David Viñas
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David Viñas (28 July 1927 – 10 March 2011) was an Argentine dramatist, critic, and novelist.


Life and career

Viñas was born and raised in
Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...
, and enrolled in the
University of Buenos Aires The University of Buenos Aires (, UBA) is a public university, public research university in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is the second-oldest university in the country, and the largest university of the country by enrollment. Established in 1821 ...
, becoming head of the
Argentine University Federation The Argentine University Federation (; FUA) is the most important student organization in Argentina. The FUA was created on April 11, 1918, within the University Reform student movement originated in Córdoba, which later spread through Latin Am ...
student organization. He published his first novel in 1955, and first came to wide attention when he won the Gerchunoff Prize for his novel ''Un Dios Cotidiano'' (1957). He received the National Prize for ''Jauria'' (1971). The following year, his play '' Lisandro'' won the National Prize for Theater. Viñas' work centers on
Argentine history The history of Argentina can be divided into four main parts: the pre-Columbian time or early history (up to the sixteenth century), the colonial period (1536–1809), the period of nation-building (1810–1880), and the history of modern Argenti ...
, and generally does not partake of the
magical realism Magical realism, magic realism, or marvelous realism is a style or genre of fiction and art that presents a realistic view of the world while incorporating magical elements, often blurring the lines between speculation and reality. ''Magical rea ...
favored by many of his contemporaries. He is deeply concerned with Argentina's legacy of
authoritarianism Authoritarianism is a political system characterized by the rejection of political plurality, the use of strong central power to preserve the political ''status quo'', and reductions in democracy, separation of powers, civil liberties, and ...
and the problems posed by the nature and historical dominance of the
Argentine military The Armed Forces of the Argentine Republic () are the combined armed forces of Argentina. It is controlled by the Commander-in-Chief (the President) and a civilian Minister of Defense. In addition to the Army, Navy and Air Force, there are two s ...
. Two of his children
disappeared An enforced disappearance (or forced disappearance) is the secret abduction or imprisonment of a person with the support or acquiescence of a state followed by a refusal to acknowledge the person's fate or whereabouts with the intent of placing ...
during the 1976-83
military regime A military dictatorship, or a military regime, is a type of dictatorship in which power is held by one or more military officers. Military dictatorships are led by either a single military dictator, known as a strongman, or by a council of mi ...
, and he spent that era in exile, returning to Argentina in 1984. He was an early mentor of critic and essayist
Beatriz Sarlo Beatriz Sarlo (29 March 1942 – 17 December 2024) was an Argentine literary and cultural critic. She was a founding editor of the cultural journal '' Punto de Vista'' ("Point of View"). She became an Order of Cultural Merit laureate in 2009. ...
, although he adhered to a more traditional leftist position than did Sarlo in later years. Following the election of left-wing
Peronist Peronism, also known as justicialism, is an Argentine ideology and movement based on the ideas, doctrine and legacy of Juan Perón (1895–1974). It has been an influential movement in 20th- and 21st-century Argentine politics. Since 1946, Pe ...
Néstor Kirchner Néstor Carlos Kirchner Ostoić (; 25 February 195027 October 2010) was an Argentine lawyer and politician who served as the president of Argentina from 2003 to 2007. A member of the Justicialist Party, he previously served as Governor of Sa ...
in 2003, he became a vocal supporter of his, and in 2008 co-founded ''
Carta Abierta Espacio Carta Abierta or Carta Abierta (English: ''Open Letter Spot'') is a group of Argentine intellectuals who formed in March 2008 in defense of the Cristina Fernández de Kirchner government, which was facing a 2008 Argentine government conflic ...
'' ("Open Letter") with journalist
Horacio Verbitsky Horacio Verbitsky (born February 11, 1942) is an Argentine investigative journalist and author with a history as a leftist guerrilla in the Montoneros. In the early 1990s, he reported on a series corruption scandals in the administration of Pres ...
, an informal
think tank A think tank, or public policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governme ...
of left-wing public figures in literature, journalism and academia who regularly publish opinion columns in defense of
Kirchnerism Kirchnerism ( ) is an Argentine political movement based on ideals formed by the supporters of spouses Néstor Kirchner and Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who consecutively served as Presidents of Argentina. Although considered a branch of Pero ...
.''Noticias'', 28 March 2009: Los pensadores de la corona. Viñas directed the Institute of Argentine Literature at his
Alma Mater Alma mater (; : almae matres) is an allegorical Latin phrase meaning "nourishing mother". It personifies a school that a person has attended or graduated from. The term is related to ''alumnus'', literally meaning 'nursling', which describes a sc ...
.


References


Further reading


''Argentina's Jewish Short Story Writers''
Rita M. Gardiol, 1986.


External links



1927 births 2011 deaths Argentine people of Spanish descent University of Buenos Aires alumni Academic staff of the University of Buenos Aires Latin Americanists Argentine male novelists Argentine dramatists and playwrights Members of Carta Abierta Argentine male dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Argentine novelists 20th-century dramatists and playwrights {{argentina-writer-stub