Jorge Asís
Encyclopedia
Jorge Asís is an Argentine
writer and politician born 3 March 1946 in Avellaneda
, Buenos Aires province
.
, to a family of Syrian immigrants. From his youth he was drawn to literature and political activism.
Among his first major books is Los reventados ("The down-and-out"), a novella
about sundry characters seeking to make easy money in the context of Juan Perón
's return to Argentina in 1973. Some characters witness the 20 June 1973 Ezeiza massacre, which is narrated from their point of view.
During the 1970s, Asís (using the nom de plume Oberdán Rocamora) published a daily column in the daily Clarín
, in the tradition of Roberto Arlt
. In 1978, he reported (as Rocamora) from the South American rally
where he ran as co-pilot of a stock Citroen
car.
Asís rose to fame in 1980 with Flores robadas en los jardines de Quilmes (Flowers stolen in the gardens of Quilmes), where he relates the adventures of several young people experimenting with sex, careers, and politics in 1970s Argentina, centered around the narrator's relationship with a young woman from Quilmes, who eventually decides to leave the country. The book was dedicated to Haroldo Conti
, who was already a "desaparecido" at the time, and included bolder than accepted political statements in the era of the military junta's dictatorship
. That book became the first part of a trilogy named Canguros (lit. "Kangaroos
") that dealt with everyday life in Greater Buenos Aires
, sometimes from a lumpenproletariat
perspective.
In 1984, Asís released Diario de la Argentina ("Argentina's dairy"), a roman à clef
about his days in Clarín. Major newspapers were not thrilled to have their inner conflicts aired in public, and (informally) boycotted Asís and his work for several years.
During the 1980s, Asís became more involved in politics. He regularly attended meetings with intelligence operatives, which became the basis for the 1987 novel Partes de inteligencia ("Intelligence Reports"). During Raúl Alfonsín
's presidency, Asís gravitated towards the Justicialist Party
, and specifically supported presidential candidate Carlos Menem
. When Menem became President of Argentina
in 1989, Asís was appointed to several government and diplomatic posts, including ambassador to UNESCO
, Secretary of Culture, and ambassador to Portugal
.
After Menem's ten years as president, Asís remained in politics, and became a sought-after commentator in print, radio and TV, where his rich language and his flamboyancy set him apart from the more formal tone of most politicians. In the 2007 presidential election
, Asís ran for vice president sharing a ticket with Jorge Sobisch
, a former governor of Neuquén province
. The ticket attained approximately 1.6% of the national vote, finishing in sixth place.
In spite of his commitment with leftist ideology, the social realism of his works was misrepresented by some critics as "colaborationism" with the dictatorship, owing to the success of Flores robadas en los jardines de Quilmes during the regime. His style is judged close to the 19 century realistic novel.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
writer and politician born 3 March 1946 in Avellaneda
Avellaneda
Avellaneda is a port city in the province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the seat of the Avellaneda Partido, whose population was 328,980 as per the ....
, Buenos Aires province
Buenos Aires Province
The Province of Buenos Aires is the largest and most populous province of Argentina. It takes the name from the city of Buenos Aires, which used to be the provincial capital until it was federalized in 1880...
.
Biography
Asís was born in Avellaneda, a working/middle-class suburb of Buenos AiresBuenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, to a family of Syrian immigrants. From his youth he was drawn to literature and political activism.
Among his first major books is Los reventados ("The down-and-out"), a novella
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
about sundry characters seeking to make easy money in the context of Juan Perón
Juan Perón
Juan Domingo Perón was an Argentine military officer, and politician. Perón was three times elected as President of Argentina though he only managed to serve one full term, after serving in several government positions, including the Secretary of Labor and the Vice Presidency...
's return to Argentina in 1973. Some characters witness the 20 June 1973 Ezeiza massacre, which is narrated from their point of view.
During the 1970s, Asís (using the nom de plume Oberdán Rocamora) published a daily column in the daily Clarín
Clarín (newspaper)
Clarín is the largest newspaper in Argentina, published by the Grupo Clarín media group. It was founded by Roberto Noble on 28 August 1945. It is politically centrist but popularly understood to oppose the Kirchner government...
, in the tradition of Roberto Arlt
Roberto Arlt
Roberto Arlt was an Argentine writer.-Biography:He was born Roberto Godofredo Christophersen Arlt in Buenos Aires on April 2, 1900. His parents were both immigrants: his father Karl Arlt was a Prussian from Posen and his mother was Ekatherine Iobstraibitzer, a native of Trieste and Italian speaking...
. In 1978, he reported (as Rocamora) from the South American rally
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
where he ran as co-pilot of a stock Citroen
Citroën
Citroën is a major French automobile manufacturer, part of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group.Founded in 1919 by French industrialist André-Gustave Citroën , Citroën was the first mass-production car company outside the USA and pioneered the modern concept of creating a sales and services network that...
car.
Asís rose to fame in 1980 with Flores robadas en los jardines de Quilmes (Flowers stolen in the gardens of Quilmes), where he relates the adventures of several young people experimenting with sex, careers, and politics in 1970s Argentina, centered around the narrator's relationship with a young woman from Quilmes, who eventually decides to leave the country. The book was dedicated to Haroldo Conti
Haroldo Conti
Haroldo Conti|thumb|right|150pxHaroldo Conti was an Argentine writer, screenwriter, teacher and Latin professor. On May 5, 1976 he disappeared during the Proceso de Reorganización Nacional military dictatorship, on this day the "Día del Escritor Bonaerense" is held in his honour.- Biography...
, who was already a "desaparecido" at the time, and included bolder than accepted political statements in the era of the military junta's dictatorship
National Reorganization Process
The National Reorganization Process was the name used by its leaders for the military government that ruled Argentina from 1976 to 1983. In Argentina it is often known simply as la última junta militar or la última dictadura , because several of them existed throughout its history.The Argentine...
. That book became the first part of a trilogy named Canguros (lit. "Kangaroos
KangaROOS
KangaROOS are an American brand of sneaker originally produced from 1979 through the 1980s, with a later revival that continues in present. They were notable for having a small zippered pocket on the side of the shoe, large enough for a small amount of loose change, keys, or more recently,...
") that dealt with everyday life in Greater Buenos Aires
Greater Buenos Aires
Greater Buenos Aires is the generic denomination to refer to the megalopolis comprising the autonomous city of Buenos Aires and the conurbation around it, over the province of Buenos Aires—namely the adjacent 24 partidos or municipalities—which nonetheless do not constitute a single administrative...
, sometimes from a lumpenproletariat
Lumpenproletariat
Lumpenproletariat, a collective term from Lumpenproletarier , was first defined by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels in The German Ideology and later elaborated on in other works by Marx...
perspective.
In 1984, Asís released Diario de la Argentina ("Argentina's dairy"), a roman à clef
Roman à clef
Roman à clef or roman à clé , French for "novel with a key", is a phrase used to describe a novel about real life, overlaid with a façade of fiction. The fictitious names in the novel represent real people, and the "key" is the relationship between the nonfiction and the fiction...
about his days in Clarín. Major newspapers were not thrilled to have their inner conflicts aired in public, and (informally) boycotted Asís and his work for several years.
During the 1980s, Asís became more involved in politics. He regularly attended meetings with intelligence operatives, which became the basis for the 1987 novel Partes de inteligencia ("Intelligence Reports"). During Raúl Alfonsín
Raúl Alfonsín
Raúl Ricardo Alfonsín was an Argentine lawyer, politician and statesman, who served as the President of Argentina from December 10, 1983, to July 8, 1989. Alfonsín was the first democratically-elected president of Argentina following the military government known as the National Reorganization...
's presidency, Asís gravitated towards the Justicialist Party
Justicialist Party
The Justicialist Party , or PJ, is a Peronist political party in Argentina, and the largest component of the Peronist movement.The party was led by Néstor Kirchner, President of Argentina from 2003 to 2007, until his death on October 27, 2010. The current Argentine president, Cristina Fernández de...
, and specifically supported presidential candidate Carlos Menem
Carlos Menem
Carlos Saúl Menem is an Argentine politician who was President of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. He is currently an Argentine National Senator for La Rioja Province.-Early life:...
. When Menem became President of Argentina
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
in 1989, Asís was appointed to several government and diplomatic posts, including ambassador to UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
, Secretary of Culture, and ambassador to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
.
After Menem's ten years as president, Asís remained in politics, and became a sought-after commentator in print, radio and TV, where his rich language and his flamboyancy set him apart from the more formal tone of most politicians. In the 2007 presidential election
Argentine general election, 2007
Argentina held national presidential and legislative elections on October 28, 2007, and elections for provincial governors took place on staggered dates throughout the year. For the national elections, each of the 23 provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires are considered electoral districts...
, Asís ran for vice president sharing a ticket with Jorge Sobisch
Jorge Sobisch
Jorge Omar Sobisch is an Argentine centre-right politician, formerly governor of Neuquén Province. He leads the Neuquén People's Movement and was a candidate for President of Argentina in 2007.-Biography:...
, a former governor of Neuquén province
Neuquén Province
Neuquén is a province of Argentina, located in the west of the country, at the northern end of Patagonia. It borders Mendoza Province to the north, Rio Negro Province to the southeast, and Chile to the west...
. The ticket attained approximately 1.6% of the national vote, finishing in sixth place.
In spite of his commitment with leftist ideology, the social realism of his works was misrepresented by some critics as "colaborationism" with the dictatorship, owing to the success of Flores robadas en los jardines de Quilmes during the regime. His style is judged close to the 19 century realistic novel.
Novels
- La manifestación (1971)
- Don Abdel Zalim, El burlador de Domínico(1972)
- La familia tipo (1974)
- Los reventados (1974)
- Flores robadas en los jardines de Quilmes (1980)
- Carne Picada (1981)
- La calle de los caballos muertos (1982)
- Canguros (1983)
- Diario de la Argentina (1984)
- El pretexto de París (1986)
- Partes de inteligencia (1987)
- Cuaderno del acostado (1988)
- El cineasta y la partera (y el sociólogo marxista que murió de amor) (1989)
- La línea de Hamlet o la ética de la traición (1995)
- Lesca, el fascista irreductible (2000)
- Del Flore Al Montparnasse (2000)
- Excelencias de la NADA (2001)
- Cuentos Completos (2005)
Non-fiction
- El Buenos Aires de Oberdán Rocamora (1981)
- La Ficción Política (1985)
- La Marroquinería Política (2006)
- El Descascaramiento (2007)
- La elegida y el elegidor (2008)