DEAD, SPECTERS AND DEVILS IN THE NARRATIVE OF JOSELÍN CERDA RODRÍGUEZ, TINOGASTA-BORN WRITER

Abstract

The narrative of Joselín Cerda Rodríguez, a writer from Catamarca, born in Tinogasta, is of special interest in the context of extensive research we are developing, as our graduate thesis project. We envisioned that it is a script which aims to produce a change in the extra-textual space, to the extent that it intends to be an expression of identity belonging (in the personal and collective sense that this term include) in which memory constitute a supporting point to recover and preserve the past of the primitive inhabitants of the Andean region and their descendants. The articulation of the text with the historical, geographical, social, cultural and symbolic context is one of the of the chosen approach viewpoints. The other perspective is the central theme and makes the study of the subject of death. The article is based on the hypothesis that there are no distinctions among living (people), dead and benevolent or malignant spirits in the narrated world; these othernesses go into and out to the represented everyday life and interact with the characters created in the text. In this contiguity between life and death is the core of meaning derived from the texts. Now, the point is to wonder what the reason is or what element(s) can be attributed to this particularity. Interpretative reading is supported by the following text: “La viuda”, “La salamanca” y “Don Pánfilo and La Luz Mala” from the works Tinogasta in the legend (1996), “El rostro de la muerte” from Cuentos de la realidad y la ficción (2001) and “El velorio” from Estampas del pasado (2002). We conclude that the mythical-symbolic background of the Northwest region and the Andean macro-region installs a spiritual culture, a way to express in everyday life and, therefore, to project on art.