Key 20th-Century Ideological Movements and Literary Evolution

Twentieth-Century Ideological Movements

1.1. Existentialism

Existentialism is a movement that stands apart from traditional philosophical systems. Martin Heidegger argues that humanity emerges from nothingness, with death as its final destination. The freedom that individuals acquire creates anguish and despair, making them solely responsible for their own choices.

1.2. Psychoanalysis

Developed by Sigmund Freud, this therapeutic method is based on the conviction that conflicting elements of past life, often disguised by forgetfulness, can resurface to create trauma. The influence of psychoanalysis on literature is notably seen in the work of James Joyce. Furthermore, the clearest application of psychoanalytic theory is found in Surrealism, particularly regarding the revaluation of the subconscious.

1.3. Marxism

Marxism is a scientific-philosophical theory developed by Karl Marx. The Marxist analysis of capitalist society scrutinizes its history and structural manifestations. It not only outlines the reasons for the misery of the proletariat but also proposes the means to overcome it. The engine of this theory is the class struggle.

According to Marxism, the division of labor in capitalist society is advantageous for production but creates inequities between those who own the means of production and the working class. It advocates for revolution and the dictatorship of the proletariat to establish a classless society.

2.1. Literary Exponents

Key figures include: Unamuno, Valle-Inclán, Azorín, Baroja, Antonio Machado, and Juan Ramón Jiménez.

2.2. Postwar Literature to the Present

The situation of writers in the postwar period presented a bleak picture, as literature was subject to strict censorship.

• The Forties: Two poetic streams emerged: rooted poetry, reflecting a return to intimacy and traditional metrics, and uprooted poetry, which aligns with the existential trend.
• The Fifties: The realistic trend resulted in social literature. The writer became aware of historical and social reality, using their work as a vehicle for complaint and protest.
• The Sixties: Poetry returned to intimacy, covering topics such as the evocation of childhood and adolescence as a lost paradise. The novel and theater sought new forms of expression.
• Late Sixties: The novísimos emerged, advocating for the autonomy of art and disregarding traditional poetic forms.
• Post-novísimos: This movement encompassed various trends and classic traditionalism.
• The Eighties to Present: The novel saw the influence of foreign styles and the abandonment of narrative experimentalism, while theater regained dramatic symbolism.