Buenos Aires Across the Arts: Five and One Theses on Modernity, 1921-1939

Due to European immigration, Buenos Aires became the largest and most cosmopolitan city in Latin America by 1920. This led to conflicting depictions of urban space, shaping the modernist landscape of the country. Artists responded to these changes with conflicting representations of urban life, creating a cognitive map of modernity's new realities.

Format: Hardback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 28 September 2022
Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press

Due to the significant influx of immigrants from Europe, Buenos Aires emerged as the largest and most diverse metropolis in Latin America by 1920. The uncontrolled expansion of the city had a profound impact on the social and cultural landscape of Argentina, sparking debates on ideology and aesthetics that shaped the country's modernist aesthetic. Artists from various fields responded to these transformations with contrasting portrayals of urban spaces, creating a cognitive map of modernity's new realities within the city and in people's understanding of it.

"Buenos Aires and the Arts" delves into the intricate interplay between modernity and modernism in literature, photography, film, and painting during the interwar period in Argentina. During this transformative era, Argentina experienced profound change and a surge in cultural activity. Eleni Kefala, the author of the book, examines the works of prominent writers, photographers, filmmakers, and painters, with a particular focus on Buenos Aires as a playground of modernity.

The city's vibrant energy and diverse population served as a fertile ground for artistic exploration and experimentation. Jorge Luis Borges, a renowned Argentine writer, delved into the complexities of urban life and the surrealist possibilities of the metropolis in his writings. Oliverio Girondo, a photographer, captured the city's bustling streets, vibrant neighborhoods, and the everyday struggles of its inhabitants in his photographs. José Ferreyra, a playwright, explored the tensions between tradition and modernity in his plays, often set in the city's bustling streets and cultural institutions. Xul Solar, a filmmaker, used the city's urban landscape as a backdrop for his films, exploring themes of identity, displacement, and the search for belonging. Roberto Arlt, a novelist, portrayed the city's social and political dynamics in his novels, highlighting the struggles of the working class and the marginalized. Horacio Coppola, a painter, captured the city's architectural beauty and the emotional resonance of its streets in his paintings.

Through their diverse perspectives and artistic styles, these artists contributed to shaping a unique understanding of Buenos Aires as a modern metropolis. They challenged traditional notions of urban space, explored the complexities of cultural identity, and pushed the boundaries of artistic expression. "Buenos Aires and the Arts" serves as a valuable resource for scholars, students, and enthusiasts of art and culture, providing a comprehensive exploration of the city's role in the development of modernism in Latin America.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780822946922