Latin American Autobiographies

From WolfWikis

Autobiographies place in Latin American Literature

Autobiographies play a vital role in realizing the political presence and influence on the lives of the writers and readers in Latin America. They provide a window into someones life and show the levels at which politics of their times effect them, and the solutions they have for them. Autobiographies hold a place in Latin American Literature that crosses over rhetorical situations and documentary novles in the first person. Feal calls them a form of testimonial mode but this, however, is not specific to Latin American Literature. Documentary novels, which closely resememble autobiographies in Latin America “often take the form of a historically based work that gives testimony to a specific social reality” (Rosemary Feal, Modern Language Studies), making them ideal to represent the real world situations in which politics develop and effect people. Some scholarly writers tend to classify Argentine autobiographers as unable to open up and expose their deep cultural roots. Most all who attribute this to the Argentine and Spanish autobiographers trace it back to Catholocism and what Shaw calls “a desire for conealment or discretion” (Donald Shaw, A Review of ‘At Face Value: Autobiographal Writing in Spanish America) However impersonal these writings may be, their political influence, insight, and desire to change or fix problems is clearly evident.

"Mexican Ulysess" - The Autobiography of Vasconcelos.

One Autobiographer that goes against the typical impersonalness scholars attribute to Latin American Autobiographers is Vasconcelos and his autobiography “A Mexican Ulysess.” In his autobiography he puts all his feelings and emotions onto the paper leaving nothing to guess. He was a great intelectual and help wipe the philisophical idea of positivsm away in Mexico. Vasconcelos makes clear any political tensions that may be around between Mexico and the United States and the Unites States “converting Mexicans into Texacanos.” He comments on his views of the American culture. William Madsen sums up Vasconcelos opinion of American culter by saying “our towns, customs, foods, and ieas are viewed by Vasconcelos as monotonous repitions of a singler pattern.” (W. Rex Crawford William Madison, A Review of ‘A Mexican Ulysess’ by Vasconcelos), this shows his distaste for American culture and his refusal to participate in cultural diffussion that was taking place. It is obvious that Educational standards were low in Latin America at the time of Vasconcelos’ autobiography because the great scholar gives detialed lesson plans throughout the book, that he believes should be followed in order to fix the falling standards. Also the tension within the Mexican government itself can be seen through the book as Vasconcelos tells about struggles against the Diaz dictatorship. Though it “is not intended to be a cultural reader” (Donald G. Castanien, A Review of ‘Mexican Ulysess’ by Vasconcoles) this is one example of a Latin American Autobiography through which the politics of the times can be seen on a personal level, and one in which solutions are offered up.

"Presidents and Peons: Recollections of a Labor Ambassador in Latin America" - The Autobiography of Serfino Romualdi

Another great autobiography, providing insight into Latin American politics during its time is that of Serfino Romualdi. He was the Latin American representative of the American Federation of Labor. His autobiography is filled with discussion of labor and political developments in Latin American countries. Alexander says that Romualdi possesed warmth and charisma "combined with shrewdness of maneuver and political intuition"(Robert Alexander, Presidents and Peons: Recollections of a Labor Ambassador in Latin America. by Serafino Romualdi. This would set him up to be perfectly placed to give insight to the labor policies and other political problems of his day. Full chapters are devoted to discussing the changes deeded in the Latin American labor places. It is also encouraging the stop of racial discrimination within Latin America. Through this autobiography it is seen that Racism and poor working conditions were clearly a big player in the political game during the time Romualdi was around. His autobiography provided a snap shot of the political world which he lived in and “it is full of information, insights, and judgements which should be a valubale source for scholars for many years to come.” (Robert Alexander, Presidents and Peons: Recollections of a Labor Ambassador in Latin America. by Serafino Romualdi) This is evidence that not only do Latin American autobiographies show what was going on in their time, but also can help provide insight to what is going on now and what will be happening in the future.

Conclusion

Despite being called impersonal and void of emotion by scholars, Latin American autobiographies serve to show real situations from a persons point of view and help to give their readers insight to the influence of the poilitical situations they so realisticly represent.

Bibliography

Spanish American Ethnobiography and the Slave Narrative Tradition: "Biografía de un cimarrón" and "Me llamo Rigoberta Menchú" by Rosemary Feal, published winter 1990. "This source was key in determining how shcolars view LAtin American autobiographies"

A review of 'At Face Value: Autobiographical Writing in Spanish America' by Sylvia Molloy by Donald Shaw, July, 1992. "This article was informing on autobiographers of Latin America and provided ideas for case studies"

A review of 'A Mexican Ulysses, An Autobiography. by Jose Vasconcelos' by W. Rex Crawford William Madison, published Fedb 1965. "This source gave information on Vasconcelos life and examined the parts of his book"

A review of 'Ulises criollo by José Vasconcelos;' by Donald Castanien, published Sep. 1960. "This source also provided info on Vasconcelos autobiography.

A review of 'Presidents and Peons: Recollections of a Labor Ambassador in Latin America. by Serafino Romualdi' by robert Alexander, published July 1968. "I drew heavily on this source while telling about Serafino's life"