GABRIELA MISTRAL AND HER WORLD: THE CREATION OF A MODERN LATIN AMERICAN POET AND INTELLECTUAL

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This seminar will analyze the work of Gabriela Mistral (1889-1957), the first Latin American woman and the only one to date to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature (1945), in the light of the political, social and economic crises of the new millennium, which will allow us to appreciate the validity of her thought: equal rights for women, the recognition of indigenous American peoples, the struggle for democracy and peace in contexts of war, the protection of children, the care and defense of the environment, among others. Mistral was read and misread, understood and misunderstood, in different contexts and times, however, the beauty and strength of her poetry and essays create a voice that is an undeniable contribution to the debates of our present. The seminar will seek to answer questions such as: Why Gabriela Mistral is today an indisputable figure for thinking indigenous struggles; What are the reasons to understand Mistral as an avant-garde woman; What are the reappropriations that social movements such as feminism and sexual dissidence in Chile and Latin America have made of Mistral's figure and work; Why her thought attracts new generations of young people; Is it possible to think of Mistral as a "trans" author because she crosses different borders (geographical, gender, social); According to the readings of Mistral's work, what advantages does it give the Chilean poet to elaborate a poetics of ambiguous writing; Can we think of Gabriela Mistral within the panorama of Latin Americanist thought, what would be her contributions to the discussions made by her male peers, among others. Students will learn in depth about Mistral's development as a writer and historical subject, as well as the geopolitical history in which she writes. Students will hone their ability to think critically about literature by receiving a variety of critical and theoretical approaches. Studying this course in Chile allows for knowledge of the country's rich and varied geography and its human geography, which will give depth to the study of Mistral's work.