Carlos Monsivais Aceves (1938-2010) was a Mexican writer, journalist and chronicler. He has been recognized as one of the most important contemporary writers. His literary work was abundant and prolific, encompassing various genres, among which the chronicle and the essay stand out..
Monsiváis's writings were characterized by being critical and by the use of clear, precise and shrewd language. Some of his most important titles were: The rituals of chaos, Aires de familia. Culture and society in Latin America Y The Mexican poetry of the century.
The literary work of Carlos Monsiváis made him worthy of a large number of awards and recognitions. He obtained the National Journalism Prize of his country in 1977: the Prince Claus Prize of the Netherlands. In addition, he received the honoris causa by various universities, both in Mexico and in other countries.
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Carlos was born on May 4, 1938 in Mexico City, into a low-income but hard-working family. His parents were Salvador Aceves and Esther Monsiváis. It was her, her mother, who took the address of the home, and perhaps that is why the writer decided to take her last name first.
The early formative years of Carlos Monsiváis were spent in his native Mexico City. He started at a French high school, but then his mother decided to change him to a public school, because one day he came home saying rude things. From an early age the chronicler showed interest in writing.
Upon completing high school and high school, he entered the National Autonomous University of Mexico to study at the faculties of economics, philosophy and letters. The writer supplemented his academic training by studying theology at the Presbyterian Seminary.
Monsiváis's vocation for letters began at a very young age, so at an early age he began to collaborate in different media in his country, both in newspapers and magazines. Its first publication appeared in 1966, under the title: Carlos Monsivais, autobiography.
From his beginnings as a journalism professional, Monsiváis took a critical stance on various national issues. He was, then, an expositor of the ideas and activities that opposed any hint of tyranny and abuse of power. Hence his support for social, student and feminist movements.
The free and respectful essence of the Mexican writer led him to promote social campaigns in support of the less favored. He advocated for public education to reach the poorest, while being an advocate for animal rights and supporting homosexuals.
Monsivais was also passionate about cinema, and that led him to have a wide participation in the seventh art. For a decade he was part of the radio program Cinema and criticism, from the Autonomous University of Mexico. He also played some characters in several movies.
The work and professional life of Monsiváis led him to work as editor and director of several magazines. He was editor-in-chief at Half century, between 1956 and 1958, at the same time as Seasons, from 1957 to 1959. Later he was director of Culture in Mexico, between 1972 and 1987.
Carlos Monsivais spent time outside of Mexico in the 1970s, following an invitation from the University of Essex, England. At that time he served as a professor in the subjects of Latin American literature and translation at said institution. During that period he corresponded with his friend José Martínez.
The time he spent abroad gave the writer the opportunity to review and reflect on the ideas and thoughts he had in relation to Mexico. Carlos delved, above all, in the culture and literature of his country, so he strengthened his patriotism and strengthened his position on the issues that concerned him.
Although Monsiváis developed several literary genres, in the essay he found greater expressive freedom, which is why it was his favorite. Through a precise and well-developed language, he developed topics of social and cultural interest, from his critical vision.
Some of his most memorable and prominent essays were: Principalities and powers, Characteristics of the national culture, Family airs: culture and society in Latin America, Y I bless you life. It was this genre that gave him the greatest recognition and awards.
Carlos Monsivais was a man devoted to letters. His last years of life were spent between publications and awards. His most outstanding books were: From the ranch to the internet, Protestantism, diversity and tolerance, El 68, the tradition of resistance Y To open that door.
The health of the Mexican journalist, over the years, began to deteriorate. In April 2010, he was admitted to a clinical center, until he died on June 19 of that same year, due to respiratory failure. He received several posthumous tributes.
The literary work of Carlos Monsiváis was characterized by the use of clear, expressive, precise and critical language. They also highlighted the different humorous features that he used, especially irony and satire. He also proved to be the possessor of an uninhibited pen and almost always witty.
As for the theme developed by the Mexican writer, there were the social, political, historical and cultural aspects of his time. Animals, the poor, homosexuals, education and abortion were just some of the themes that Monsiváis exposed in his work.
- National Journalism Award in 1977.
- Doctor Honoris Causa from the Autonomous University of Sinaloa in 1979.
- Master Honoris Causa from the Autonomous University of the State of Mexico in 1980.
- Jorge Cuesta Award in 1986.
- Manuel Buendía Award in 1988.
- Mazatlán Prize for Literature, in 1988, for his work Scenes of modesty and lightness.
- National Journalism Award, in 1995.
- Xavier Villaurrutia Award, in 1995 for the essay The rituals of chaos.
- Doctor Honoris Causa by the Metropolitan Autonomous University, in 1995.
- Lya Kostakowsky Award, in 1998.
- Prince Claus Award for Culture and Development (Netherlands), in 1998.
- Anagrama Award (Spain), in 2000, for the essay Aires de familia: culture and society of Latin America.
- Doctor Honoris Causa from the Autonomous University of Puebla, in 2000.
- Gabriela Mistral Medal (Chile), in 2001.
- Alejo Zuloaga Order from the University of Carabobo (Venezuela), in 2002.
- Medal of Merit by the Universidad Veracruzana in 2003.
- Doctor Honoris Causa by the Autonomous University of the State of Hidalgo, in 2004.
- Commander of the May Order of Merit (Argentina), in 2004.
- Royal Certificate of Cholula, Puebla, in 2005.
- National Prize of Sciences and Arts, in 2005.
- Doctor Honoris Causa from the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (Peru) in 2005.
- FIL Prize for Literature, in 2006.
- Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Arizona, in 2006.
- Ramón López Velarde Ibero-American Award, in 2006.
- Doctor Honoris Causa from the Universidad Veracruzana, in 2007.
- Rosario Castellanos Medal, in 2007.
- Gold Medal for Fine Arts, in 2008.
- Presea Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz by the University of the Cloister of Sor Juana, in 2008.
- Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Nuevo León, in 2008.
- Doctor Honoris Causa from the San Luis Potosí University, in 2009.
- Doctor Honoris Causa by the National Autonomous University of Mexico, in 2010.
- Posthumous recognition for equality and non-discrimination by the National Council to Prevent Discrimination, in 2015.
- Principalities and powers (1969).
- Save days (1970).
- Notes on Mexican culture in the twentieth century, in General History of Mexico (1976).
- Lost love (1977).
- Crime in the cinema (1977).
- Urban culture and intellectual creation. The Mexican case (nineteen eighty one).
- When the bankers leave (1982).
- What is the lawyer laughing at? A chronicle of the 40s (1984).
- Confrontations (1985).
- The power of the image and the image of power. Press photos of the Porfiriato of the present time (1985).
- Free entry. Chronicles of the society that is organized (1987).
- Scenes of modesty and lightness (1988).
- The epistolary genre. A tribute as an open letter (1991).
- The Insurgent Theater, 1953-1993 (1993).
- No time limit with space limit: art, city, people, Carlos Monsiváis collection (1993).
- Faces of Mexican cinema (1993).
- For my mother, bohemians I (1993).
- The thousand and one wakes. Chronicle of the red note (1994).
- Lunette and gallery (1994).
- The rituals of chaos (nineteen ninety five).
- Mexican popular culture (nineteen ninety five).
- Family air. Collection of Carlos Monsiváis (nineteen ninety five).
- Ten seconds of national cinema (nineteen ninety five).
- Bolero (nineteen ninety five).
- Mexican cinema cookbook (nineteen ninety six).
- From the ranch to the internet (1999).
- Family airs. Culture and society of Latin America (2000).
- The hidden legacies of 19th century liberal thought (2000).
- Image Traditions: Notes on Mexican Poetry (2001).
- Protestantism, diversity and tolerance (2002).
- Bolero: key to the heart (2004).
- Not without us. The days of the 1985-2005 earthquake (2005).
- The hidden legacies of the 19th century Liberal Reform (2006).
- Living Tradition Images (2006).
- The lost allusions (2006).
- The secular state and its evildoers (2008).
- 1968, the tradition of resistance (2008).
- Write, for example. Of the inventions of tradition (2008).
- The thousand and one wakes. Chronicle of the red note in Mexico (2009).
- Personal anthology (2009).
- Apocalipstick (2009).
- Minimal history of Mexican culture in the 20th century (2010).
- Democracy first call. The student movement of 1968 (2010).
- To open that door. Chronicles and essays on sexual diversity (2010).
- The idols swim. A global anthology (Posthumous edition, 2011).
- Essential Anthology (Posthumous edition, 2012).
- The traveling essences. Towards a cultural chronicle of the Bicentennial of Independence (Posthumous edition, 2012).
- Wonders that are, shadows that were. Photography in Mexico (Posthumous edition, 2012).
- Approaches and refunds (Posthumous edition, 2012).
- Feminist misogynist (Posthumous edition, 2013).
It was one of the most important essay works of the Mexican writer. The author, in this work, emphasized the different cultural and historical changes in Latin America during the 20th century. Sarcasm displays are evident as part of the essence of Monsivais.
The intention of Carlos Monsiváis was to reflect the incipient awakening of consciousness that the American continent began to have about the cultural, historical, social and political diversity that was looming. It was a mix of the triumphs and disagreements of a developing territory.
“The unique version of what is boring and entertaining has been paid very expensive in Latin America, which from television is transferred to everyday life, culture and politics ... if you get bored you will stay with your favorite identity, the one from which it it goes well with what they give it ".
It was a speech that the Mexican writer gave in the framework of the International Book Fair in 2006, where his work was recognized. The central theme of this essay was education and reading as necessary tools to humanize society.
“Attention to technology dispels entire provinces of knowledge and corners scholarship. A scholar is no longer, socially speaking, a sage, but a friendly repository of insignificance that they do not think they know ... ".
- Mexican poetry of the twentieth century (1966).
- Mexican poetry II, 1915-1979 (1979).
- You know it. Anthology of the chronicle of Mexico (1980).
- The fugitive remains. 21 Mexican tales (1984).
- Mexican poetry II, 1915-1985 (1985).
- Carlos Monsivais, autobiography (1966).
- Celia Montalván, you give yourself voluptuous and impudent (1982).
- Maria Izquierdo (1986).
- Luís García Guerrero: novelty of the landscape (1987).
- Jose Chavez Morado (1989).
- Mexican scenes in the work of Teresa Nava (1997).
- Salvador Novo. The marginal in the center (2000).
- Where I am you are we. Octavio Paz: chronicle of life and work (2000).
- Novoamor (2001).
- I bless you life. Amado Nervo: chronicle of life and work (2002).
- Carlos Pellicer: iconography (2003).
- Anita Brenner: Vision of an Age (2006).
- Frida Kahlo (2007).
- Rosa Covarrubias: an American who loved Mexico (2007).
- Pedro Infante: the laws of wanting (2008).
- Sacred, moral and laudatory lyric (2009).
- Monsivaisiana. Aphorisms of a people who want to be a citizen (2010).
- Help yourself that God will help you (2011).
- History Why? (1987).
- Mexican myths (nineteen ninety five).
- Passion in Iztapalapa (2008).
- Verbal riddles (Posthumous edition, 2012).
- New catechism for remiss Indians (1982).
It is important to highlight that the literary work of Carlos Monsiváis gave rise to other authors and writers to carry out some translations, and to criticize his bibliographic material. Next we will see some of the most outstanding works.
- Mexican postcards (1997). Translated by John Kraniauskas.
- A new catechism for recalcitrant Indians (2007). Translated by Nidia Castrillón and Jeffrey Browitt.
- Obrady chaosu (2007). Translated into Czech by Markéta Riebová.
- Carlos Monsiváis à l'écoute du peuple mexicain (2004).
- Carlos Monsiváis: culture and chronicle in contemporary Mexico (2004).
- Nothing Mexican is foreign to me: six papers about Carlos Monsiváis (2005).
- The city as a text: the urban chronicle of Carlos Monsiváis (2006).
- Approaches to Carlos Monsiváis (2006).
- The art of irony: Carlos Monsiváis before criticism (2007).
- The essential conscience. Essays on Carlos Monsiváis (2009).
- The eccentricity of the text. The poetic character of the new catechism for remiss Indians (2010).
- Where are you going, Monsivais? Guide of the D.F. by Carlos Monsiváis (2010).
- 17 poems for Monsiváis (2010).
- Sansimonsi (2013).
- Frida Kahlo, a life, a work (1992). With Rafael Vásquez Bayod.
- Through the Looking Glass: Mexican Cinema and Its Audience (1994). With Carlos Bonfil.
- War party. Tlatelolco 1968. Documents of General Marcelino García Barragán. The facts and the story (1999). With Julio Scherer.
- War Part II. The faces of '68. New photographic evidence (2002). With Julio Scherer.
- Leopoldo Méndez 1902-2002 (2002). With Rafael Barajas and Laura González.
- Time to know. Press and power in Mexico (2003). With Julio Scherer,
- The patriots: from Tlatelolco to war (2004). With Julio Scherer.
- The historic center of Mexico City (2006). With Francis Alÿs.
- The gloomy traveler: Julio Ruelas modernist, 1870-1907 (2007). With Antonio Saborit and Teresa del Conde.
- “The poor will never be modern. They communicate through anecdotes, not statistics ".
- "I cannot make a summary of my life, because it is made up of various times and circumstances, books, friendships and lawsuits, and that, only admits partial summaries".
- “It is false that those of the ruling class are racists. The racists are the Indians and the Naco, and the plebs and the unhappy, who prefer to fail as long as they do not treat us ".
- "Many say that they have fulfilled their duty, and I am very happy not to have fulfilled even the slightest part of it, to the misfortune or fortune of this country".
- “Don't call him cynicism anymore. Tell him sincerity ".
- "My definition of failure: one who relies on his own merits to do it".
- "To what extent is an abandoned person responsible for his actions, without resources or specific capacity, driven mad by mistreatment, indifference and the impossibility of feeding his own?".
- "In the beginning it was the orgasm, the utopia renewable daily".
- "If no one guarantees you tomorrow, today becomes immense".
- "The conceivable homeland is the autobiography, telling some that someone has been".
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