William Spindler
Encyclopedia
William Spindler, born in Guatemala City
, Guatemala
in 1963. He is a Guatemalan writer and journalist, whose works include fiction, poetry, and journalism in English and Spanish. He is the author of a novel Paises lejanos, (Magna Terra Editores, 2011, Colección Narrativa) and a book of short stories, “Expediciones”, published in Bogota, Colombia in 2004. He was educated at the Liceo Guatemala school where he obtained a Bachillerato en Ciencias y Letras (Bachelors in Sciences and Letters) in September 1980. He completed his further education in London
, UK
after his family moved there in 1981. In 1988 he graduated from the Polytechnic of the South Bank (now the University of the South Bank) in London with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages and International Studies.
As a student, Spindler began to contribute articles, short stories, poetry and book reviews to various newspapers and magazines in the United Kingdom. He wrote both in English and Spanish, sometimes using the name William Spindler Li. While studying for a Masters degree at the University of Southampton
, Spindler and other Latin American students founded the literary review Encuentros which published fiction, poetry and criticism.
After obtaining his Masters degree at the University of Southampton with a thesis on magic realism
, Spindler moved to Essex University to explore the subject of his thesis further with a world expert in indigenous artistic and literary sources, with a focus on Latin America
. In 1996, Spindler obtained a PhD from the Department of Art History and Theory of the University of Essex
, for his work on magic realism
and the Latin American novel. His article "Magic realism: a typology" is often quoted in scholarly works on the subject.
In this article, Spindler suggests that there are three kinds of magic realism, which however, are by no means incompatible: European ‘metaphysical’ magic realism, with its sense of estrangement and the uncanny, exemplified by Kafka’s fiction, ‘ontological’ magical realism, characterized by ‘matter-of-factness’ in relating ‘inexplicable’ events, and ‘anthropological’ magical realism, where a Native worldview is set side by side to the Western rational worldview.
It has been argued, however, that this definition is tainted by Western biases, not least a bias for mimesis, art as imitation of life and nature. Furthermore, Spindler’s typology of magic realism
has been criticized as “an act of categorization which seeks to define Magic Realism as a culturally specific project, by identifying for his readers those (non-modern) societies where myth and magic persist and where Magic Realism might be expected to occur. There are several objections to this type of analysis. It needs to be recognized that models of Western rationalism may not actually describe Western modes of thinking and it is certainly possible to conceive of instances where both these orders of knowledge are simultaneously possible.”
In his Ph.D. dissertation, “Magical Insurrections: Cultural Resistance and the Magic Realist Novel in Latin America”, Spindler discusses extensively the cultural issues that magic realism
brings about in Latin American narrative. He also explores how the notion of cultural resistance has been incorporated into five Latin American magic realist novels.
Before finishing his Ph.D., Spindler undertook some freelance journalism with the Latin American section of the BBC World Service
and the Financial Times
in Haiti. After a short spell working with the United Nations in Mozambique, Spindler joined the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR). William Spindler is currently a spokesman for the UNHCR. He is the author of many articles on humanitarian and refugee
issues.
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
, Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
in 1963. He is a Guatemalan writer and journalist, whose works include fiction, poetry, and journalism in English and Spanish. He is the author of a novel Paises lejanos, (Magna Terra Editores, 2011, Colección Narrativa) and a book of short stories, “Expediciones”, published in Bogota, Colombia in 2004. He was educated at the Liceo Guatemala school where he obtained a Bachillerato en Ciencias y Letras (Bachelors in Sciences and Letters) in September 1980. He completed his further education in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
after his family moved there in 1981. In 1988 he graduated from the Polytechnic of the South Bank (now the University of the South Bank) in London with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages and International Studies.
As a student, Spindler began to contribute articles, short stories, poetry and book reviews to various newspapers and magazines in the United Kingdom. He wrote both in English and Spanish, sometimes using the name William Spindler Li. While studying for a Masters degree at the University of Southampton
University of Southampton
The University of Southampton is a British public university located in the city of Southampton, England, a member of the Russell Group. The origins of the university can be dated back to the founding of the Hartley Institution in 1862 by Henry Robertson Hartley. In 1902, the Institution developed...
, Spindler and other Latin American students founded the literary review Encuentros which published fiction, poetry and criticism.
After obtaining his Masters degree at the University of Southampton with a thesis on magic realism
Magic realism
Magic realism or magical realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world. The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the "real" and the "fantastic" in the same stream of...
, Spindler moved to Essex University to explore the subject of his thesis further with a world expert in indigenous artistic and literary sources, with a focus on Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. In 1996, Spindler obtained a PhD from the Department of Art History and Theory of the University of Essex
University of Essex
The University of Essex is a British campus university whose original and largest campus is near the town of Colchester, England. Established in 1963 and receiving its Royal Charter in 1965...
, for his work on magic realism
Magic realism
Magic realism or magical realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world. The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the "real" and the "fantastic" in the same stream of...
and the Latin American novel. His article "Magic realism: a typology" is often quoted in scholarly works on the subject.
In this article, Spindler suggests that there are three kinds of magic realism, which however, are by no means incompatible: European ‘metaphysical’ magic realism, with its sense of estrangement and the uncanny, exemplified by Kafka’s fiction, ‘ontological’ magical realism, characterized by ‘matter-of-factness’ in relating ‘inexplicable’ events, and ‘anthropological’ magical realism, where a Native worldview is set side by side to the Western rational worldview.
It has been argued, however, that this definition is tainted by Western biases, not least a bias for mimesis, art as imitation of life and nature. Furthermore, Spindler’s typology of magic realism
Magic realism
Magic realism or magical realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world. The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the "real" and the "fantastic" in the same stream of...
has been criticized as “an act of categorization which seeks to define Magic Realism as a culturally specific project, by identifying for his readers those (non-modern) societies where myth and magic persist and where Magic Realism might be expected to occur. There are several objections to this type of analysis. It needs to be recognized that models of Western rationalism may not actually describe Western modes of thinking and it is certainly possible to conceive of instances where both these orders of knowledge are simultaneously possible.”
In his Ph.D. dissertation, “Magical Insurrections: Cultural Resistance and the Magic Realist Novel in Latin America”, Spindler discusses extensively the cultural issues that magic realism
Magic realism
Magic realism or magical realism is an aesthetic style or genre of fiction in which magical elements blend with the real world. The story explains these magical elements as real occurrences, presented in a straightforward manner that places the "real" and the "fantastic" in the same stream of...
brings about in Latin American narrative. He also explores how the notion of cultural resistance has been incorporated into five Latin American magic realist novels.
Before finishing his Ph.D., Spindler undertook some freelance journalism with the Latin American section of the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
and the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
in Haiti. After a short spell working with the United Nations in Mozambique, Spindler joined the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , also known as The UN Refugee Agency is a United Nations agency mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of a government or the UN itself and assists in their voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement to...
(UNHCR). William Spindler is currently a spokesman for the UNHCR. He is the author of many articles on humanitarian and refugee
Refugee
A refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
issues.