Gutierre Tibón
Encyclopedia
Gutierre Tibón was an Italian-Mexican author. He wrote widely on issues of cultural identity, mixing ideas from anthropology, linguistics, psychology, philosophy, ethnology, sociology, and political science.
, Italy
. In his early years he worked as a typewriter salesman, later travelling widely in Europe and the Americas for his work. His visits to Mexico attracted him to the country, and he moved there in 1940. He established himself as a writer and radio personality. His first major work was on the culture and future prospects of Mexico. México, 1950, Un País en Futuro (1942) looked forward to what he called a México Feliz, which he thought could be achieved by 1950. He advocated strong leadership and government intervention to promote mass education. He later had a success with Viaje à la India por el Aire, which originated as broadcast conversations with the poet Ricardo López Méndez
about his travels in the Middle East on the way to India. Tibón's ability to mix anecdotes, philosophical observations and political commentary on the culture of the countries he passed through proved popular. He was awarded an honorary doctorate
by the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo
on 11 October 1946 for his writings.
and topographical names. His book América: Setenta siglos de la historia de un nombre (1945) constitutes what has been called a "novelized study in which a word is the chief character". He argues that the name "America" is "a masterpiece of chance", and proceeds to trace its etymology from the personal name of Amerigo Vespucci
to its Germanic original Amalric
and to ancient roots, which he claims to link to the meaning "land of industrious and powerful men". In Origen, Vida y Milagros de su Apellido, he extended this method to the discussion of personal names, providing elaborate historical genealogies and anecdotes to create a narrative of humanity though names. He was most interested in Spanish and Sephardic Jewish names.
In 1946 the Academia Mexicana de Genealogía y Heráldica
elected him as a Numbered Academician
In El Ombligo como centro cósmico (1981), he argued for the survivals of "paleolithic magic" in a "prenatal triad" of umbilical cord, placenta and amniotic sac and on the navel as "cosmic center". In Los Ritos Mágicos y Trágicos de la Pubertad Femenina (1984) he explored the "magic and tragic rites" of female puberty.
He was elected to the Academia Mexicana de la Lengua
as an honorary member on 10 December 1987.
Tibón died in Cuernavaca
, Morelos
in 1999.
Early career
Tibón was born in LombardyLombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. In his early years he worked as a typewriter salesman, later travelling widely in Europe and the Americas for his work. His visits to Mexico attracted him to the country, and he moved there in 1940. He established himself as a writer and radio personality. His first major work was on the culture and future prospects of Mexico. México, 1950, Un País en Futuro (1942) looked forward to what he called a México Feliz, which he thought could be achieved by 1950. He advocated strong leadership and government intervention to promote mass education. He later had a success with Viaje à la India por el Aire, which originated as broadcast conversations with the poet Ricardo López Méndez
Ricardo López Méndez
Ricardo López Méndez was a Mexican poet and song lyricist. He was born in Izamal, Yucatán. He became director of the Public Library and an advisor to Felipe Carrillo Puerto, governor of Yucatán from 1922 to 1924. In 1927 he moved to Mexico City as a representative of the government of Yucatán...
about his travels in the Middle East on the way to India. Tibón's ability to mix anecdotes, philosophical observations and political commentary on the culture of the countries he passed through proved popular. He was awarded an honorary doctorate
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
by the Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo
Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo
Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo is a public university in Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico, and the oldest institution of higher education in the Americas...
on 11 October 1946 for his writings.
Onomastics
Tibón has been especially interested in the history of personalPersonal name
A personal name is the proper name identifying an individual person, and today usually comprises a given name bestowed at birth or at a young age plus a surname. It is nearly universal for a human to have a name; except in rare cases, for example feral children growing up in isolation, or infants...
and topographical names. His book América: Setenta siglos de la historia de un nombre (1945) constitutes what has been called a "novelized study in which a word is the chief character". He argues that the name "America" is "a masterpiece of chance", and proceeds to trace its etymology from the personal name of Amerigo Vespucci
Amerigo Vespucci
Amerigo Vespucci was an Italian explorer, financier, navigator and cartographer. The Americas are generally believed to have derived their name from the feminized Latin version of his first name.-Expeditions:...
to its Germanic original Amalric
Amalric
Amalric is a personal name derived from the tribal name Amal and ric meaning "ruler, prince".* Amalaric, King of the Visigoths from 526 to 531* Malaric, King of the Suevi 585...
and to ancient roots, which he claims to link to the meaning "land of industrious and powerful men". In Origen, Vida y Milagros de su Apellido, he extended this method to the discussion of personal names, providing elaborate historical genealogies and anecdotes to create a narrative of humanity though names. He was most interested in Spanish and Sephardic Jewish names.
In 1946 the Academia Mexicana de Genealogía y Heráldica
Academia Mexicana de Genealogía y Heráldica
The Academia Mexicana de Genealogía y Heráldica is a cultural institution based in Mexico City, Mexico...
elected him as a Numbered Academician
Later work
His later writings continue his interest in names, but also branch out to include mysticist or occult topics. He developed the method of his book on America in his discussion of the origins of Mexico in Historia del nombre y de la fundación de México (1975).In El Ombligo como centro cósmico (1981), he argued for the survivals of "paleolithic magic" in a "prenatal triad" of umbilical cord, placenta and amniotic sac and on the navel as "cosmic center". In Los Ritos Mágicos y Trágicos de la Pubertad Femenina (1984) he explored the "magic and tragic rites" of female puberty.
He was elected to the Academia Mexicana de la Lengua
Academia Mexicana de la Lengua
The Academia Mexicana de la Lengua is the correspondent academy in Mexico of the Royal Spanish Academy...
as an honorary member on 10 December 1987.
Tibón died in Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico. It was established at the archeological site of Gualupita I by the Olmec, "the mother culture" of Mesoamerica, approximately 3200 years ago...
, Morelos
Morelos
Morelos officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Morelos is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 33 municipalities and its capital city is Cuernavaca....
in 1999.
External links
- bookfinder.com
- El Ombligo como centro cósmico
- Murió el escritor, antropólogo e historiador Gutierre Tibón La JornadaLa JornadaLa Jornada is one of Mexico City's leading daily newspapers. It was established in 1984 by Carlos Payán Velver. The current editor is Carmen Lira Saade...
, Obituary, 16 May 1999