The conception of the world present in subaltern literature revolves around social groups that are marginalized for some reason. It focuses on the way of thinking, convictions and beliefs held by these groups, considered to be of a lower category.
The conception of the world refers to a set of ideas about how authors perceive the society around them. That is why subaltern literature is characterized by presenting the conception of the world according to the experience of the writers, who were part of that group that was separated.
Source: Diliff, via Wikimedia Commons.
Many define subaltern literature as the publication of those stories that some do not want to see, hear or read. As happens with the story of the poverty of certain groups in society, the problems that exist or the stories about injustices that show the vision of the world that some groups have.
In order to recognize the conceptions of the world in subaltern literature, it is important to identify the beliefs of the characters, whether religious or otherwise.
The customs must also be identified, which allow us to know what they think and their interests. In addition, the motivations of the characters, what bothers them and the relationship they have with other people must be recognized.
When the worldview present in the subaltern literature is recognized, it is possible to understand the context that originated its creation.
History
The literature that talks about injustices is present today, but it had a greater boom at the beginning of the 20th century. During this time, a large number of events occurred at the political, economic and social level that found in the literature a means to reflect what was happening.
The term "subaltern literature" first appeared in the mid-20th century. It was based on the world views of oppressed groups. She dealt with racism, as well as other issues of a social, economic or political nature that had to do with fighting or opposing the hegemony of certain social groups.
The world that is narrated in subaltern literature shows the reality of secondary groups according to their codes. This means that the way these groups speak, how they subsist, their behavior, etc. is reflected.
characteristics
Subaltern literature was characterized by adopting current or modern means of communication to spread its works. It was really important for those authors who did not find a space or the necessary help to make themselves known.
One of the most widely used means of disseminating subaltern literature is the Internet. The reason for this is that it is a simple to use and easily accessible medium.
Subaltern literature alone shows the worldview of publishing houses. Since it arises as a new way of disseminating works and as an opposition to publishing houses, which often only cared about the profit they could obtain from a publication.
Most of these works are usually free or moderately priced.
Vision of the world
The conception of the world refers to the vision that one has about reality. This conception allows the human being to analyze his own nature, as well as that of everything that surrounds him.
In societies there are various conceptions of the world. Even, depending on the time of history, this may vary. The conception of the world is one of the most important characteristics of the narrative and can be observed in any type of work.
The essence of literature is to evaluate in a critical and orderly way the worldviews that have been given throughout history. The idea that each author has is the reflection of their attitude to the world and expresses what they think of the human being, of society, of love, of justice and even of death.
Changes in world view
Between 1911 and 1920, with the beginning and development of the First World War, the literature focuses almost entirely on the war chronicles. Here the world is perceived with a pessimistic character and there is much talk about the human condition due to social, political and economic changes around the planet.
During this time characters like Franz Kafka appear. The Czech writer was one of the most important and was in charge of writing about the impotence that human beings had before governments.
World War II also had a great impact on human consciousness. The order that had been established was questioned. Loneliness, the irrational and death were starting points for the literary world.
In places like Spain, during the Spanish civil war Catalan, Galician and Basque texts were banned. Literature became a means of denouncing the massacre.
At the end of the 20th century, the vision of the world is still marked by war conflicts. Issues of rebellion are covered, and the works that are made have a higher level of cosmopolitanism; that is, a literature appears where events that are common to larger groups are discussed.
Works and representatives
One of the most representative works of subaltern literature is More respect than I am your mother, by Hernán Casciari. It is one of the most important representatives of what is known as the novel blog. Casciari illustrates the daily problems that families have.
In the play Lola is introduced, who is a housewife concerned about the affairs that occur in her particular world.
Other authors such as the Chilean Armando Méndez Carrasco, Luis Cornejo Gamboa or Alfredo Gómez Morel use subaltern literature to show the vision, from within, of some marginal groups.
Alfredo Gómez Morel, for example, has a different worldview of the underworld than many other authors, since he grew up on the street and was a criminal even involved in drug trafficking.
In Latin America the authors of subaltern literature have been numerous. This genre even has famous writers, who saw in this type of literature an opportunity to avoid or escape the conventional problems of their lifestyles.
Gabriel García Márquez, Julio Cortázar or Mario Vargas Llosa are considered key pieces for the emergence of subaltern literature.
References
- Conception of the world. Recovered from Philosophy.org
- Gavilanes Bravo, A. (2019). The subaltern's narrative as a manifestation of the heterogeneous dimension of society. Recovered from memoriachilena.gob.cl
- Mambrol, N. (2016). Subaltern (Postcolonialism). Recovered from literariness.org
- Subaltern literature: a survey. Recovered from shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in
- Yunlei, L. (2007). The Rise of "Subaltern Literature" In the Twenty-First Century. Recovered from link.springer.com