Jezreel Salazar (ed.), México: Fondo Editorial Tierra Adentro, 2009.
- El arte de la ironĂa: Carlos Monsiváis ante la crĂtica / Mabel Moraña, Ignacio Sánchez Prado (eds.), MĂ©xico: Era, 2007.
- La ciudad como texto: la crónica urbana de Carlos Monsiváis / Jezreel Salazar, Monterrey: Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, 2006.
- Acercamientos a Carlos Monsiváis / José Bru, Dante Medina, Raúl Bañuelos (eds.), Guadalajara, Jalisco: Universidad de Guadalajara, 2006.
- Nada mexicano me es ajeno: seis papeles sobre Carlos Monsiváis / Adolfo Castañón, México: Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, 2005.
- CrĂłnicas de la identidad : Jaime Sáenz, Carlos Monsiváis y Pedro Lemebel / Cecilia Lanza Lobo, Quito, Ecuador: Universidad Andina SimĂłn BolĂvar, Ediciones Abya-Yala, CorporaciĂłn Editora Nacional, 2004.
- Carlos Monsiváis à l'écoute du peuple mexicain / Laura Brondino, Paris, Budapest: Torino: l'Harmattan, 2004.
- Carlos Monsiváis: cultura y crónica en el México contemporáneo / Linda Egan, México: Fondo de Cultura Económica, 2004.
- Confrontaciones : Carlos Monsiváis / 1984.
English
- Carlos Monsiváis : culture and chronicle in contemporary Mexico / Linda Egan., 2001.
- Mexico : an encyclopedia of contemporary culture and history / ed. Don M Coerver., 2004.
- Responding to crisis in contemporary Mexico: the political writings of Paz, Fuentes, Monsiváis, and Poniatowska / Claire Brewster., 2005.
Awards
In 1977, Monsiváis won "Premio Nacional de Periodismo" Award ("National Journalism Prize") which recognized his genre of chronicles.[5]
In 2000, Monsiváis was awarded the "Premio Anagrama de Ensayo" ("Anagram of Essay Prize").[1] At the "Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara" (" International Book Fair of Guadalajara") in 2006, he received the "FIL de Guadalajara Prize") along with its $100,000 prize money[2] and has been awarded honorary doctorates from universities in Peru, Arizona,[1] Universidad AutĂłnoma Metropolitana and the Universidad AutĂłnoma de Sinaloa.[3] Monsiváis has won more than 33 awards with his last coming from the Universidad AutĂłnoma de San Luis PotosĂ.[5] Along with Miguel LeĂłn-Portilla, Friedrich Katz, Fuentes and Pacheco, Monsiváis was a past recipient of the Nettie Lee Benson Latin American Collection.[22]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "Muere Carlos Monsiváis, uno de los escritores más populares de México". AFP (in Spanish). Google news. June 19, 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 2.16 2.17 Stevenson, Mark (June 19, 2010). "Mexican author Carlos Monsivais dies at age 72". The Boston Globe. boston.com. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Mendoza, Gardenia (20 June 2010). "Carlos Monsiváis fallece en México". La Opinión (in Spanish). impre.com. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- ↑ Mendoza, Gardenia (20 June 2010). "Carlos Monsiváis fallece en México". La Opinión. Google translate. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 5.16 5.17 5.18 5.19 5.20 5.21 5.22 5.23 5.24 5.25 5.26 5.27 5.28 5.29 "Imposible comprender a México sin Carlos Monsiváis". Milenio (in Spanish). Milenio.com. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 6.10 6.11 Wilkinson, Tracy (June 20, 2010). "Mexican author and activist Carlos Monsivais dies at 72". Los Angeles Times. latimes.com. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Muere Carlos Monsiváis". El Universal (in Spanish). eluniversal.com.mx. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Las letras siguen de luto con la muerte de Carlos Monsiváis". El Carabobeño (in Spanish). el-carabobeno.com. 19 de junio 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2010. Check date values in:
|date=
(help) - ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 "El adiós de Monsiváis". El Universal (Caracas) (in Spanish). eluniversal.com. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- ↑ "El adiós de Monsiváis". El Universal (Caracas). Google translate. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 "Los gatos, inseparables del escritor, sin relación con el mal que produjo el deceso". La Jornada (in Spanish). jornada.unam.mx. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "Denuncian que aplicaron la eutansia a gatos de Carlos Monsiváis". Ciudadania Express (in Spanish). ciudadania-express.com. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ↑ "Imposible comprender a México sin Carlos Monsiváis". Milenio. Google translate. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Muere Carlos Monsiváis". El Universal. Google translate. 19 June 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Amador, Judith (25 May 2010). "Fallece Gabriel Vargas, creador de La Familia Burrón". Proceso (in Spanish). proceso.com.mx. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Amador, Judith (25 May 2010). "Fallece Gabriel Vargas, creador de La Familia Burrón". Proceso. Google Translate. Retrieved 28 May 2010.
- ↑ "Los gatos, inseparables del escritor, sin relación con el mal que produjo el deceso". La Jornada. Google translate. 20 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ↑ "Denuncian que aplicaron la eutansia a gatos de Carlos Monsiváis". Ciudadania Express. Google translate. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
- ↑ "Muere Carlos Monsiváis, uno de los escritores más populares de México". AFP. Google translate. June 19, 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2010.
- ↑ "Las letras siguen de luto con la muerte de Carlos Monsiváis". El Carabobeño. Google translate. 19 de junio 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2010. Check date values in:
|date=
(help) - ↑ "Concluye homenaje a Carlos Monsiváis en el Teatro de la Ciudad" (in Spanish). Milenio. June 26, 2010. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
- ↑ "Benson Collection Honored by Mexico City". University of Texas at Austin. utexas.edu. Retrieved 20 June 2010.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Carlos Monsiváis. |
- Interview with Carlos Monsivais, Barcelona Metropolis, Summer 2008.