|
|
        
|
|
Bruno Buendia and the Memory of the 50's Generation
by Alexandra Pereira
2007-10-28 09:41:05 |
| Print - Comment - Send to a Friend - More from this Author |
   
 |
Peru’s 1950’s generation was a generation of ácratas, cursed vanguardists, a generation which actually “generated” something significant, more than a group of individuals with about the same age and mere reserved ambitions. Many members of this highly innovative generation of artists were coming from the provinces of the country, and they were somehow excluded in the boom-populated Lima because that's where they really got excluded (suburbs, fringes of the big city...), even more than in the provinces. Some of them travelled abroad for a while.
At the same time they refused – very reasonably, for someone who was born in the same cradle as some of the most amazing, complex and humanly developed ancient civilizations – to see Europe as the spiritual center of the world, they would denounce the political, religious and militarist abuse of power and human rights in their own country. Most of these artists ended up dead at some point, either killed, addicted (to alcohol, drugs) or suicidal, due to social and political pressures.
In spite of their original and critical works, this important intellectual movement which arose in the 50’s is not enough researched nor praised yet, as modern day Peru lives difficult times and academic-related, Spanish-inheritance fundamentalist scholars connected with the power and corruption structures dominate the country’s scenery.
In this scenery, Bruno Buendía, a 47-year old Peruvian writer, the son of another writer/painter/actor who was an important figure in the 1950's (Felipe Buendía), struggles in his own lonely fight. He tries to surpass all sorts of adversities in order to buy his father house in Lima and keep alive the memory of a whole generation of vanguardist artists (including his father) who were continuously cursed and put apart by consecutive Peruvian governments and the official establishment.
In Peru, drug businesses rule most private and non-private companies, unemployment level is great, corruption levels are huge, illiteracy is very high. There is famine right now (since the race for dollars made its invasion, due to influence of neighbour Chávez, and food got incredibly expensive for the common people). Bruno Buendía lives "well" compared with most Peruvians but can only eat two small "meals" a day, breakfast and lunch (which is not a good deal, because he has epilepsy, thus should eat very well always), and the money he gets with his books (which he distributes himself, around the country, and explore the richness of the ancient mythology, cross it with psychology, quechua, cryptology and a deep knowledge of contemporary literature tendencies) is never enough, nowadays, for daily expenses, the payment of taxes and to buy the house or keep memories alive. He has to buy medication and the food and basics are too expensive, although he's forced to work in other jobs as well… when they happen to exist.
Internet or mobile phone prices are not something reachable for a common Peruvian person. A refrigerator or a gas bottle for the cooker are luxuries in Peru. A lunch or dinner, in Peru, costs 1 euro. Half the population is under the poverty line. Epilepsy medication costs 30 to 40 euros in Peru… Most Peruvian families have to live with 63 euros per month. 90% of tourists go to Peru to consume or buy drugs, any money they leave they do it in Macchu Picchu or Lima and somehow does not reach common people. A lunch or dinner in Peru costs 1 euro. Save a beer per day and help to feed many people.
If you want to help Bruno Buendía in his endeavour to fairly keep alive the memory of an important and neglected part of Peruvian art and culture, please contact:
Bruno Buendía Sialer
Jiron Angaraes 855 - 204 Lima 1
Perú
Or send an e-mail to: trilce77@yahoo.com
Peru Poverty Ovi_magazine Ovi-lehti |
|
| Print - Comment - Send to a Friend - More from this Author |
|
|
|
Newsletter
Subscribe
Contact
Search
