1. THE INFLUENCE OF DICTATORS IN LATIN AMERICAN LITERATURE Presented by: Kaitlyn Archambault Ellen Cynar

2. Presentation Preview Caribbean/ Island Nations – Rafael Trujillo- Dominican Republic – Gerardo Machado y Morales- Cuba South America – Juan Manuel de Rosas- Argentina – Dictators and Gabriel García Márquez

3. The Shared Experience Latin America: “The Continent of Dictators” Reoccurring Themes: – Tyranny – Power – Evil – Marriage of American Imperialism and Latin American Tyrant. Dictators provided fodder and were catalysts for artistic expression. Literature becomes a translation of this political, social, and economic experience.

4. Rafael Trujillo- Dominican Republic 1891-1930 Became head of Dominican National Guard created by U.S. in 1924, a power position that helped him later in elections. Ran against Horacio Vasquez for president and won in 1930. Established secret police that tortured and murdered opposition; was supported by U.S. because of his anti- communist attitude. Was assassinated in 1961 when car was machine gunned by group of men.

5. Mario Vargas Llosa- Peru 1936- Peruvian novelist, playwright, journalist, and literary critic, Vargas Llosa began literary career in Europe but most novels set in Latin America. Ran for president of Peru in 1990 against Fujimori, lost. In 2000, published The Feast of the Goat (La fiesta del chivo). Novel about the Dominican dictator Trujillo (whose nickname was “el chivo”). Writes “The dictator is a creation of the masses. They are mutually dependent and cannot exist without each other.” “There is an incompatibility between literary creation and political activity.”

6. Gerardo Machado y Morales- Cuba 1871-1939 Started out as a business man, first in sugar, later in electricity. Ran for president in 1924 with support of President Zayas and won. Once in power, he outlawed new parties, took over existing parties; bribed military into siding with him; controlled congress. Changed constitution in 1927 to extend presidential term, again in 1928. Overthrown in 1933, fled to Miami, Florida. Dies there in 1939.

7. Alejo Carpentier- Cuba 1904-1980 In political exile in Paris 1928- 1939 (fled country from Machado). Wrote during literary boom- 1960s-70s); writings fall into genre of “magic realism.” Novel influenced by Machado’s dictatorship Reason of State (El recurso del metado) 1975. Died of cancer in 1980.

8. Juan Manuel de Rosas- Argentina 1793–1877 Became wealthy through large scale ranching. Rose to power as a caudillo in a movement for conservatives and federalism, although in the end he was overall anti-federalist. Represented the estancieros, the new oligarchy based on commercial ranching, who were generally against the indigenous. Created a government of tyranny and fear. Overthrown in 1852. Contributed to the unification of Argentina.

9. Domingo F. Sarmiento- Argentina Rosas contributed to literary classics by exiled writers such as Sarmiento, who was opposed to him and spent a year in Chile. Became interested in politics; President of the Republic from 1868- 1874. Facundo: Civilizacion y Barbarie (1845) – Regarded as the first great literary work about a L. American dictator. – L. American problems derived from the clash of the Europeanized urban and the barbarism of the rural class. – Contributed to the idea of “contra/ versus” in both politics and literature, ex: wealthy vs. gauchos.

10. The Autumn of the Patriarch/ El otoño del patriarca By Gabriel García Márquez from Colombia. Reflects back at the life of a L. American dictator, whose body is found in ruins. Theme of decay, barbarism, squalor, and corruption. Dictator is a combination of the many L. American dictators García Márquez was exposed to in his life (Colombia, Venezuela, Spain, Dominican Republic). “A poem on the solitude of power.”- García Márquez

11. Colombian Dictators and The Autumn of the Patriarch Laureano Gómez – 1889-1965 – Conservative politician who symbolized clerical and authoritarian values. – Admired Hitler and Franco. – Greatly contributed to “la violencia.” Gustavo Rojas Pinilla – 1900-1975 – Led coup that ousted Gómez in 1953. – Brutally suppressed opposition and regime was very corrupt. – Ousted by junta in 1957.

12. Additional Dictators and The Autumn of the Patriarch Francisco Franco- Spain (1892-1975) – Rose to power during Spanish Civil War (1936-39). – Friend of Hitler and Mussolini; strategic during WWII. – García Márquez lived in Barcelona during his regime. Marcos Pérez Jiménez- Venezuela (1914-2001) – Led coup in 1945 and became self appointed president. – Brutal repression yet spent money on aesthetic structures in Venezuela.

13. Conclusion Despite the ranging geography, time span, culture, and history, “the dictator” had a common influence on the literature of Latin America. Authors used the political culture to provide literary commentary as well as present a historical background for their work.

14. Bibliography Alejo Carpentier http://www.ups.edu/faculty/velez/FL380/Carmain.htmhttp://www.ups.edu/faculty/velez/FL380/Carmain.htm Chanady, Amaryll Beatrice. Magical Realism and the Fantastic. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc, 1985. Martin, Gerald. Journeys Through the Labyrinth: Latin American Fiction in the Twentieth Century. London & NY: Verso, 1989. Moses, Valdez Michael. Big Daddy: The dictator novel and the liberation of Latin America: The Feast of the Goat, book review. Reason Foundation, 2002. www.find articles.com/p/articles/mi_m1565/is_4_34/ai_89389299www.find articles.com/p/articles/mi_m1565/is_4_34/ai_89389299 Rama, Ángel. Los dictadores latino americanos. México D.F.: Fondo de Cultura Economica, 1976. Sandoval, Adriana. Los dictadores y la dictadura en la novela hispaniamericana: 1851-1978. México D.F.: Universidad National Autónoma de México, 1989.