tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5166995182104040932024-03-05T04:35:35.190-08:00Spanish Gay FictionAlejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-68743655518551388082020-07-14T02:29:00.000-07:002020-07-14T02:29:24.321-07:00Interview with Jorge Remacha Pina<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYYhOC8m84Me_yuxkNuFV15vr3Sm8rrFjz0LD6cnFDCwJGPn5_dlaRTUieqc9bmh_cl5dHyV9gKRtfxaI2lnpgDPyJ6V1sbhfcLP5DUeQNudUf6GCu2pzWCJAaETjnq6FPN3wGvcDxQXk/s1600/Jorge+Remacha+Pina+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="527" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYYhOC8m84Me_yuxkNuFV15vr3Sm8rrFjz0LD6cnFDCwJGPn5_dlaRTUieqc9bmh_cl5dHyV9gKRtfxaI2lnpgDPyJ6V1sbhfcLP5DUeQNudUf6GCu2pzWCJAaETjnq6FPN3wGvcDxQXk/s320/Jorge+Remacha+Pina+2.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The nonconformist feeling instilled
by the poems from </span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Claveles de la calle<i> repeats in the personal outlook of <span style="background: black; color: red; mso-highlight: black;">Jorge Remacha Pina</span> (Zaragoza, 1996): the poet
opens up in this revealing, gratifying conversation about social poetry, the new
generation, the power of religion or the ideal society, among other topics.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SPANISH GAY FICTION: <i>Claveles de
la calle</i> is your first published book. How did you make it possible?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JORGE REMACHA PINA: Well, I
sent the manuscript to a round of publishers specialized in poetry. Just like
sending resumes: you see options, you apply for the ones that seem OK for you,
and then you wait until they get in touch. Eventually, the publishing house Libros
Indie did: they took charge of layout, printing, and more — and here is the
book.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What influences your writing style?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JRP: It depends on the poems. The
ones in the book are a selection of those that I have been writing over the
years. For instance, some may sound similar to the Beat Generation because I like
Allen Ginsberg much. Then others occurred to me rather reading or listening to
other social poets, such as Gioconda Belli, Pedro Lemebel, or Gata Cattana.<span style="color: red;"><a href="file:///D:/SGF/Claveles%20de%20la%20calle%20-%20Jorge%20Remacha%20Pina/The%20Cannibal%20Dynamo.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
</span>Other ideas came to my mind by reading science fiction. I think there is a
little bit of everything.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>SGF: Except for the rhyming poem “MENAs,”</b><span style="color: red;"><a href="file:///D:/SGF/Claveles%20de%20la%20calle%20-%20Jorge%20Remacha%20Pina/The%20Cannibal%20Dynamo.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> </span><b>no
other classical feature can be found in your work. Why did you break away from
tradition?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JRP: I think that this is the
only rhyming poem because it rhymed while I was creating it, so I tried to keep
it that way. The rest do not rhyme as it is not an issue that I care about when
writing. For example, I care more about words symbolizing ideas, whether they
exist or not. If in my mind I see the images of what I am writing, then even
more ideas come … so I keep writing. In the middle of it all, I do not have a
head for rhyming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: The acknowledgement section says that you were picked up “from the
darkest alleys of the mind.” What did you mean?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JRP: On the one hand, some
poems in the book exist because they helped bring out what is in my mind on a
bad streak. On the other hand, I think it is not something that individual: I
speak from the youth, working class, sexual diversity perspective. Of course I
am talking about difficult psychological situations, because not only have they
happened to me, but more people may see themselves in them. This was one of the
reasons why I decided to publish the book. Everyone can have a bad time, but if
my book — which I wrote to feel better — can help someone feel identified and
gather inner strength, then its publication will make sense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Your poems encourage to social nonconformity. Is this your own
philosophy?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JRP: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This is not <i>my</i> philosophy: there is a whole
tradition of culture from below and the margins, self-affirming, and linked to
ideas that speak in terms of emancipation.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I have invented nothing.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What lies behind the ideas expressed in this book is a
mix of work, study, organization, second-hand books and my condition of being
as queer as a three-dollar bill.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: You are under 30. What is <i>your</i>
idea of a dream society?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JRP: My dream society does not
have social classes or endure oppression: a very old idea that seems to be a
kind of trendy again among young people. You can see it in the demonstrations
around the world that have erupted in this crisis, in which there are many
people my age. My generation is leaving one crisis and entering another.
However, I think that pessimism is the last thing that we need, as it is a
burden. We are not victims all the time: we can hold on and fight, as it has
usually been, so as to always move forward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: The dull, mediocre reality portrayed in your book is distinctly urban.
Do you think that the situation is different in the countryside?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JRP: I speak of the urban world
because it is the one I know: I cannot speak of the countryside as I have never
lived in a village. I did not write a book like this to say that reality is dull
and mediocre, or the world is all peaches and cream: it says that our strength comes
from a grey world to paint it pink. The book is called <i>Claveles de la calle</i> because I live next to the backside of a
flower shop where at night they throw away what remained unsold: my house has
been filled with flowers many times. And all this looked like a symbol to me:
they will throw you away if you are not profitable, but you are a flower anyway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: The book mentions several revolutionary movements throughout
history. How inspiring are they to you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JRP: The ones named in the
book are the stories that I have known, and they show that there have been
generations daring to try to take control of their own lives. But I like the
extras more than the protagonists. I am much more interested in these people —
who are nameless in the books — taking to the streets and changing their lives
rather than those who lead the revolutions. And also all the tireless efforts
before something breaks out, so that it can be a success. Thus, instead of
thinking whether I would have liked to live this or that revolution in the past,
I would rather know what I <i>am</i> doing
if I see something like this happening in the present or future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: In terms of non-conformist spirit, do you feel that any past time
was better?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JRP: I am 23: I do not want to
be nostalgic for times past. If there is alienation, I also do not want to
blame it to <i>the people</i> or <i>society</i>. This is something that I want
the book to show, and I am not sure if I have succeeded: the idea that the vast
majority of ordinary people who want a decent and peaceful life have the
feeling that they are worth more than what they receive. In addition, you never
know what might happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: How important is the LGBT community in the fight for a better
society?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JRP: Someone has to add glitter
to this better society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: The first lines of the poem “Inapropiadas” come from Mecano’s song
“Mujer contra mujer.”<a href="file:///D:/SGF/Claveles%20de%20la%20calle%20-%20Jorge%20Remacha%20Pina/The%20Cannibal%20Dynamo.doc#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;">[3]</span></span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> What
is your opinion about this song?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JRP: This is a song to sing
the emotionally charged, flamboyantly camp way. And I think that this is very
important, because true hymns are to bring out what is buried putting your
hands up. In addition, the truth is that there has been a history of invisibility
regarding women who love women. As if they were in not only the closet, but a
box at the back of the closet — though a music box.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: How autobiographical is the poem “No sé si queda claro”?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JRP: It may be an
autobiographical poem, but not just <i>mine</i>.
It is produced with words that you hear because of who you are: they are
sometimes more hurtful, at other times more common sense. And I am not the only
one who has heard them. I wrote this poem to cheer up even if they are
discriminating against you: to get your claws out and regain your lust for
life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: There are numerous symbols and expressions associated with
Christianity throughout the book—<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JRP: If you attend a convent
school you become atheistic in the end, though an absurdly huge list of
religious hymns remain in your head. In the book they symbolize the commands
from my childhood and how hard it is getting rid of them, as well as a sense of
fault, fault, the most grievous fault for things that you are not guilty of. I
have studied more religions, and I believe they are something to keep away from
all kinds of power over anyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: The name “Rockland” appears a couple of times in the book. Why?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JRP: Yes, it is a nod to
Ginsberg’s “Howl;” the name is there. Rockland is the asylum where he is sent
for <i>sexual deviation</i>, and the way he
uses it in his poems echoes inside you. That is why it is in my book: as a
non-literal symbol, but a symbol of the places you leave behind when overcoming
the danger of disappearing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Can you tell about your upcoming projects?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JRP: Now I am promoting this
book because, right after it was launched, a pandemic began: I could expect every
kind of problems but this. I am also promoting a board game about the labor
movement called <i>¡A la huelga!</i> (“On
Strike!”), which was already in stores — and the same thing happened. I picked
the best time to launch everything … Meanwhile, I am looking for a job, as well
as writing another book and creating another board game for next year: these two
will be historical this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/SGF/Claveles%20de%20la%20calle%20-%20Jorge%20Remacha%20Pina/The%20Cannibal%20Dynamo.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
Stage name of Ana Isabel García Llorente (1991-2017)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">. A</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">lthough she was popularly known as a hip hop singer —
a discipline which she put her feminist, politically committed stamp on —, she
also published </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">in 2016 her only</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
poetry book: <i>La escala de Mohs</i> (</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The Mohs Scale</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">”</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">).</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/SGF/Claveles%20de%20la%20calle%20-%20Jorge%20Remacha%20Pina/The%20Cannibal%20Dynamo.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: red;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="color: red;">
</span>MENAs </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">= </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Menores
Extranjeros No Acompañados </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">(“</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Foreign
Unaccompanied Minors</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">”).</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">With a significant presence in Spain — and mainly of </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">African</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> origin —, this is another social issue that Remacha
Pina points to in his work: children and teens</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">all alone, at serious risk of social exclusion and
neglect.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/SGF/Claveles%20de%20la%20calle%20-%20Jorge%20Remacha%20Pina/The%20Cannibal%20Dynamo.doc#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;">[3]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">
Mecano</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">has been</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> one of the most successful Spanish pop bands of all
time</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> The song </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mujer contra mujer</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">”</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> (</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">“</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Woman Against Woman</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">”</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">)</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">, </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">released
in 1988</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">,</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">became
a breakthrough at the time since it deals with lesbianism, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">rarely</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> tackled in </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">music up until then</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Today, t</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">his hit remains as an iconic
hymn for the Spanish LG</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">B</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">T
community.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-35173183210521301252020-07-11T02:38:00.000-07:002020-07-11T02:38:43.768-07:00The Cannibal Dynamo<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="background: black; color: red; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-highlight: black;">On Jorge Remacha Pina’s</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <i>Claveles de la calle</i> (“Street
Carnations”)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGi9KP2TNvOEJBsULxnyCv39gUhhlTH2u8WcnVJJiDlWgeagqgxKiDQogRpe1IzzNDKqYA3JmvN74ET2Ws3XJRNPNfoidf55RNBGzPLRKdvIXCltAzHv-x8TzpZL6NPNoc2uLGzNFmRsUj/s1600/Claveles+de+la+calle+-+Jorge+Remacha+Pina+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="697" data-original-width="446" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGi9KP2TNvOEJBsULxnyCv39gUhhlTH2u8WcnVJJiDlWgeagqgxKiDQogRpe1IzzNDKqYA3JmvN74ET2Ws3XJRNPNfoidf55RNBGzPLRKdvIXCltAzHv-x8TzpZL6NPNoc2uLGzNFmRsUj/s320/Claveles+de+la+calle+-+Jorge+Remacha+Pina+2.jpg" width="204" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In these critical times
because of COVID-19 pandemic — so hard to control by now — we all have heard
opposing voices to the measures that governments worldwide are imposing on
their citizens so as to overcome the problem: mostly, they claim a drastic
change in the state of affairs. It is truly coincidental that this very year has
seen the publication of this book (before the pandemic declaration in Spain)
consisting of 30 poems: verses free from classical forms, and openly contrary
to the rules of the social system. Thus, unexpectedly topical.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We can easily see the first
poem, “Juramento” (“Oath”), as a true statement of intent on the main theme of
the book: the poet’s commitment to social issues, in favor of the most
helpless: the poor, the fallen, the hard working class … Even this statement is
extended in another poem, “Nadie está mirando” (“Nobody Is Watching”), focusing
on the most disadvantaged: prostitutes, drug addicts, repressed homosexuals, minors
undergoing psychological problems, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The reality depicted by
Remacha Pina lacks humanity: in “Te Deum,” God is technology: a divinity cruel
to mankind who provides miserable working conditions for His servants. “Saben
lo que haces” (“They Know What You’re Doing”) expresses the idea of society as
a system where individuals are ominously controlled. In another poem, “La vida
se abre camino” (“Life Paving the Way”), the poet suggests that today’s
lifestyle only leads to making an army of zombies: exhausted workers whose whole
bodies ache; in addition, the citizen is compared to a slave in “Yo robot” (“I
Robot”): the poetic voice uses expressions related to computing to evince this
dehumanization; love is a lost file in the system, and the poet wants to recover
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The city is represented as a
prison where happiness is impossible to pursue: “Sincronía” (“Synchrony”). The
noise from the television in “Sosiego encofrado” (“Framed Quietness”) conceals
the feelings of all the members of a family; in a block of buildings, each and
every inhabitant suffers anguish in their small cubicles. Moreover, in “Pesada
sentencia” (“Heavy Sentence”), the monotonous life that society entails could inevitably
drive to despair and, in consequence, suicide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The situation for the youth is
no better: “La hormiga más pequeña del mundo” (“The Smallest Ant in the World”)
deals with this generation — Remacha Pina’s generation — regarded as the best
prepared to success; however, they have precarious, less-paid works. Porn and
video chat seem to be the uncomplicated oases in their colorless lives, but
this actually shows an obvious lack of affection. In “El viaje del desarraigo” (“The
Journey to Uprooting”), the poet portrays weekends for teenagers as chances for
casual sex and fast relief, in opposition to schools, factories and juvenile
detention centers undermining their desire for freedom: the system <i>does</i> tame. In other poems — “Cuento de
sábado noche” (“Saturday Night Tale”), “De vuelta a casa” (“Way Back Home”), “Claveles
de la calle II” (“Street Carnations II”) — we can still find other examples of confusion
and listlessness in this lost generation: drugs, clubbing, prostitution, sordid
sex as an appealing combination for a trip to ephemeral comfort … though no
place to call <i>home</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Of course, here in <b>spanishgayfiction.blogspot.com </b>we never
miss our goal: there are two enchanting, committed poems dealing with the LGBT
issue. First, “Inapropiadas” (“Unsuitable Women”), in which the poet tells
about a couple of lesbians breaking social taboos by walking down the street holding
hands and kissing. They decided not to follow the traditional rules imposed to
women — marrying a man or becoming a nun — and eventually won the fight: the people
that used to spit them out on the street in the past, they now step aside.
Then, in “No sé si queda claro” (“Not Sure If I Make Myself Clear”), the poetic
voice claims that he has been raised with a steady, staggering social objection
to his natural way of being: the adult now refuses to keep afraid of not
fitting in, or even suffer verbal or physical abuse. And this personal
rebellion is precisely a key fact in these compositions: the poet’s indelibly
positive attitude, regardless the hostile circumstances.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Remacha Pina, in “Siempre
buscando una salida” (“Always Looking for an Exit”), speaks about the compelling
need to raise a fist and wave a flag; stand up and light a torch. Fear has been
silencing diverse voices for a long time, prompting to a general anger. (We can
find a similar idea in “Neurosis:” this mental disorder means, after all, the anxiety
caused by the awareness of the actual state of reality, which appeals to defiance).
Those who do not conform to the pattern of this world endure contempt, or even
aggressions: there is an urging demand to put an end to these social rules, which
want to finish with the different ones, in order to seek <i>true</i> freedom. To this end, the author displays inspiring examples from
the past. . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There is a constant
remembrance of revolutions throughout the book, but particularly in the poem
“Ni cadenas ni corsés” (“Neither Chains Nor Corsets”): the French Revolution,
the February Revolution, the Kurdish rebellions, the Paris Commune, the
Stonewall riots, the Egyptian revolution of 2011, etc. (As a matter of fact, the
poem is dedicated to the international socialist feminist organization <i>Bread & Roses</i>.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">However, the most ruthless
skeptics may wonder: What will happen after the tables turn? Well, the last
month of the year, “Diciembre” (“December”), implies a metaphor for the end of hard
times and the beginning of a favorable adjustment with an excellent result: fruitfulness,
like the arrival of spring.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Claveles de la calle</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> is a
heartening collection of disturbing, bewildering, awe-inspiring poems with a
clear message to the reader: a better life is possible if you just fight for
it. Like the panther from “La ley de la selva” (“The Law of the Jungle”) — who grew
docile and became another piece of the social gear … but eventually regained her
natural self-awareness and turned into a panther again — you are also cordially
invited to the revolution.</span></div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-48264263191556383082020-05-05T01:52:00.000-07:002020-05-09T08:00:02.358-07:00Interview with David Cantero<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGql6w0aHmMYErS5Y4ReaZrXsm6CwhfGho_879Aa31eJaf-aX36-38MgDKgJSTH7y8-FyXowHNS3BXliRGlbGQxohnHxfaEElwijLCEx7CY_OIqcb_0tTpqZB3HOMTeB-4Jh6-YxQKha9v/s1600/David+Cantero.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="610" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGql6w0aHmMYErS5Y4ReaZrXsm6CwhfGho_879Aa31eJaf-aX36-38MgDKgJSTH7y8-FyXowHNS3BXliRGlbGQxohnHxfaEElwijLCEx7CY_OIqcb_0tTpqZB3HOMTeB-4Jh6-YxQKha9v/s320/David+Cantero.tif" width="262" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Take it or leave it; that seems to be
the chief maxim for erotic gay comic book author <span style="background: red; color: white;">David Cantero</span> (Cartagena, Murcia;
1972), regarding not only his work but also his life attitude in this
unsettling world. Just find out by yourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SPANISH GAY FICTION: As for your work as a whole, you seem to have
specialized in erotic comic book. Thus, what led you to create <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Boxing Julián</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DAVID CANTERO: I have always
been interested in sex. I think there is no story without sex. Sex moves the
world more than we think! [<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Laughs</i>.] With
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Boxing Julián</i>, I wanted to show how
difficult it is for some people in this society to live with themselves, with
their sexuality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: How was the response to your comic book?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DC: I had a very nice feedback
from readers; some of them recognized themselves in the character, and they shared
with me their personal experiences. I felt touched by these testimonies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: How important is <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Boxing
Julián</i> to you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DC: My stories are all special
to me. Back then, I was very happy with the character design for this comic
book. Today, twelve years after, I cannot even look at it! [<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Laughs</i>.] I did it a long time ago, and
now I just see errors everywhere! [<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Laughs</i>.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Have you ever been familiar with a similar situation in real life?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DC: Yes! Unfortunately, it is
a pattern that repeats itself too many times in our society ― Maybe not so
extreme, but in different degrees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Do you think that there is always a tormented homosexual behind a
homophobe?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DC: </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">[<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Laughs</i>.] Not always! But yes! </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It is usually true!</span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: The world of fiction has always found boxing appealing as a theme. What
is your opinion about this sport? Is there any previous work that has been
inspiring for <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Boxing Julián</i>?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVPfkN6fxZWcJ2TWFQKzOtvljAb3uiXHvtdOx_wtKFMXZSk_kBnDu59Ot4y1keRWWWbCV_kf89zsarQLjL261m9NVtskzkwxpfWkKZORDmFGUGA9_KsgJj5KnXFBvl1tCF0BGgRyj_U-4/s1600/Exodus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVPfkN6fxZWcJ2TWFQKzOtvljAb3uiXHvtdOx_wtKFMXZSk_kBnDu59Ot4y1keRWWWbCV_kf89zsarQLjL261m9NVtskzkwxpfWkKZORDmFGUGA9_KsgJj5KnXFBvl1tCF0BGgRyj_U-4/s200/Exodus.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DC: I chose boxing because it
is a very manly sport with a lot of physical contact. It is brutal and direct.
It fit very well with the character, and it was perfect for channeling his
rage. The movie <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Rocky</i> really helped
me, actually!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Ben’s quiet attitude towards Julián’s aggressive behavior is really
painful. Why did not he report Julián to the police?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DC: I did not want to delve
into Ben’s nature that much; I just wanted to show a nice guy. We never know if
he is gay. . .We never know why he did not sue Julián. . .I like this kind of
endings, making the reader think!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Do you feel that the toxic couple relationship that Lola and Julián
represent is still recurring nowadays?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DC: In my opinion, these
situations will never end while education and religion still continue to create
strong stereotypes for men and women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Do you think that Julián will eventually do to Lola what his father
did to his mother?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DC: Of course! Even worse! [<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Laughs</i>.] I had an idea for a sequel to this
story, where we would see Julián, Lola and their son twenty years later ― Maybe
I will do it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: You have previously worked in collaboration with other scripters. Why
did you create <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Boxing Julián</i> alone?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GTdbJKXtiR2y2p3uNnIVAA-F8SeXrdjVKwkFjw5olSE0vPlTGs6Nu78xCD28toz7UhoiMoFUPfUfxLweeqXPDvexTlF0TYa-52Ue21C8IC1S3NGHIH2ra6_8eP8euiYgQVsSmOnERy1I/s1600/The+Brigayde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GTdbJKXtiR2y2p3uNnIVAA-F8SeXrdjVKwkFjw5olSE0vPlTGs6Nu78xCD28toz7UhoiMoFUPfUfxLweeqXPDvexTlF0TYa-52Ue21C8IC1S3NGHIH2ra6_8eP8euiYgQVsSmOnERy1I/s200/The+Brigayde.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DC: In general, I work alone.
I have many stories and series. It is rare that I make collaborations. At present,
I am (sometimes) collaborating only with Patrick Fillion for the series <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Brigayde</i> for Class Comics Inc.<a href="file:///E:/SGF/Boxing%20Juli%C3%A1n%20-%20David%20Cantero/The%20Beast%20in%20the%20Beauty.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[1]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: How would you define your style as illustrator?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DC: My style is a mix of
European comic books (such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Adventures of Asterix</i>), Marvel comic books, and Japanese animation. I am in
love with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the line</i>; inks are very
representative of my style. A definition for my style? Well. . .I do not know. </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It is just
the way I like to draw!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Julián is a dreaded character; however, his design is really
alluring. Did you make this contradiction deliberately?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DC: Sure! There is nothing
more disturbing than someone to hate and desire at the same time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Are your characters physically based on actual people?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DC: The characters are not
real persons; I created them according to their personality. . .I always think
of details for the characters because they make them strong.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Apart from the fact that you were born in Cartagena,<a href="file:///E:/SGF/Boxing%20Juli%C3%A1n%20-%20David%20Cantero/The%20Beast%20in%20the%20Beauty.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> I
feel a Mediterranean <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">air</i> throughout
the comic book. Did you want to depict a lifestyle that you know first-hand?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DC: I created this story when
I was living in a village near Tarragona.<a href="file:///E:/SGF/Boxing%20Juli%C3%A1n%20-%20David%20Cantero/The%20Beast%20in%20the%20Beauty.doc#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[3]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
This place was full of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Juliáns</i>!!! [<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Laughs</i>.] I thought that this background
was perfect for the story!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Can you tell about your upcoming projects?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyAFtjkMdbghw3foSB1466zu6W6fy8N_TbB04Vem3uEPxVwYCQEWc2u0Ig1xBGM5-hVF2OIqkD5YQuQYTAJiYjV5_iyds7Q7LTVutahglaI1zcog3rnVURBix3YYj6pQkscWcwwew66-G/s1600/Dibearcity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="457" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwyAFtjkMdbghw3foSB1466zu6W6fy8N_TbB04Vem3uEPxVwYCQEWc2u0Ig1xBGM5-hVF2OIqkD5YQuQYTAJiYjV5_iyds7Q7LTVutahglaI1zcog3rnVURBix3YYj6pQkscWcwwew66-G/s200/Dibearcity.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">DC: Right now, I am drawing
the episode 7 of the series <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Brigayde</i>,
written by Patrick Fillion. You can see my working progress at <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.patreon.com/davidcantero">Patreon</a></b>. This
year, I will be working on my series <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Exodus</i>
(Volume 5), and probably <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dibearcity</i>
(Episode 2). I am also working on my children’s books for my other publisher, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.lacanteraeditorial.es/">La Cantera Editorial</a></b>: my next
book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sky and Heart</i>, is just in
process.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="file:///E:/SGF/Boxing%20Juli%C3%A1n%20-%20David%20Cantero/The%20Beast%20in%20the%20Beauty.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> Owned and
operated by Patrick Fillion and Robert Fraser, this independent comic books
publisher </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">has </span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">specialize</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">d</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> in gay
erotic-themed comic books since the beginning of the 21</span><sup><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">st</span></sup><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> century</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="file:///E:/SGF/Boxing%20Juli%C3%A1n%20-%20David%20Cantero/The%20Beast%20in%20the%20Beauty.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> This tourist
Spanish destination is located in the autonomous community of Murcia, by the
Mediterranean south-eastern coast; it is famous for its Roman Theatre, </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">the</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> naval base, and the Carthaginian and Roman parade</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">, among other attractions</span><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="file:///E:/SGF/Boxing%20Juli%C3%A1n%20-%20David%20Cantero/The%20Beast%20in%20the%20Beauty.doc#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">[3]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> Port city
located in northeast Spain on the Golden Coast by the Mediterranean Sea; the
location contains significant remains from the Ancient Rome.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-67046480544739539562020-05-03T02:42:00.001-07:002020-05-03T02:42:52.148-07:00The Beast in the Beauty<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: red; color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-highlight: red;">On</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: red; color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-highlight: red;"> </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: red; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-highlight: red; text-effect: outline; text-shadow: auto;"><span style="color: white;">David Cantero</span></span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="background: red; color: black; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-highlight: red;">’s</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Boxing Julián</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtLIoDAViFat_s6_JAa6UJi8trGLumk2GvsJ4XrerAKhX6bzRUActzNu-9znC3rqH6O7O6TZJsNrdszA7jqVqKu1xu82_x2WI3NR6neYopZLohEaVpDS5-HXDx_mOLx_tYC9IeLqJTFkj/s1600/Boxing+Juli%25C3%25A1n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="753" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdtLIoDAViFat_s6_JAa6UJi8trGLumk2GvsJ4XrerAKhX6bzRUActzNu-9znC3rqH6O7O6TZJsNrdszA7jqVqKu1xu82_x2WI3NR6neYopZLohEaVpDS5-HXDx_mOLx_tYC9IeLqJTFkj/s320/Boxing+Juli%25C3%25A1n.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This time in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">spanishgayfiction.blogspot.com</b> we
present quite a disturbing experience: a 2008 comic book dealing with the most
ultra-violent homophobia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the first pages we find <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Julián</b>, a promising small town boxer achieving
an easy victory in a fight; when in the locker room, he is praised by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Paco</b>, his boxing trainer, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lola</b>, his sexy fiancée. When they leave
Julián alone, he cannot help jacking off by looking his magnificent nakedness over
closely; after this, Julián punches the wall furiously: it means the first
indication for the reader that there is something about Julián.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Paco decides to hire the
services of Benjamín, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ben</i></b>; a hot, blond, angel-faced physical
therapist. All of a sudden, Julián shows an unexpected rough-and-tumble towards
the boy, trying to hide (or should I say <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">making
clear</i> instead?) a powerful sexual attraction. From the very beginning
Julián wants to leave proof of his discomfort: he likes neither queer nor sassy
people who would ever dare to contradict him. Paco will need to mediate so that
Ben does not quit promptly after an abrupt, vehement outburst from his protegé.
. .resulting in Ben exhibiting his mouth-watering chest after Julián stretched the
gorgeous therapist’s tank top.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Lola pays a visit to her man at
the gym; the moment she lays her eyes on Ben she openly claims that the cutie is
really stunning. Immediately afterwards, Julián calls her <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">bitch</i> and menaces her. After this, he pushes Lola to the restroom,
and there he fiercely attempts anal sex ― vainly: Ben is in his mind, so Julián
loses his erection. Lola meekly tries to give him a blowjob, but Julián’s reaction
is hitting her hard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After a massage session,
Julián asks Ben whether he is a fag; Ben avoids the question. (As a matter of
fact, Ben’s sexuality may be the biggest mystery of the comic book.) Later, Julián
jokingly encourages Ben to give him a blowjob, but Ben leaves the room all annoyed
― has Ben got tempted to do it, at least for one second?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">During a fight, our cocky
boxer remembers how his father used to attack him physically and verbally when
he was a weepy child; his father justified himself by saying that he hated <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">pussies</i>, and he told his harassed sonny to
have <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">big balls</i> to face life. At the
end, Julián gives his opponent a cruel beating, and Paco threatens to leave: Julián
has to stop fighting that dirty in the ring, since he has been about to finish
his rival off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the middle of the
subsequent massage, Julián bitterly tells Ben to go away: he does not want Ben
to see that he has cummed all over himself while Ben was squeezing him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Through another journey to the
past, we see that Julián was witness to his mother’s dying at his father’s
hands. Young Julián took hold of his savage daddy’s gun ― he was a policeman
―and shot him. This memory heavily seizes Julián while having sex with Lola, to
the point of almost choking her to death. When Lola gets over, Julián apologizes
groaningly and tearfully; Lola, mad about her macho, forgives his bad manners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The time of the final combat
is coming, and the prize money will do Julián good for the upcoming wedding ceremony.
He keeps teasing Ben with insults such as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">queer</i>.
Like Lola, Ben also forgives and keeps a submissive attitude towards the ferocious
fighter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Julián eventually wins the
fight, and they all go out partying. In the disco, Lola asks the psyched-up
victor to stop drinking, as it turns him aggressive. Julián tells her to leave
with Paco, and Ben promises Lola that he will help Julián be back home safe and
sound. At the wee hours of the night, on their way out, Julián gets audacious
sneakily and lewdly: he beats and assaults Ben in a dark, lonely place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The ending of this dreadful
story is just terrible. Lola, oblivious to what is happening around her, is making
the guest list for their wedding, and she suggests her betrothed to invite Ben.
Julián flatly refuses, basing his resolution on Ben’s ultimately leaving him
high and dry. The image of a bruised, wounded Ben walking down the street and
exchanging glances from a distance with a sinister (and defiant) Julián puts a terrifying
end to this troubling story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">No doubt this is a significant
story about homophobia and violence, depicted by Cantero in a brutally visceral
way. His illustrations are as attractive as disgusting, leading to a flawless
portrait of Julián’s double identity: a bewitching object of desire on the
outside / a frightening demon on the inside. We find particularly worthy of the
most enthusiastic praise the pages concerning Julián’s recalls about his shady past
(his monstrous father; his miserable, dummy-like mother); there, red, black and
a blazing white are the cardinal, over-suggestive colors to show the ultimate
horror.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The design of the main
characters is also creditable; the contrast between the pair of hot men, the shiny
Ben and the shadowy Julián, smoothly reveals the central conflict of the story.
Regarding the details, the tattoo that Julián shows on his arm ― the name of
his girl on a bleeding heart pierced by a sword ― is too meaningful about Julián’s
darkest instinct, Lola’s cursed fate, and the comic book’s overwhelming lesson:
Violence begets violence. In sum, a provocative work of art.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-83575383251366537852020-04-24T03:03:00.000-07:002020-04-24T03:03:33.335-07:00Once Upon a Honeymoon Suite<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: gray; color: #e5b8b7; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-highlight: gray;">On Ana Diosdado’s</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <i>321, 322</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32VlbBQK-8YIouuDsTzEBM118xuqUL5uEJ0Xs6MEsLhaHT7MrPrFHgL3n4cHmfm3VoMiY-fg-9GhMglVcWKP81srwDFrA_sfecBNNgpNfKzht1-hWi1Y0Qm9T6xM70shYyB2_5GvgCc57/s1600/Ana+Diosdado+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32VlbBQK-8YIouuDsTzEBM118xuqUL5uEJ0Xs6MEsLhaHT7MrPrFHgL3n4cHmfm3VoMiY-fg-9GhMglVcWKP81srwDFrA_sfecBNNgpNfKzht1-hWi1Y0Qm9T6xM70shYyB2_5GvgCc57/s1600/Ana+Diosdado+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #a64d79;">Ana Diosdado<br />(Buenos Aires, 1938 - Madrid, 2015)</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">An interesting innovation was posed
by playwright (and novelist and actress) Ana Diosdado when <i>321, 322</i> premiered in
1991. Unlike Noël Coward’s <i>Suite in Three
Keys</i> (1966), or Neil Simon’s <i>Plaza
Suite</i> (1968) and <i>California Suite</i>
(1976), which showed different occupants of the same hotel suite in each act,
Diosdado’s two-act play stages what is happening in both suite 321 and suite
322 <i>at the same time</i>. No, we are not meaning
a scenic design split in half; the whole stage represents both suites, so their
occupants share the same space (i.e., during performance, the actors playing
characters from one suite <i>take no notice</i>
of the presence of the others throughout the show).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Regarding what is the
predominant interest for us here in <b>spanishgayfiction.blogspot.com</b>,
we are going to <i>respectfully</i> ignore
the events in suite 321, and focus on what is cooking in the other suite. Let’s
take a sneak peek. . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jorge</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> and <b>Sara</b> are newlyweds: both young and beautiful and shiny happy at
first sight ― what could be wrong with them? They love playing charades envisioning what their marriage would become several years from then. .
.and the audience can soon notice through these games an obvious underlying
dialogue dripping unexpectedly disillusioned, disquieting thoughts for honeymooners.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Sara seems far from being the
typical bride. In her opinion, the wedding has been ridiculous: both her mother
and Jorge’s quickly took charge of the plans, preventing the bride and groom
from making any single choice. Why the rush after only a three-month engagement?
Jorge told his mother that Sara was pregnant; his family is a wealthy
traditional family, so the wedding <i>had</i>
to be celebrated. Concerning Sara, she does not care; just living with Jorge
and remaining unmarried is OK with her, but ― given her working-class background,
the in-laws presume that she has married Jorge so as to climb the social
ladder. Is she really that ambitious?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The truth is that Sara is not
expecting. How could she? They have never had sex with each other. Sara has
been waiting for tonight to ask Jorge the reason of his unjustified respect for
her all along, as Jorge has already been in the know that she is sexually
experienced. Jorge is reluctant to answer but, after Sara’s strong insistence, he
shyly admits his genuine virginity. His wife finds it peculiar, so she suggests
whether Jorge may not like women at all; Jorge gets serious and claims that he
does indeed. The wife gives in (for the time being) and blames his <i>unspoiled</i> status on his mother’s
hidebound influence. This controlling lady even makes an urging call to her
sonny that night: <i>Thou shalt not covet
thy own wife. . .until she gives birth!!</i> On account of the official version
stating that Sara is only at her second month of pregnancy ― Just do the math. Now
that the bride and groom can enjoy the sweet advantages of marriage, Jorge wants
it to happen pronto; as if it were about a surgical
intervention the patient is hoping to end soon. . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Another of Jorge’s singularities
is that he usually interacts with an invisible St. Bernard called Buby. According
to him, Buby sleeps every night at the foot of his bed, and tonight is no
exception. Sara has always been understanding and gone along with Jorge, but
she also wonders whether this delusion of his should last much longer ― It
seems to be the night of disclosure, so Jorge reveals that Buby truly existed
in real life; his late father gave it to him when he was a child, and some years
later a truck ran over poor Buby and. . .Back then Mother explained that heaven
is no place for canines, therefore Jorge determined that Buby would stick
around, though unseen. Sara gets emotional, and you can see in her disposition
that she will never try to change her husband’s mind again; Jorge sees her resolution
as a bigger act of love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jorge’s life goal was becoming
a professional musician, but his mother persuaded him to get a degree in
business administration instead; furthermore, an occupation in the family
business and a brand-new sumptuous flat are waiting for him after the
honeymoon. As long as they stay together, Sara does not mind Jorge’s career
decision. On the contrary, Jorge feels that his wife got captivated by the
flawless property acquisition, exposing her feigned attitude of unselfish girl
from the wrong side of the tracks. Straightforwardly, Sara questions her
husband whether he believes that she is a gold digger. Jorge does not bother to
deny; then Sara breaks out and asserts that his only aim is acting as a regular
heterosexual guy in his mother’s eyes, since Jorge secretly loves his gay
friend Chema ― What a bomb! Jorge gets incensed; he opts to take Buby for a
walk, and the woeful wife shuts herself in the bedroom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Later, Jorge comes back to the
suite under the influence, seeking after Sara into the bedroom. After a while,
Sara emerges furiously: she condemns Jorge’s disgusting macho behavior there
in, as if he needed to prove his <i>cojones</i>.
Jorge suggests that they would rather pretend nothing happened and give it
another shot; Sara agrees. . .but this time she will leave the bedroom all
disenchanted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Subsequently, Sara remembers
how gleeful Jorge looked the happy occasion when they two and Chema danced avidly
all together; now it is about time that Jorge must choose only one dancing
partner. Eventually, Jorge confesses that he has been in love with Chema; Sara reacts
proposing a separation. He worries about scandal, and vows to be always
faithful. But now Sara is positive that Jorge got married because this is a
much comfier position for him than an openly gay relationship;<a href="file:///D:/SGF/321,%20322.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[1]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
she recommends Jorge to quit the family job and go on tour with his band, of
which Chema is also a member. Some months later, when Jorge will be back, they
can discuss their future; right now he must leave Sara alone in the suite and
book another one ― tomorrow he shall take Sara back to her family home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">All is over for this young
couple. . .Or at least that is what it seemed; before tomorrow comes, Jorge
enters back the suite determined to talk Sara into not throwing in the towel for
now. Jorge agrees about the tour, but with a difference this time: one band
member less ― yes, <i>that</i> one ― and for
good. Sara is finally at ease now; so the reunited are ready for their first breakfast
together as a married couple. . .and Buby can wait outside. <i>THE END.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">However ― what will become of
these poor guys? Why should Sara trust that her husband will never break his
vow? How can Jorge be sure that he will never fall for another man again? Are
they really going to make each other happy, or devastatingly frustrated
instead? Well, life is too complicated ― we all should agree about that. While
we keep caught in this web of mingled yarn, Diosdado’s characters decide to put
the ill aside. It might only take the time they are enjoying their breakfast,
but no one can refuse to this pair their right to esteem that they have found
Prince Charming in each other for a while ― the rest of their lives? Not our
business.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We are not going to conceal
that we have an annoying feeling with this play. Jorge’s homosexuality is more
or less subtly related to an absent father and a possessive mother; thus, Jorge
is depicted as quite naïve and confused. . .He even stays friends with an
invisible dog from childhood now in his twenties! ― No problem so far: a
positive picture of a gay man does not need to portray a kind of absolute
superman. But we find rather controversial the idea that his sexual orientation
is just a childish stage from which one could <i>get over</i> with the little help of a regular woman with a down-to-earth
viewpoint that Sara (arguably) represents. We are dealing with a piece of
literature from the last decade of the 20<sup>th</sup> century here; not too
distant from our times and customs ― that is why we expect a less <i>therapeutic</i>, more <i>normalized</i> treatment of the topic.<a href="file:///D:/SGF/321,%20322.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[2]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Anyway, our reading might be
much more serious than what Ana Diosdado could probably expect when she wrote
the play: the stage directions suggest an unreal atmosphere, so let’s think
that the author was, just like her creations, fooling around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/SGF/321,%20322.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">Remember the fact that <i>321, 322</i> premiered in the early 1990s, when same-sex marriage was a
still-to-be-legalized right to fight for.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/SGF/321,%20322.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;"> </span><span lang="EN-US">We can find a similar situation in Diosdado’s script for a popular
Spanish TV series: <i>Segunda enseñanza</i> (“Secondary
Education”), 1986. In episode 8, “Tabúes” (“Taboos”), a female student, Sisi (Aitana
Sánchez-Gijón), expresses her feelings for her female teacher Rosa (Ana Marzoa); in response, Rosa hopes that Sisi’s
homosexuality is just a teen phase that she is just going through ― if not, the
girl will have a friend in her, in any case.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-91672031208739884592020-04-15T03:41:00.000-07:002020-04-15T03:41:14.385-07:00Interview with Antonio Heras<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbb9WqFNv3MKOWiGFikXvbFP-RDW3N2kKBN0wHc5VoZxQVFHBFq22eGh7CAPPdlhQw1WT_2xlJNc17CaF-I3qsbi8lxxIWg-VMMu447Oa-AgxizqCfZ2Wx0Sw8Ftpzaj6TjDw7iRm8L1W/s1600/Antonio+Heras+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbb9WqFNv3MKOWiGFikXvbFP-RDW3N2kKBN0wHc5VoZxQVFHBFq22eGh7CAPPdlhQw1WT_2xlJNc17CaF-I3qsbi8lxxIWg-VMMu447Oa-AgxizqCfZ2Wx0Sw8Ftpzaj6TjDw7iRm8L1W/s320/Antonio+Heras+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Fetishism, pornography,
self-publishing, prejudices ― and sports! They are some of the issues that <span style="background: green; color: white; mso-highlight: green;">Antonio Heras</span> (Jaén,
1979) talks about with regard to his gay erotic collection </span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Un blanco
fácil<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">. Please be our nosy guest.<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 35.4pt; text-indent: -35.4pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SPANISH GAY FICTION: You have opted for self-publishing. What advantages
and disadvantages do you find in this way of publishing?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">ANTONIO HERAS: I was very
reluctant at first. I wanted to become a writer the conventional way: supported
by a publishing company. And they did for some years; <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Armado de impaciencia</i> (“Armed with Impatience”),<a href="file:///F:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[1]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
my first book, was published in 2014 by a traditional publishing company. And in
2016 a company specialized in e-books launched my novel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Tus palabras sin sentido</i> (“Your Meaningless Words”).<a href="file:///F:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[2]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
However, when these contracts were over, I decided to launch these two books on
my own. On one side, to try my luck; on the other, to enjoy more control and
information over the product contents, ways to reach the reader, etc. I liked
the adventure, though in the last few months I am up to move my books from
Amazon to Lektu,<a href="file:///F:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[3]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> a
platform that seems to be friendlier to both users and authors. In short, my
experiences in both self-publishing and traditional publishing do not differ
much: the sales were <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">way</i> low on both
occasions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: How was the creative process of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Un
blanco fácil</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AH: I uploaded the title story
of the collection as an experiment. People bought and I got driven. “What if I
add another story?” Thus, I recovered a couple of old stories, and people kept
buying. Then I said to myself: “What if I add another story for every
purchase?” And that is what I did ― though there was a moment when more than twenty
stories had to be included, so I stopped. Anyway, it helped me assemble the
current collection ― which finally consists of nine stories (some produced just
for the book) ― and I really loved the experience. My idea was that the original
purchasers could update their eBook, but I am afraid that it has been impossible
for some people, and Amazon has not offered me the right solution. In any case,
if these readers ask me, I will send the complete book. Besides, the printed
book, that some friends of mine have been demanding, will be for sale in some
weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Nowadays accessing to visual material with pornographic content is
easy and usual, and most users do it for the sole purpose of getting horny. Does
erotic fiction just fulfill the same function?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AH: Generally speaking, I
think it plays a different role. Or at least it has a different sense of timing.
If someone wants to jerk off, they just need to search for videos or pictures online:
there is a world of massive pornography at their disposal. Conversely, literature
needs something else from the reader; it requires more attention, and it is not
that straightforward. It can work for getting excited, of course, but in a
different level, I guess; perhaps more up in your mind rather than down in your
underwear. Quality in literature is hard to achieve, no matter the genre; as an
author, I have learned not to cry with anger and impotence every time I read my
writings again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: There is a common denominator in all the stories: gay eroticism. However,
each story belongs to a distinctive genre, as a means to avoid reiteration at any
cost.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AH: That is right; in my
stories I wanted to avoid a succession of clichés and topical scenes: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">they meet, they fuck, the end / they meet,
they fuck, the end</i>. . .As an author, I had a wonderful time mixing genres on
the common base of eroticism; I wish the same to the reader.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Is there any author or piece of erotic fiction that you esteem as
an example in your writing?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AH: I do not usually like reading
erotic literature; at least, not the mainstream. However, I remember Almudena
Grandes’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Ages of Lulu</i><a href="file:///F:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[4]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
― a brilliant novel ― and also the works of Marguerite Duras, Henry Miller. .
.I do not know whether they can be considered as erotic fiction writers, after
all. Perhaps they can. Oh, wait! I almost forget the immense Marquis de Sade (whose
painful depravation is beyond words), Dennis Cooper, my favorite (living) author,
and Jean Genet, my favorite (dead) author.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Does gay erotic fiction have a wide audience?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AH: My works do not sell well.
If I had to live off my book sales, I would have died from starvation years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: There is a common leitmotif throughout <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Un blanco fácil</i>: the sportsman and his equipment. How important is
fetishism in creating erotic fiction? What is your personal attitude towards
fetishism?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AH: Fetishism can be a very
useful tool for erotic fiction, indeed. Whatever it seems, I am not quite
kinky; I choose the person rather than the object.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: In the title story you pun on the real names of famous footballers.
According to you, why has no elite footballer come out publicly at this stage
in the game?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AH: It is a shame that no foremost
male footballer has opened out about a sexual orientation different from
heterosexuality in our days. The blame may fall on sponsors and football clubs mainly,
but also some mossbacked supporters (at least, the prevalent voices on the
media). Anyway, this is an individual choice; the courage to show your self should
be stimulating enough. Elite sportsmen from many other disciplines came out DECADES
ago, serving as big examples for generations of fans of all ages. In a society
in which football is such an important and popular and profitable business, a
top-level footballer daring to make the first move would be a turning point. I
know no case in real life other than a famous event that happened years ago: there
was a player ready to come out on the cover of Zero magazine,<a href="file:///F:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[5]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
but they said that his club eventually prevented him from doing it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: And the reason why you selected the names for your characters from
the list of Real Madrid CF players is. . .<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AH: The reason was truly
banal: they were just the ones that I felt physically attracted to the most; at
least, the late 90s/early 00s squads. Besides, I found funny the double meaning
in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">blanco fácil</i>.<a href="file:///F:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[6]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a>
The story was originally written for a website in which users romanticized
about the hottest footballers of the hour, and they even produced (mostly pornographic)
stories about meetings in locker rooms, showers, etc.; to sum up, jerk-off
material. A couple of years ago, while searching for other stuff on my computer,
I accidentally found the file and occurred to upload it online.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I do not like laughing at
anyone by branding them as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">gay</i>; for
me, that is a homophobic, counter-productive attitude. The theory that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">homophobes are repressed homos</i> underlies
too latent homophobia, and it really does not help the LGBT cause at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: The story “Homo Sci-Fi,” in which the female character is flicking
the bean while peeping into two guys having sex, reminds me of a trend in
American erotic fiction: women writing M/M fiction for other women mainly. Why has
not this movement repeated in our country?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AH: I honestly have no idea. I
think that it is an interesting kind of fiction; it reminds me of the yaoi and bishōnen
concepts: erotic and romantic Japanese comics featuring gay boys whose main
audience is young girls.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Regarding the story “El cuarto de la plancha,” imagination helps
break the barrier between the labels <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">homo</i>
and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hetero</i>. Do you believe that human
beings are actually bisexual?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AH: I feel that personality
and closeness are key facts in sexual attraction; in that sense, there may be a
moment when that presumably self-imposed barrier dividing your likes and
dislikes might fade away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: In “Con-tacto” you depict a common place in erotic fiction: getting
fondled by a stranger at the subway. Have you ever experienced it by yourself?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AH: Yes, it happened to me
once, but I spare you my reaction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Concerning the story “Hermanos,” have you ever known of any case of
brother-brother incest personally?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AH: No. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If I knew,
I would not see it disgusting; I would try to get to know them ― though I would
feel a kind of awkward, or curious about their living through it, no doubt. I
think that this issue is still quite taboo, at least in our society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: In “El colgante,” when the male protagonist has sex with his
friend, you say: “It is his pureness what he likes the most; there is nothing
artificial around him. Nothing surrounding him, squeezing his body; there are
no watches or necklaces, no earrings or makeups” ― Can it be considered the
very author’s declaration of principles?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AH: No, there is usually no declaration
of principles in my writings; not that clear, at least ― there must be
principles, for sure, though accidentally ―. Anyway, it is the character’s thoughts
what is shown in that quote. He seems to have a too narrow view of the circumstances
around him; it may be a sexist, or at least patriarchal, view. Connecting
falseness to the image of a woman is something absurd and old-fashioned: from
ancient times, almost from original sin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: You work as a member of the protection staff in a museum. If any
given day you had to face a situation like the one narrated in “Artistas
terroristas,” what would be your reaction?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AH: People who must handle
visitors daily in their workplace know from experience that surrealist
situations are commonplace, and you meet people who could inspire a short story
or a short film, at least. In “Artistas terroristas” I tried to invoke a
recurring fear: visitors trying to damage the exhibited works in a fit of
madness ― though they do it in such a strange way in my story. In that case, my
reaction would be like anyone else’s, I guess: I would get scared and use my
walkie talkie to call the security guards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: The portrait of a sexy man with a small penis in a non-negative,
non-problematic way seems to be a taboo in erotic fiction.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AH: Hot men with small penises,
with no six-packs, of a certain age. . .There are so many taboos and prejudices,
and we must break them all down; not only in erotic fiction (not only in
general literature, in fact) but also in real life, in the way we interact with
the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Tell us about your upcoming projects.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">AH: I have finished a vampire novel
full of blood and glitter, now being tested by beta readers. If everything goes
as planned, it will be launched after summer. If published by a company or myself
(in that case, it would be on Lektu), that remains to be determined. Besides, during
this quarantine period I am back to another unfinished novel; it deals with
criminal investigation and investigative journalism on serial murders in a
small town where corruption is king. I hope that the draft will be completed
this month or the next one. Also during this confinement I have finalized the
script for a web series, and the filming could start this year. I keep managing
my two blogs as well: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://antuanausten.wordpress.com/">Armado de impaciencia</a></b> and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://gayumbosezine.wordpress.com/">Gayumbos Ezine</a></b>.
And I will continue to upload unpublished material on Lektu.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="file:///F:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This short story collection won publishing
company Luhu’s 1<sup>st</sup> queer literature contest award.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="file:///F:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Romance novel set in the 19<sup>th</sup>
century London.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="file:///F:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;">[3]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">New online marketplace for selling digital
(mainly e-books) and physical products with the aim of becoming a meeting point
for the rights of authors, publishers, and readers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="file:///F:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn4;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;">[4]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: ES;">Original title: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Las
edades de Lulú</i>, 1989. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Grandes’s first published novel, astonishingly
successful back then, is a highly-praised erotic narration about a woman’s
sexual awakening. A homonymous film based on the book was released the next
year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="file:///F:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn5;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;">[5]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Spanish LGBT-themed monthly publication,
extremely popular during the first decade of 2000s, which served as a suitable
platform for coming out nationwide. The cover boys? From show business celebrities
to priests and soldiers; quite a stink in certain circles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn6" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="line-height: normal;">
<a href="file:///F:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn6;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: X-NONE; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;">[6]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></span></a><span lang="X-NONE" style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The pun has already been explained in <a href="http://spanishgayfiction.blogspot.com/2020/04/this-sporting-lust.html">the post reviewing the book</a> (footnote 1).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-7490852792544025052020-04-13T03:24:00.000-07:002020-04-13T03:24:07.414-07:00This Sporting Lust<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="background: green; color: white; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-highlight: green;">On Antonio Heras’s</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <i>Un blanco fácil</i></span><a href="file:///D:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[1]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVYw-1ChbtVKOXZSWhsfcV86Gl3Kkutmafhik1LDkIkRF4__Rybzm4bVhkhBCzLJsj78gWua7tgTPcmDi3aaNnyvFAzqMoG-iPoUowkTpsO715jalwZijWhr9uF_J1aQSOkGX6OWudB9R/s1600/Un+blanco+f%25C3%25A1cil+-+portada+de+H%25C3%25A9ctor+Valdivia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVYw-1ChbtVKOXZSWhsfcV86Gl3Kkutmafhik1LDkIkRF4__Rybzm4bVhkhBCzLJsj78gWua7tgTPcmDi3aaNnyvFAzqMoG-iPoUowkTpsO715jalwZijWhr9uF_J1aQSOkGX6OWudB9R/s320/Un+blanco+f%25C3%25A1cil+-+portada+de+H%25C3%25A9ctor+Valdivia.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Cover design by <br />Héctor Valdivia</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Here in <b>spanishgayfiction.blogspot.com</b> we believe in the old saying that if
life gives you lemons, make lemonade; just put an end to foul mood all along
this quarantine period with this recently-published collection: nine short
stories in kaleidoscopic tones displaying a wide range of gay erotic amusement.
Are you ready?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the first story, “Un blanco
fácil,” we meet Tidiane, a French footballer of a leading team from the Spanish
league first division, who usually suffers sexual touching when tackled by
other players during both training sessions and matches. In one of those
matches Tidiane trips up a player of the rival team, and this guy vows revenge.
When the game is over, Tidiane is pushed into a dark room; he is afraid that he
is going to be forcibly assaulted ― nothing could be further from the truth:
the rival makes the most of Tidiane, who has a great time in turn. This very
first homosexual experience rouses our superhot hero’s deepest desires; he
needs to repeat with another guy. . .why not a sexy teammate?<a href="file:///D:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[2]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“El cuarto de la plancha”
(“The Laundry Room”) narrates a constantly interrupted vague dialogue between
two 15-year-old boys; they use to shut themselves in the room which the title reads
to jerk each other off. One of them finds the situation awkward; moreover, they
are cousins. . .The other boy advises him to think of his dream girl in the
process ― May it eventually work?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Hermanos” (“Brothers”) shows how
two apparently antithetical siblings behave by themselves when parents are away
for the weekend and friends pass up a gathering for a wild house party. Heaven
knows what this chance for intimacy may come―<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In “El colgante” (“The
Pendant”) eroticism and horror are all mixed up due to a supernatural event: a
woman runs into a strange pendant lying on the street, and immediately she
feels a quirky fascination; she does not even imagine that this moment will make
her life all upside down, eventually leading her boyfriend into the loving arms
of the most unexpected bedmate ― By contrast, the woman will face a much more
different fate.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Con-tacto,”<a href="file:///D:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[3]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
the shortest story, tells an anecdote with a comical result: an office worker rides
the subway after a hard working day; he feels a hand on his right thigh, and he
initially thinks it belongs to a pickpocket. Wait! Is that another hand? ― To
sum up, let us say that this man is eager to go back home and make use of his
own hands. . .while taking a steamy, satisfying shower.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“El tenista yugoslavo” (“The
Yugoslavian Tennis Player”) is Mirko Kerkovich, who is said to be really nasty.
Ricardo, a gay physical therapist for elite players unceasingly repressing his lust
for his patients, has got the short straw: today he must render his services to
that brute. More closely, Ricardo will realize that barking dogs never bite; the
session will result in a really exciting party, at which Kerkovich’s Dunlop
racket will be the king!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">“Cruising Interruptus” has the
same atmosphere as a good mystery novel. A properly concealed huge drainage
pipe is used as a discreet cruising point for many anonymous lovers in a park. However,
a series of bloody, atrocious murders committed in the place will wholly empty
this <i>locus amœnus</i>, since every man
fears for becoming the next emasculated victim. Months go by and the police still
do not catch the killer. . .Nevertheless, a hot Moroccan called Moha is
determined to look into by himself; his scheme cannot be riskier: Moha will use
himself as bait ― Whatever the means so that new homo generations can enjoy a
peaceful spot for cruising.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The title of the next story is
explicit enough: “Homo Sci-Fi.” A starship commanded by a woman travels to a
space station on a scientific-business mission, the author says. The crew: two
men. One of the guys, the scientist, alters the anaphrodisiac pills B-13 so
that the other one, a 19-year-old boy, can feel sexual appetite again; they
need to take advantage of a few days left before a long-lasting hibernation!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The last story in the book, “Artistas
terroristas” (“Terrorist Artists”), deals with a weird wave of terrorist
attacks on museums worldwide. Singular is the word for the offense: they jerk
off and shoot the seminal fluid against mankind’s biggest works of art ― even
the religious-themed ones! ―; to make things worse, the corrosive sperm destroys
the pieces hopelessly. Is there any possible way to stop this chaos?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Isn’t it grand? Isn’t it
great? Isn’t it swell? Isn’t it fun when a single book includes a miscellany of
genres? Horror, romance, mystery, satire, fantasy, queer. . .The great achievement
in Antonio Heras’s incisive style is injecting an outstanding humor into his
detail-oriented erotic fiction; <i>Un blanco
fácil</i> is the puissant combination of a kicky exhibition of sexual activities
― sport fetishism is predominant throughout the book ― and a delightful
illustration of skillful writing. In short, an invitation to relax and enjoy
yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">The title is a pun based on the plot of the title story. <i>Blanco</i> means <i>target </i>as well as<i> white</i>
(like the color of the protagonist’s team uniform; i.e., a synecdoche for the
player himself); <i>fácil</i> signifies <i>easy</i>: like the English term, it can
express both <i>not difficult</i> and <i>promiscuous</i>. Thus, the title can be
translated as <i>An Easy Target</i>, and also
as <i>A Promiscuous Player</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">The whole story is a funny joke grounded in the use of names that thinly
disguise the real players from Real Madrid CF’s <i>galactic era</i> ― as it was popularly known ― in this fictional
República de Madrid squad: apart from Tidiane (a.k.a. <i>Titou</i>), we can find Rigoberto, Oker (the goalkeeper) and a
Portuguese player called Filipe.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/SGF/This%20Sporting%20Lust.doc#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;">[3]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">The author inserts the hyphen in the original term<i> contacto</i> (“contact”) to make a play on
words: <i>con tacto</i> can be translated as
<i>courteously</i>, making clear the character’s
agreeable impression when being fondled.</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 7.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-13561905827216894882019-04-30T08:19:00.000-07:002019-05-04T10:27:09.633-07:00Interview with Julia Ortega (Niamh Byrne)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFaHCqZc-wpzxwYjyRWgWZLjQ0wFbzrsjZBjvFB81kskh6yjSBF6UCGmpfvZdHuRFSLbTieIRf-UYM6n4uFYgiMGu_YbT4A4xlIbmSH-xc5MT0_x8tOMtPqzTRBSTR-LA5jLExCvpF7Xj/s1600/Julita+Ortega%252C+Niamh+Byrne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="284" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTFaHCqZc-wpzxwYjyRWgWZLjQ0wFbzrsjZBjvFB81kskh6yjSBF6UCGmpfvZdHuRFSLbTieIRf-UYM6n4uFYgiMGu_YbT4A4xlIbmSH-xc5MT0_x8tOMtPqzTRBSTR-LA5jLExCvpF7Xj/s320/Julita+Ortega%252C+Niamh+Byrne.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Under the pseudonym of </span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Niamh Byrne<i> we find an old friend of this blog: <span style="background: blue; color: white;">Julia Ortega</span> (Barcelona,
1971) strikes again! LGBT rights, social media, class difference, or sexism in
education are some of the current topics discussed. Please do not miss out. <o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SPANISH GAY FICTION: Why did you decide to publish <i>Contigo hasta el infinito</i> under a pen name? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JULIA ORTEGA: This is my first
novel set outside of Spain entirely. I use this pen name, which is of Irish
origin, from this very year on for all those novels that do NOT have Spain as
the main scenario.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: On the dedication page you acknowledge all the people who work
continuously to make visible and legitimize LGBT relationships.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: LGBT community rights must
continue to be claimed today as much as when I started the novel. Back then I
was assigned this project—another challenge of mine—, and it finally has come
into existence. If I can make Frankie and Gigi win not only LGBT readers’
hearts but everybody’s, I will have achieved my goal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Your book portrays a long-distance relationship built through
social media. What is your opinion about this new, increasingly more common way
of maintaining a love relationship? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: So-so. New technologies have
made the world smaller, and now people are closer—and more distant at the same
time! Let’s say that social networks help those facing actual problems to mix
with in their most immediate context. That is the case of Gigi, who was
pathologically shy during adolescence and would not in her wildest dreams have
dared to approach someone like Frankie. Personally, I think that social networks
remove these barriers and make communication easier between apparently incompatible
people.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Frankie believes that opposites attract. . .Do you think the same
way?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: No doubt. May that
relationship last or end over time, that is another story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: It is very curious that neither Frankie nor Gigi had lesbian
experiences before meeting again. Do you have knowledge of other similar
stories in real life? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: To me, Love has no gender.
This is not a question of being lesbian or heterosexual. In this case, we are dealing
with bisexuality instead of homosexuality. I do not mention it in the novel,
but I would say that Gigi had no kind of sexual experience until her
mid-twenties, when her relationship with Frankie begins. This is also quite
believable since she is more romantic and, as I said before, she finds harder
to mix with others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: When these class differences happen in a real-life couple, is it harder
for the low-class to adapt themselves to the environment of the high-class, or
vice versa? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: Everything depends on each
one’s intentions, their good will to solve certain conflicts. Although today’s
class difference is not as noticeable as in past centuries, it remains. The
problems are different, but the relationship still means a challenge for both
extremes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Which one do you identify yourself with most: Frankie or Gigi?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: Both. I am much more
cynical than Gigi, and that makes me more similar to Frankie. Anyway, Gigi is a
dear, one of the few people who still believe in human kindness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: I remember that <a href="http://spanishgayfiction.blogspot.com/2015/12/interview-with-julia-ortega.html">in the previous interview</a> we talked about social tolerance
towards LGBT community, and you mentioned that there was so much hypocrisy
about it. Do you still feel the same? </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: There is everything under
the sun. It may do not have to do with the <i>topic</i>
but the <i>beholder</i>. It seems as if only
a few people are able to talk about the subject <i>discerningly</i> (i.e., high-profile authors.) And what about us? We
cannot have knowledge, an opinion, and if we can, they do not read/listen to
us. That is the way it was years ago. Fortunately, things are changing and, <i>yes</i>, I have to thank the social media
phenomenon, you see?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Why did you choose Glasgow and Amsterdam as the settings of <i>Contigo hasta el infinito</i>? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: Back then I happened to see
both cities as opposing settings reflecting the mood of each of the protagonists
somehow. I am not sure but I guess that, as it took a long time to write the
novel, my feelings now the book is finished are therefore not the same than the
ones I had when I started it. This may be a clichéd view, but what story is not
at some point? By the way: unlike the plot of <i><a href="http://spanishgayfiction.blogspot.com/2015/12/babes-new-world.html">Caprichos del destino</a></i>, there is nothing autobiographical in this
story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: When I stop to think of the easy-going relationship between Frankie
and her ex Dutch boyfriends, my conclusion is: “This would not have been possible
years ago.” Do you think that in our society, and especially among younger
generations, there is a much laxer view of sexuality? </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: Much the same: it takes
all sorts to make a world. My book is not setting a precedent, seriously. If I
describe a very, very, very laid-back relationship among Frankie, Jan and
Björn, that is because I have seen similar things in some films, other novels,
or even people that I know or have known sometime in my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: It seems that you are eluding the most melodramatic ways of romance
novels throughout the book. Was it a voluntary decision? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: That is because this is <i>not</i> a romance novel. This is a <i>love</i> story, but it deliberately departs
from all the (rigid) straits of the genre. I like love stories, but I dislike some—if
not <i>all</i>—of the (obligatory) patterns
so frequently found in <i>bodice rippers</i>.
It also has to do with extension; <i>Contigo
hasta el infinito</i> is a novella/novelette. I could not expand on certain aspects
which, furthermore, are not relevant and can distance the reader from the main theme:
the relationship between the two women.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Was anyone an inspiration for the arrogant Brianna MacFarland? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: There are so many Briannas
around the world, controlling people who want everybody to dance their tune only;
people who do not accept other alternative ways of living/loving/feeling. It is
not necessarily a question of money or power, though in <i>Contigo hasta el infinito</i> those elements are more recurrent. The
outstanding point is that Gigi eventually stands up to her mother and takes the
reins of her life. After all, we are not talking about teen love, but a
relationship between adults who know what they want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I have not been inspired by
anybody in particular. If you want to put a face to Brianna, I myself visualize
Cate Blanchett.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: When Karen learns that her daughter Frankie is a lesbian, her only
regret is that she would have liked to become a grandmother herself. The
MacFarlands also had other expectations for their daughter. Do you view parents
as generally thoughtless of their children’s own aspirations?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: Well, here we are back to
the topic of the hypocritical society to which you must please, no matter what;
always dictating <i>the</i> rules, imposing <i>the</i> standards; it states whom you have to
marry, how many children you need to have, their future occupations, and a long
et cetera. If someone defies the rules, he is pointed out and not for the good
precisely. In the long run, this causes unhappiness, and no parent wants it for
their children. “Behave well, and you will be happy and live quietly.” That is
the mantra. “Do not rebel, otherwise we all will suffer the consequences.” This
seems very much like the 19<sup>th</sup> century, but it unfortunately still
applies in some families, especially those (like Gigi’s) which, because of affluence
or social position, are in the public eye.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: When will Frankie be totally honest with her mother and confess
that she is <i>not</i> a lawyer?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: We may never see that [<i>Laughs</i>.] Everyone can imagine a
continuation in their own way. The story is self-conclusive, so there is no
sequel. By the end, the two of them are living their relationship freely, and
that <i>really</i> is a <i>happy ending</i> in every sense.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: You describe Ethan as someone who has not enjoyed too much family
love just because he is a man. Do you feel that those gender differences in
education still occur? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: Well, Ethan is a very
peculiar character that has not too much relevance because, as I said before, I
did not to want to mislead the readers from the pairing Frankie/Gigi. Does he
deserve his own novel? Maybe, but I have not considered this so far. I do not
rule it out, but it cannot be possible in the short run. And, yes: less and
less, but there are still certain differences between <i>boys</i> and <i>girls</i> in respect
to education. It has to do with society and parents—the main educators—as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Both the boisterous Hannah, Jan’s last fling, and the young
customers of the store where Frankie works are portrayed in a very sarcastic
way. At your age, is there something that you would like to preach them?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: Not at all. Youth has its
peculiarities, and maturity has its own. My descriptions are not intended to be
critical, only anecdotal and fun; just a reflection of the current society, but
with no condemning tone by a long shot. Hannah’s episode is one of the multiple
ways of introducing Jan. Sometimes anecdotes and experiences tell a lot about
their protagonists.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: In Frankie’s mouth you put a wish that in the Obama era the film
industry will show more homosexual relationships and different types of families.
In hindsight, do you think that it happened like that? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: I cannot say for sure, but
if I were an American film producer and an African-American becomes the
President of the United States, I would know that I have to reflect it in some
way, as this is not just an <i>ordinary</i>
change. It represents an unprecedented historical and social milestone. That
must be explained, especially to the younger generations, in order to show them
that another freer world is possible. I saw <i>The
Princess and the Frog</i><a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Rich%20Dyke,%20Poor%20Dyke.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
and I loved to see an African-American protagonist in a Disney movie. And, like
Frankie, I bet that we will see a homosexual relationship in upcoming animated
films.<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Rich%20Dyke,%20Poor%20Dyke.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
But now we are in the time of Trump. . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Can you tell something about your upcoming projects?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JO: OK, it will be a
psychological thriller set in USA and published under the pen name of Niamh
Byrne again. That is all I can tell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Rich%20Dyke,%20Poor%20Dyke.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> This Walt
Disney picture was released the very same year of the first inauguration of President
Obama: 2009.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Rich%20Dyke,%20Poor%20Dyke.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">For instance, in 2012 we had the opportunity to see an
animated film with a gay (supporting) character on the big screen: Mitch—voiced
by Casey Affleck—in <i>ParaNorman</i> (Focus
Features-Laika Entertainment)</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-74585434459131728622019-04-23T07:36:00.000-07:002019-04-27T02:58:43.062-07:00Rich Dyke, Poor Dyke<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: blue; color: white; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On Niamh Byrne’s</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <i>Contigo hasta
el infinito </i>(“To Infinity with You”)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XfFlGrgzP0_aa-lZO-72bOFnn5H8E5c48RmFX7XolZz8gMat-ElabE-vDskzA-UVp8SgcM2Py4N8G06V4uPGXRqgAnOVBR86BQanW-frqOkZJHOuY3wHV4Wz7mta2plZ6J8Zrfuqft_1/s1600/CONTIGO+HASTA+EL+INFINITO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8XfFlGrgzP0_aa-lZO-72bOFnn5H8E5c48RmFX7XolZz8gMat-ElabE-vDskzA-UVp8SgcM2Py4N8G06V4uPGXRqgAnOVBR86BQanW-frqOkZJHOuY3wHV4Wz7mta2plZ6J8Zrfuqft_1/s320/CONTIGO+HASTA+EL+INFINITO.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This time <b>spanishgayfiction.blogspot.com</b> presents a 2019 new released novel
concerned with the love story between two 30-year-old girls at the crossroads
of their lives. The narrator is Frances Donahue, a.k.a. <b>Frankie</b>, one of the girls in question. This big, tough, silver
grey-eyed Scottish blonde wants us to know her story, and we learn from her
that she is currently (we are in 2015) living in Amsterdam after graduating
from Law School. No, she is not a lawyer—she claims that she is not precisely
fond of books—; Frankie’s forbidding façade (a body covered up with spooky
tattoos, crowned by a surly expression) makes her the perfect intimidating
clerk for annoying, foolish customers in a clothing store. She also smokes like
a chimney, follows the unhealthiest diet ever, and keeps her small apartment as
messy as it gets. Can you picture this butchy Bridget Jones in Law School? Neither
can we. But, you know, everyone has a weakness for someone, and now it is time
to introduce Frankie’s mother, <b>Karen</b>.
This woman has been working as a cleaner for 18 hours a day aiming to finance a
college degree to her daughter. Frankie did not dare let her mommy down. Now
Karen believes that her daughter is a successful lawyer. . .and Frankie is not
refuting at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Karen is also pitiable since
she is married to <b>Jack</b>, Frankie’s
father; a rowdy boozer, a gambling addict, a male chauvinist pig, and therefore
the most deserving target of his daughter’s poisonous remarks. As a matter of
fact, witnessing her parents’ marriage has made Frankie skeptical about couple
relationships since her early years. No matter how hard-bitten Frankie strikes
as, Karen can read her daughter’s mind: Frankie is just seeking for true love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Has she already found it? All
we can say is: HELL YES!! It was June 2010, and Frankie was just chatting
through Facebook. There she discovered an old high school classmate, Georgia
MacFarland. By those days they were not friends: Georgia was the shy poor
little rich girl, and Frankie was the wild elusive low-class lass. That is what
we call irreconcilable differences! However, Frankie believes that opposites
attract; this contact became gradually closer, and now, five years later, they
are a solid duet. Funnily enough, both Frankie and <b>Gigi</b> (Georgia’s pet name) had been heterosexual so far. In her
college days, Frankie used to hang out with two boys by turns. . .without their
knowledge!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This doublet is planning to
live together once that Gigi has finished her two-year PhD in Medieval Studies
in the University of Glasgow. Frankie would like to settle down in Amsterdam:
this place means FREEDOM for her. Au contraire, she finds Glasgow as no city
for bold dykes. Any trouble ahead? Neither of them has talked to their families
about their true sexual orientation and each other’s sweetheart yet. Anyway,
Frankie just wants to relax; that is why she is taking a few weeks off from
work. She would love a purse-to-purse meeting with Gigi, but her girl is about
to do her thesis defense. No time for love. . .Sometimes Fortune smiles on you
in the weirdest ways, and Frankie becomes a lucky girl thanks to a call from
her brother <b>Ethan</b>. Have not we
talked about him yet? Ethan is 8 years elder than Frankie, and left the family
home when he turned 18. He was a third rate professional boxer, but now he is
running a club in Edinburgh. Frankie sees her brother as a younger version of
Jack: the quarrelsome kind, a loose cannon neglecting his kins, this relative
you only meet again for Christmas. Ethan informs his sister of Jack’s getting
his way again after leaving Karen penniless; and now Frankie must support mom
(financially, of course): if Karen does not pay the rent, she will get evicted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Every cloud has a silver
lining; this trip to Glasgow will be a happy time to pay Gigi a surprise visit!
Also, these two lovebirds can set their families straight about their romance
once and for all. It is springtime in the gay city of Amsterdam, and Frankie
feels enthusiastic about her upcoming projects. This evening she decides to
meet her ex <b>Jan</b>. No, she is not
missing his <i>Amsterdammertje</i>. She just
wants someone to enjoy the moment with (and have some drinks with too!). When
Jan learns about Frankie’s scheme, he cannot help some joking. Gigi is the only
daughter of <b>Nathaniel</b> and <b>Brianna</b> MacFarland, who met in a fox
hunting season. Thanks to the family fortune, Gigi can afford a long-lasting
college background as well as the twosome’s expenses when meeting in diverse European
capital cities. . .Contrary to the popular belief, webcam sex is not enough for
Millennials too. . .This quasi-regal family, who can trace their lineage back
to Adam, own a country seat in Balmoral close to the Windsors’ summer castle.
The MacFarlands cannot hardly wait for their <i>little girl</i> to wrap up her doctoral degree (which they find <i>needless</i>), and then pick a husband of
similar status. May an over-tattooed, foul-mouthed <i>punk</i> from the slums of Glasgow be the front runner? Jan warns that
Frankie’s surprise might get the other way round—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Back to the misty Glasgow,
mother and daughter reunite after a 6-year separation. Karen senses that
Frankie is infatuated; then it is about time to have an open and honest conversation.
Karen’s reaction is not negative, though she suggests her daughter not to let
be seen with Gigi too much in order to avoid becoming the talk of the town. She
also finds weird to keep a relationship through social media. To Frankie’s
surprise, Karen shares that Ethan has started to give her money occasionally.
Wow! That means Ethan is maturing. Now Frankie is not the only member of the
family backing the mother. That <i>is</i> a
relief! After good news, Frankie lets passion lead her footsteps to the college
residence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When knocking on Gigi’s door,
an unfamiliar voice answers back. Frankie steps in, and she is received by the
very Brianna MacFarland with her most disapproving glance. Gigi introduces
Frankie to her mother as an old high school classmate. Brianna takes advantage
of the moment to criticize her daughter’s judgment: her unscrupulousness in
choosing friends, her inclination towards public education. . .Mother and
daughter have an argument before an astonished version of Frankie. Gigi
eventually manages to get rid of Mrs. Almanach de Gotha. At last! All by themselves
after a long, long time. Frankie has been missing her freckly, red-haired,
violet-eyed Chanel devotee so much!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After a deep-lady pond diving,
Gigi tries to downplay her mother’s words. She also claims that Glasgow has changed
a lot since Frankie flew to the Netherlands, and LGBT people can live easier in
the most populous city in Scotland. It seems that Gigi has also changed; she is
not that timid girl constantly worrying about what others think of her anymore.
Just when they are about to take another dip, Karen is calling to reveal that
Jack has been hit by a car. Frankie becomes speechless, but she does not shed a
single tear. Gigi knows well that Frankie’s hooligan style is just acting; she
does not want to be seen crying, just that. This is Gigi’s moment to demonstrate
that she is up and ready to fight for their love, and the first step is getting
to know a part of Glasgow that she has never dare set foot before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A week after, this is the way
things are: Jack is buried, and Gigi is living with Frankie and Karen in their
humble abode. Gigi and Karen have hit it off from the start. Gigi is comforting
both Frankie and her mother, and Karen finds it incredibly sweet. Karen compares
her daughter’s woman to a beautiful maiden from ancient times. In parallel, the
Donahue Girls provide with a quiet atmosphere for Gigi’s finishing touch to her
thesis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And the big day has finally
arrived! While Gigi is having a rough time before the examining board, Frankie
receives a concise message from Brianna: they need to talk. The appointment
will take place in the fanciest hotel in Glasgow, upon Brianna’s request.
Frankie is afraid that Brianna is determined to bribe her to leave her adored offspring.
Thus, she decides to turn on the Poker-Face mode for the occasion, dress
discreetly (i.e., all tattoos out of sight), and take a taxi to prevent herself
from adsorbing the usual smelly fragrances of the bus. When she finally faces
Brianna, she blurts out that nobody buys her off. Brianna replies that she is
not that clunky; she does not mean to be an obstacle for their affair. Yes, Brianna
guessed that Frankie and Gigi were more than mere acquaintances: she is a snob,
not a dumb. However, has Frankie realized that her beloved one is a refined dame
used to a life in a golden cage? OK, Gigi has been living in her neighborhood
for a week but, how long will it take before she starts getting bored? Brianna
does not believe that their relationship is going to last forever, and she
suspects that Frankie feels the same. Discouraging Frankie was not the only aim
for this rendezvous; Brianna also invites her to the party that they are
throwing tonight to celebrate Gigi’s success. Before they say goodbye for now,
Brianna announces that Scotland’s most handsome, prosperous, high-class single
men will be among guests, all of them eagerly interested in marrying Gigi. The
fight has just begun!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As it could not be otherwise,
Frankie is welcomed by the MacFarlands’ butler, who leads her to the tea room.
There she will meet a polite-but-distant Brianna as well as a new character:
Brianna’s mother-in-law, apparently quite amused with Frankie. Not too long
after Frankie’s arrival, cat-eyed, good-looking <b>Niall</b> makes his appearance. Who is this guy? Gigi has never told about
him! He is introduced as an old friend of the family (not <i>too</i> old according to Frankie).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Suddenly, Gigi pops up, grabs
Frankie by her arm and pushes her upstairs. Now locked in Gigi’s five-star
room, she cannot help kiss and squeeze her suspicious girl; Frankie tries to
figure out why Gigi has been so mysterious about this Niall that Brianna looks
up to as if he were the son-in-law of the year. But Frankie does not need to panic,
as Gigi explains that she has always put Niall in the friend zone. Does Niall share
the same view? Frankie slips into an evening dress from Gigi’s magnificent collection,
and then the two of them go downstairs to meet the guests crowding in the
banquet hall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">During the dinner, Frankie
feels <i>extremely</i> out of place. Niall
is sitting close to Gigi, and they both are chatting and laughing and loving it
all. To make things worse, the MacFarland patriarch slams current romances via
social media, praising the old-fashion style, such as his courtship of Brianna;
this (merry?) couple have never been separated since the very moment they met.
On the other side of the table, Brianna is glaring at Frankie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Cinderella never stays after
midnight, so Frankie excuses herself and exits the room. Gigi catches up with
her to assure that there is nothing to be jealous of Niall or anyone else. Gigi
also admits that her mother has tried to persuade Niall into seducing her, but Brianna
is nothing but a spoiled girl. Just to get Frankie smaller, Brianna has made
too much of her daughter’s social status: in fact, Gigi is seen as a tedious spinster,
so there is no horde of suitors anywhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Nonetheless, Frankie has
confirmed tonight that this life is not for her; she will always feel like a
fish out of water. She firmly believes that sooner rather than later social differences
will weigh heavily, and she is determined to call things off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Oh, no! This is the end for
these lovely valentines! They are in need of a Fairy Godmother to solve the
problem, therefore it is Niall’s turn. He confesses to Frankie that he has never
felt attracted to Gigi, as she is not his type. Surprisingly, it is Frankie!!
When Frankie realizes that she is on the brink of losing Gigi, she rushes back in
the hall. There, before everybody’s eyes, Gigi kisses Frankie. <i>Gigi l’Amorosa</i>: this is all that Frankie
needs!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We find a puzzling change in
the last chapter; now it is Gigi who tells the rest of the story. She notes
that neither Nat nor Bri is happy to see their preppy daughter with that
ultra-inked trashy woman. Still, this is not going to mean a schism between
Gigi and her parents at this stage of the game. Actually, every time Gigi shows
up at home, her only purpose is visiting all the abandoned animals that she has
been rescuing and fostering there through the years. Unlike her son and daughter-in-law,
Gigi’s Granny approves of their relationship. When she was young, this funny
lady was the subject of high society’s gossip given that she married an arty
filmmaker, a true scandal at the time. Now she finds very entertaining to have
a lesbian granddaughter. When the party is over, the MacFarland heiress says
goodbye to Niall and invites him to visit them in Amsterdam in the future. But these
passionate quinies’ next stop is Edinburgh, where they have been enjoying la
dolce vita for the last ten days. After all, Gigi declares that what she likes
most is her girl’s making her laugh. . .and scream in bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We must accept that the lady-and-the-tramp
love story cliché is not the most <i>unconventional</i>
in fiction so far (and particularly in romance novels), but in this case the
result is really pleasant because of its Austen-evoking, unceasingly ironic tone.
If we had to make a choice on one single feature of Niamh Byrne’s skills, we
definitely would take her dialogues. Funny, witty, casual, arrogant,
conflicting. . .Not only the protagonists but all the rest of characters are
perfectly shaped thanks to the way the author make them speak their minds. This
book can also be seen as a reminder of the never-ending problem in this
post-2008 economic crisis society: <i>Money</i>.
The (seemingly) simplest stories tell the painful truth about the state of
affairs plainly, and more often than we use to concede.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-27150639580508683882018-07-16T01:48:00.001-07:002018-07-16T01:48:19.690-07:00Interview with Julio Videras<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ibfuFnxrohUHewiLgDWS9FeNTtIqiPsfa5CZwjnE2qdNoTCFbroX8bbnLdCvqgA6sxCfCa056syGDjx7ImCNOBlbPDLe6ixPQqNmbqV2IA4qNgWEWIbGdrwOphVpKis9E3dJ8PrQVcii/s1600/Julio+Videras.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="414" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ibfuFnxrohUHewiLgDWS9FeNTtIqiPsfa5CZwjnE2qdNoTCFbroX8bbnLdCvqgA6sxCfCa056syGDjx7ImCNOBlbPDLe6ixPQqNmbqV2IA4qNgWEWIbGdrwOphVpKis9E3dJ8PrQVcii/s200/Julio+Videras.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">They say you never forget your first
love. Seemingly, it is the same in the case of your first comic book published:
<span style="background: olive; color: #4fe044; mso-highlight: olive;">Julio Videras</span>
(Granada, 1976) remembers his experience with </span></i></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Cornelia<i>, as well as he takes a close look at the
question of gender roles, the comic universe, creator’s frustration, and the
unexpected paths to real love. <o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SPANISH GAY FICTION: On the dedication page, you say that it was the illustrator
Lydia Sánchez the one who created the character of Cornelia. Then, how did you
get to this project? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JULIO VIDERAS: Indeed, the authorship
of the character of Cornelia is Lydia’s. While checking out her blog those days
I found several designs of the character, and suddenly my brain clicked into gear.
I had the image, I had the concept. . .then I just had to <i>build up</i> the narrative.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: <i>Cornelia</i> was published in
2008, the year of the global economic crisis outburst. The protagonist is a 22-year-old
student living in an apartment shared with three other people, as she can’t
hardly make ends meet with two underpaid jobs. . .Were you expecting the
catastrophe drawing near back then?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: Well, to be honest I think
not [<i>Laughs</i>.] At that time I had a
job, and I was a young guy full of many hopes and dreams. However, my college
days—shitty jobs, roommates—were still fresh in my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What did <i>Cornelia</i> mean in
your career in the comic world? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: It was my first published
work and as such, I love it and hate it in equal measure. Except some reviews of
the time, the comic book passed unnoticed. However, the people who bet on <i>Cornelia</i> feel affection for it. It was
hard in my case, as a series of last-minute changes beyond my control forced me
to rewrite the script, especially the final section. I have to say that I have
never been very happy with that ending, and I have always dreamed of making a 2.0
version where the story was much more perfect but—C’est la vie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What about the LGBT community’s opinions about <i>Cornelia</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: Well, the truth is that I
do not know. A lesbian friend loved the story, and she especially liked the
natural way in which a lesbian relationship is portrayed. For me, writing a
story with so many female characters and so much emotional burden was a true
challenge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: And personally, what does <i>Cornelia</i>
mean to you? Does it differ much from your other works?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: No doubt <i>Cornelia</i> stands out in my catalog.
Perhaps it is my least-remembered work for the main audience. But, despite the flaws,
it is undoubtedly the most important for me, since it was the first one that I
published; also because of the subject I was dealing with, and, above all, I proved
to myself that I could produce stories that could reach an unusual audience in
the comic book universe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: If there is something remarkable in <i>Cornelia</i>, it is precisely the lightness of its plot. Did you worry
that this seeming <i>insignificance</i> could
go against the result? After ten years since its publication, would you make
any change on the script?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: Actually, the story
practically wrote itself. Many people have asked me if the end was planned from
the beginning, and it really was not. The point was basically describing a day
in the life of Cornelia, full of sorrows and lacking of joys, like a vital
snapshot. However, when I was approaching the end, the denouement seemed to be as
powerful as a kick straight into face; the story could only have one possible
ending. Well, as I have already mentioned, the original ending was different,
more developed. The final scene was really tender, and it worked as a final
moral: Love happens when you least expect it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Is there any inspirational muse behind <i>Cornelia</i>? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: Well, even if it does not
seem like it, Kevin Smith’s <i>Chasing Amy</i><a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Taste%20of%20Her%20Cherry%20Chapstick.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[1]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><i> </i>was a great inspiration for <i>Cornelia</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Your descriptions on the usual customers in a comic book shop are
really funny. What is your opinion about people who are into comics?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: Next question [<i>Laughs</i>.] Of course, a good scriptwriter
knows how to mix inventions and personal experiences in equal shares when producing
a story, and <i>Cornelia</i> is certainly
not an exception. I read comics myself, so I find comic readers wonderful and
interesting people. The best gatherings in which I have taken part have always
been about movies or comics.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Those characters are seen through the eyes of the protagonist. Do
you think that women see the world of comic books from a different perspective
than men? How responsible are comic book authors in that difference?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: Although the trend is
changing, the comic universe is still mostly <i>for guys</i>. The reason? Well, I guess the same happens in the movies:
both genders have different perceptions, sensibilities and curiosities. In my
case, I never tried to make <i>Cornelia</i> a
story <i>for women</i>; I just wanted to
tell a story about human relationships with all its implications. Doing this
from the perspective of a female character has been one of the most difficult
challenges in my career as a comic writer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Regarding the female viewpoint, this comic follows the chick-lit pattern.
Being a man, was it difficult to approach this genre? As for the readers’
response, has any woman told you that it looks like a comic written by a woman
or, on the contrary, they tell you that it is obvious that there is a man
behind the script?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: As a matter of fact it was
a real challenge, but in general I was satisfied with the result. When you
write a <i>slow-paced</i> story like this,
the script works in a very different way; these stories are much more sustained
on the content than the form. Dialogues are as important as silent panels; you
must seek affinity with the reader, touching those feelings deep inside us all.
Like Cornelia, we all have suffered anguish, disappointment, and the weight of
the world on our shoulders; we all have cried sometimes because of unrequited
love, or we have asked ourselves the reason of many things happening to us. Basically,
<i>Cornelia</i> is nothing else but the
story of someone who, in the chaos of everyday life, finds happiness where she
least expects it. Some female readers have told me that this story is too <i>sensitive</i> to be written by a man [<i>Laughs</i>.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Regarding the ending, why did you decide to make Cornelia turn
homosexual? Do you agree with Rocío when she says that “if people cared to look
for love only (no matter the question of gender), the world would be a much
more beautiful place”? Have you applied this philosophy in real life?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: As I have already
mentioned, the story led me to that ending on its own. To be honest, today I could
not imagine another possible ending now. And I absolutely agree on Rocío’s theory.
I feel my answer below is perfect to answer this question too [<i>Laughs</i>.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Among your dedications there is someone that you describe as your <i>future wife</i>. In the comic, Salva
fatefully runs into his ex, who left him for another guy just a few days before
they were to get married. Were you expressing your fears at that moment?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: Well, I can say that my <i>future wife</i> ended up becoming my <i>current wife</i> [<i>Laughs</i>.] And to everyone’s relief, I did it willingly and consciously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: How similar is Salva to you? You describe him as a huge fan of
comics, roleplaying, horror movies and Italian food— <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: Not much—except that I am
a huge fan of comics, roleplaying, horror movies and Italian food [<i>Laughs</i>.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: <i>Cornelia</i> was Lydia
Sánchez’s first published comic also. What is your opinion about her work? Considering
that you have worked with male and female artists, would you highlight any
difference between both sexes in the work process as well as the result?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: Lydia put her heart and soul
into every single page, and we both suffered a lot to push this project
forward. In point of fact, I have been disconnected from the professional world
of comic books for a few years now and, except that I have come across her in
some conventions in Barcelona, I have not followed her career very closely. I have
truly taken a look to some of her later works, but I would be lying if I said
that I know what she is currently involved in. Well, the only female
illustrator that I have ever worked with is Lydia, so I do not have much
experience about it either. However, I am sure that this story would have been
very different had the illustrator been a man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Did you and Lydia Sánchez ponder over continuing Cornelia’s story
in later comics?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: I think that we only dreamed
of publishing our first work at all costs at that time. I really do not
remember if we ever talked about it; each one started with other projects, and
our professional paths did not cross again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What are your most immediate projects?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: Right now I am <i>retired</i>, though I threaten to return—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Taste%20of%20Her%20Cherry%20Chapstick.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[1]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <i><span lang="EN-US">Cornelia</span></i><span lang="EN-US"> shares with this touching 1997 American movie (Quentin Tarantino claimed
that this was his favorite film that year) a <i>casual</i> way in storytelling, as well as a thought-provoking standpoint
in the question of gender roles in romantic relationships. Note that both this
Spanish comic book and Mr. Smith’s film depict lesbian characters created by
male straight writers. Additionally, <i>Chasing
Amy</i> is set in the American indie comic world, and Kevin Smith is a comic
book writer himself.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-89385079779037338232018-07-06T08:22:00.001-07:002018-07-06T08:22:55.420-07:00The Taste of Her Cherry Chapstick<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: olive; color: #4fe044; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-highlight: olive;">On Lydia Sánchez
and Julio Videras’s</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <i>Cornelia</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Zxj1V86K-tvVUSh_oXp1TfLKvqTgVHHRQight7LpFJRZHMSVwMUAqaLHC6HYsEo7Q8pg6OXomZsASf_GfvETAlcEfV_UxCHChzuVqKM0rjRDrK3jHioEOc5-7cZYNIJyQixohXJt-BiG/s1600/Cornelia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Zxj1V86K-tvVUSh_oXp1TfLKvqTgVHHRQight7LpFJRZHMSVwMUAqaLHC6HYsEo7Q8pg6OXomZsASf_GfvETAlcEfV_UxCHChzuVqKM0rjRDrK3jHioEOc5-7cZYNIJyQixohXJt-BiG/s200/Cornelia.jpg" width="143" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yes! As you may have guessed,
here in <b>spanishgayfiction.blogspot.com</b>
we could not help recalling Katy Perry’s Sapphic hit when approaching this
comic book published in 2008: a dazzling story around the whimsical, mysterious
pathways to Happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Our friendly protagonist is <b>Cornelia</b>, a 22-year-old student of Fine
Arts. She has two jobs, thus she can’t hardly attend in classroom: in the
mornings, as a shop assistant in the comic store <i>Friky Planet</i>; by night, as a waitress in a club. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Cornelia lives in an apartment
in Barcelona with two girls and a boy. The girls are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 7.1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -7.65pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·</span><!--[endif]--><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Laura</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">, a somehow dull and daffy blonde living in Barcelona
for 10 years, trying to make her way in the world of acting though she is not
lucky enough in auditions; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 7.1pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -7.65pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·</span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">and <b>Rocío</b>, a
girl-crazy, passionate brunette, who successfully works in a publicity agency. Cornelia’s
colleague in the night club, <b>Pablito <i>Danger</i></b>, a hornball who jumps into each
and every single woman, feels a special (and male-chauvinist) morbid
fascination for her. His attitude extremely irritates Cornelia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Cornelia is kind to the others:
Luigi, the Italian restaurant owner; the alley cats she feeds up; the weirdo who
is always watching through the other side of the store window; Antonio, the
deliveryman; the boy intimidated by his mother. . .but particularly to <b>Salva</b>. He is the owner of Friky Planet
(Salva calls <i>freaks</i> to the comic
nerds); he is also Cornelia’s Prince Charming. She calls him <i>Culito Perfecto</i>—“Perfect Little Ass.” Salva
is a 30-year-old scatterbrain, huge fan of comics, roleplaying, horror movies
and Italian food. He is continuously asking Cornelia to do extra hours, since Salva
is really busy with his other job in a business consultancy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Today Cornelia takes advantage
from her favor in order to get an invitation for lunch in a wok, as well as a
stolen kiss. Eventually, Salva stands her up in the restaurant. Nevertheless, in
the afternoon she must go back to the store to do her promised duty.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Later in the club, her
girlfriends go to see her at the other side of the bar. There, Cornelia recounts
her situation with Salva. Rocío suggests that she ignores men and goes lesbian.
To brighten up her day, Rocío tells a funny anecdote about how she flirted with
a shop-assistant in a lingerie store. Rocío is always sweet and thoughtful to her.
To Rocío, Cornelia is nice, pretty and funny, though just a little bit neurotic.
She recommends Cornelia to kiss Prince Charming off and try to find the person she
can connect with and feel happy and complete. Cornelia admits that Rocío cares
about her more than Salva.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Speak of the devil, Salva
makes an attentive appearance, with an apology in his lips and a rose in his
hand, guaranteeing a rewarding dinner to Cornelia. Rocío is not at all happy
with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A week later, Cornelia seems
to have forgotten the incident. By taking things slow, Cornelia hopes that Salva
takes seriously the chance of a relationship: They together walk out, have
lunch, go to the movies, do some shopping—Salva also picks Cornelia up in the club
after working all night. He finally passes care inspection, so they arrange a
celebration date. Besides, Cornelia has asked her roommates to leave the apartment
that night for more intimacy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The door bell is ringing.
Rocío warns Salva not to blow it again, otherwise he would be in serious
trouble. Salva gives Cornelia a beautiful butterfly barrette that she
immediately puts on her hair to add a sparkling touch to her stunning look
tonight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">During the dinner the romantic
couple makes a toast with water—tough luck!: It starts raining before entering
the hot spot where Salva brings Cornelia after. There, Cornelia will find out Salva’s
unexpected skills as a lively dancer. When Cornelia goes to the restroom,
Salva’s ex-fiancée <b>Lidia</b> suddenly
pops up. Lidia had gone off with an American man, leaving Salva practically standing
at the altar. But things did not go well, and now Lidia seems ready to get Salva
back at any costs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Lidia does not accept Salva’s refusal,
so she decides to come to the fore and kiss him. Salva acts reluctant at first,
but later he lets her take control. To top it all, Cornelia comes back and has
a major setback to the delight of Lidia. Our unfortunate heroine rushes out of
the club, and walks back home in the rain.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Rocío recognizes her from the
taxi. She gets off and shelters Cornelia under her umbrella; she also takes off
her coat to cover her soaking humbled friend. Once Cornelia has told the story,
Rocío advises her to ignore Salva for good. Cornelia starts saying that she and
Rocío—the two of them—in others circumstances—But Rocío does not let her finish:
she claims that the world would be a much more beautiful place if people worried
about searching for love only, no matter the significant other’s gender. Rocío
confesses that she has wanted to kiss Cornelia for too long, and she does it. The
passionate brunette has dropped the umbrella: neither of them seems to feel the
rain. Cornelia finally kissed a girl—and she definitely liked it!!!</span></div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-32868298986812435572017-05-16T00:30:00.000-07:002017-05-16T00:30:51.791-07:00Interview with Javier Vázquez<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgum3IkQ0A3fQNi4Tuxlaxsn_ASjFW29vJxn2QBvP1oP3kkpjxkGFCCCYy-D_4uBvEiOvw3YS28I9WA30SHOc-yNd0Zw9qky5hc7ZdeV5d4BFNg-fXf2XkMwlNUJttXcca_N3t2pb_329Cz/s1600/Javier+V%25C3%25A1zquez+con+su+perro+Aar%25C3%25B3n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgum3IkQ0A3fQNi4Tuxlaxsn_ASjFW29vJxn2QBvP1oP3kkpjxkGFCCCYy-D_4uBvEiOvw3YS28I9WA30SHOc-yNd0Zw9qky5hc7ZdeV5d4BFNg-fXf2XkMwlNUJttXcca_N3t2pb_329Cz/s320/Javier+V%25C3%25A1zquez+con+su+perro+Aar%25C3%25B3n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Javier Vázquez and his dog Aarón</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span lang="EN-US" style="background: red; color: #d6e3bc; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-highlight: red;">Javier Vázquez</span></i></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <b><i>(Madrid,
1981) is not only the author of “Comiéndote a besos,” but also a collaborator
of NGO Imagina MÁS. This young globetrotter’s experience with HIV+ individuals turned
out essential when producing this motivating story. Varied issues such as the
city of Madrid, lack of affection, unjustified fears, social rejection, the
power of theatre, or the progression in the fight against the disease are
brought up through his tasty speech. Our advice to the readers: please don’t
miss it.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SPANISH GAY FICTION: Where does such an original project like this come
from?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JAVIER VÁZQUEZ: It all started
one afternoon. My colleague Iván and I were lying on the grass in El Retiro.</span><a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">Suddenly, Iván said: “Hey! Listen to this song posted
on Facebook.” It was a video showing Rozalén singing “Comiéndote a besos” in a
bar. No wonder the two of us went crazy. Then I said to Iván: “We need to meet
this girl.” So I found her Facebook ID and immediately sent an invitation to perform
in the presentation of one of our campaigns. I will never forget that day. She
was wearing a white dress, carrying her guitar and smiling hugely. We have been
friends since then. As a matter of fact, she invited us to be some of the first
in listening to her first album and visit the making of “Comiéndote a besos”
music video, and we have done many things together. Let’s say that we were
lucky enough to see how María was deservedly becoming very famous in the world
of music. When we suggested writing a short story based on her song, she just
loved the idea!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Back then, I had purchased all
<i>Los colores olvidados</i> stories,<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
which fascinated me: there are paper books for sale, but you can also find
interactive versions available. Thus, I suggested my colleagues making the
story interactive. Doing a search on the Internet, we checked that there was no
fictional story on HIV in either Spanish or any other language, and all the interactive
books on HIV had to do with information on the virus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Why did you decide to get involved in the fight against the disease
and HIV people support? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: I became conscious of the
importance of HIV when I won a ticket to attend the musical <i>Rent</i> in New York. I had seen the film
some years before, but I did not take too much notice. <i>Rent</i> left me impressed. Just awesome! It is a shame that this is
not currently being staged. The work is set in the 1980s, when people died of
HIV as there was no medical treatment. Far from focusing on the tragedy, it is
about love. In fact, the main theme, “Seasons of Love”. . .believe me when I
say that it can give you goosebumps when you are present at the live
performance. Well, the thing is that some years later, when some islands of
Scotland were my residence, I got the job of my dreams. I had to travel around
the world doing educational projects with secondary education students. One of
these projects led me to Cape Town for a two-week voluntary work in a hospital
for HIV positive orphans and an orphanage located in a township, quite similar
to Brazil’s <i>favelas</i>. At first we were
a kind of scared because of that usual ridiculous worrying about HIV: “what if
a kid accidentally cuts himself when he is playing with me? What should I do? Should
I help him or wait for a doctor?” The good thing is that the hospital staff
taught us about everything that we had to know, so all fears disappeared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After 7 years living abroad, I
came back to Madrid and that is when I met Tere and Iván, my current NGO
colleagues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: “Comiéndote a besos” deals with HIV in a more emotional than medical
way. Could it be said that seropositive people’s major problem today has to do
with personal or social relationships rather than a struggle for life?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: Initially one wonders after
testing positive for HIV: “Oh my God! What is going to happen? Will I get ill?”
This is the normal thing; people (and especially <i>young</i> people) consider themselves unbeatable, and only the elderly
or others contract diseases. So when they are just diagnosed with HIV they feel
vulnerable and start to think of their health and death. Luckily, they soon see
that there is no need to worry. Doctors do their best to explain clearly that
nothing bad is going to happen; thanks to the treatment, HIV is nothing but a
chronic disease. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The following problem is the
fear of rejection. If it were the case of any other disease, you would talk to your
friends and relatives first to feel their support. But this is HIV: there is
silence instead, as you are afraid of being judged and marginalized. Let’s not
forget that nowadays HIV is mainly sexually transmitted, and sex is a <i>sin</i>. . .So if you have got HIV, that is
because “you have been looking for it,” “who knows what you have done!” Regarding
all this, how to tell your parents, your friends, your partner?—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: How would you summarize the progression of the fight against HIV
since it was discovered up to its evolution so far?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: I think that there are two
ways: medical and social. HIV research has advanced by leaps and bounds: from a
deadly disease of which nothing was known to a chronic disease whose patients’
life expectancy is similar to the rest of the population. As far as the
treatment is concerned, from dozens of pills with terrible side effects to a
single pill with almost no adverse effect. Moreover, now we know that the virus
cannot be transmitted by HIV-positive individuals undergoing treatment and
having undetectable viral load. This way, a heterosexual couple willing to have
a baby can do it naturally, as there is no risk of transmission to the baby or
your partner. There has also been a progress in the prevention issue, besides
the prophylactic; we will soon have the pre-exposure prophylaxis (which is
similar to the morning after pill) available in Spain.<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[3]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Regarding the social problem, there
has been very little advancement. The old fears and stigmas still remain the
same. We think that HIV has nothing to do with us but people acting in a
reprehensible manner, and that is not true. In our NGO there is an HIV+
volunteer called Miguel Caballero, who is a blogger in our website. I remember
one of his posts saying (more or less): “One day there will be a cure for HIV
and it will cease to exist, but we must learn from what it has brought about, what
it has caused in society, the discrimination that it has provoked. If we do not
learn from it, if our society does not improve, we will achieve nothing, as one
day it all will recur again.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: The story talks about the questions on sexual relationships when
testing for HIV. How do you tackle this conversation in your NGO?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: Nobody feels at ease when
talking about sexuality, let alone among strangers. Hence, humanity and
professionalism are essential in this situation. There is a big difference
between a health center staff whose first inquiry is: “How many sexual partners
have you had?,” and when you answer: “No idea,” they look at you with smirky
eyes and ironically ask: “100? 500? 1,000?”, and places like Imagina MÁS, where
we first set things straight: we are not judging you, and our behavior is
closer and more humane.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What is the usual experience with people testing positive? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: Generally, there are two
kinds of reaction: the pragmatic type accepts the situation and learns all that
they have to do immediately, and the emotionally collapsed type tends not to
believe what is happening; they freeze due to the fear, look for other place to
get tested as they believe that the result is wrong, etc. </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In any case,
they always have our back. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In Imagina
MÁS we may take them to the health center or our personal development group. Our
psychologists can assist them too. In short, we are not going to leave them
alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: In “Comiéndote a besos” you mention support groups. How do they
help people in the question of social rejection? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: Personal development
groups are magic. In three months, you see how shocked people, scared people,
hopeless people break away with everything paralyzing them and develop a spectacular
personal growth. Many of them go stronger, resilient. And it is all thanks to
people leading the groups and mutual support. </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Concerning social rejection,
it is a two-way street. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There is a
general social rejection of HIV+ individuals—several studies from the Department
of Health state this—but there is also the internal serophobia preventing
people from opening up and seeking for support in their surroundings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: There are many shows of affection such as hugs depicted throughout
the story. How important is affection in the case of HIV+ people? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: There is a generalized
lack of affection; we use an emotional protective shield because showing our
feelings makes us look <i>weak</i> and
vulnerable. Many times words are out of place, and the only thing that we need
is someone hugging us or holding our hand. There is a very beautiful text by Roy
Galán</span><a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[4]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">called “Haz que no parezca amor” [“Make It Does Not
Look Like Love”] just about this: the way we pretend that we do not feel, that
we are free and independent, that nothing hurts us at all. There is a sentence that
I find awesome: “Dime tú, cómo lo haces para no sentir algo cuando lo haces” [“Tell
me, how do you do so as not to feel when you make it?”]. I think that
everything is summed up here.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Are you happy with the audience reaction to “Comiéndote a besos”?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: I was a little bit
overwhelmed at first, as we were constantly receiving mails and messages in
gratitude for the story. I did not fully understand what was happening; in
fact, I had never read the story. I felt really embarrassed. Until one day Rozalén
compelled me to listen while she was reading aloud. You can read some people
reviews in Spanish <i><a href="http://comiendoteabesos.imaginamas.org/opiniones/">at the website</a></i>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To date, more than 40 thousand
people have read the story, and that is a great deal! We received the Empodera Audience
Award</span><a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[5]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> for the best online social work initiative. I think that I will not
write again. All that came in its proper moment; I am not a professional writer
but, well. . .you never can tell.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: How true is this story?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: “Comiéndote a besos” is a
fictional story, but based on everyday events. With regard to María, she is
just the way she expresses herself in the song. She can certainly give a better
explanation, but I know that she created the song for a contest for the fight against
HIV stigma. She tried to put herself in the shoes of a girl whose boyfriend has
just told her that he is HIV positive, and so the song came up. The rest of
characters are pieces of people or experiences of my life. Rafa is real; he is
a nurse working in Madrid and he is just like in the story: a lively, cheerful,
sensitive person. Tere is a social worker in our NGO, and believe me when I say
that I could not ask for a better colleague than her. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Except for the portrayal of
Rozalén, the characters have nothing to do with their real <i>doubles</i> in the question of appearance. The illustrator Daniel
Estandía is a friend of Iván’s and he had already collaborated with us before. I
think that he was the best choice for the illustrations. Daniel had the
go-ahead to do whatever he believed it was best, but we were sure that it
should be something really visual, optimistic and luminous. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: I find really appealing your description of Madrid—<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: I am from Madrid, though I
have spent many summers and weekends in a village of Segovia.</span><a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[6]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">Madrid has loads of thrilling power; it can knock you
out once and get your head in the clouds later. Let’s be honest: as it is a big
city, everything goes faster; sometimes you can get stressed and overwhelmed. One
day you meet really cool people and the day after you do not hear about them
anymore. However, I would never move to anywhere else (well, Berlin maybe), even
though I have lived in many places in the world. No doubt every place has
something special. Madrid is not the most modern, beautiful, innovative city,
but it is a friendly town. Anyway, I understand that it can be intolerable when
you have just come to live in. That is why I created María and Pedro: two characters
coming to Madrid seeking freedom and a career, though they soon realize that competition
is brutal and not everything is what it seems to be.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Where does the idea of turning the story into a play come from? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: It came up naturally. For
the story launch, we decided that the best way to make an impact on the
audience was staging it. Some of our friends are actors, so we told Juan
Silvestre and Pablo Cabrera and they managed to find the rest of the team,
director Asier Andueza, actor Fernando Bodega and actress Carla Piñana. Besides,
we asked another friend, Ana Lambarri, for help with turning the narration into
a dialog format. When the performance was over you could see that everybody was
in shock. Many people were sobbing uncontrollably and, after an awkward silence,
everybody clapped without a break. Considering this, we decided to talk to actor-director-playwright
Abel Zamora so that he could turn it into <i>microteatro</i>,<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[7]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
but it finally developed into an average length play. It has already been
running for three seasons in Madrid, tickets sold out. The play has been staged
in Pamplona and Valencia, and it will come back to Madrid soon. I am very much
satisfied! Especially during the first performances, because we debated the
play after. I remember that one day a boy came and told that he was HIV
positive and he could get on thanks to the support of one of the players. Also
a mother with tears in her eyes gave thanks since her son was HIV+ and she did not
know how to help him; and a social worker from Pamplona was grateful too as the
play lets him and his coworkers cry and release all the pressure that they feel
when the test results are positive. I think that this is wonderful and the
power of drama is immense, though not so much esteemed as it deserves in Spain.
Such a pity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What are you working on now? Can you say something about your next
projects?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JV: Now I am 100% devoted to
work in Imagina MÁS. We are doing thousands of things all the while, but we
always try to save some time for creative meetings which are really
motivational. . .There will be new surprises soon, we love making noise! </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">[<i>Laughs</i>.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> See <a href="http://spanishgayfiction.blogspot.com.es/2017/05/the-positive-muse.html">“The Positive Muse”</a> entry, footnote 5.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <i><span lang="EN-US">The Forgotten
Colors</span></i><span lang="EN-US">: A series of stories for all ages produced
as an educational project by Spanish NGO Educación sin fronteras. </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[3]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">This preemptive use of drugs has recently been
approved by the European Union.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[4]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">Roy Galán (Santiago de Compostela, 1980), just as many
others, has a lot to thank Mark Zuckerberg for. His sharp, sensitive, romantic,
feminist texts posted on Facebook caught the attention of many Spanish users,
and now he has become a successful professional writer.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[5]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">Empodera Awards are given annually since 2010 by La
Fundación Cibervoluntarios [“Cyber Volunteers Foundation”] to recognize
excellence in social innovation initiatives as well as help them achieve a
major impact on society.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn6">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[6]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">54 miles from Madrid, Segovia is one of the 9
provinces making up the autonomous community of Castilla y León. Its major
attraction, the Roman aqueduct, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in
1985.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn7">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[7]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">From the first experience in 2009, this brand-new minimalist
dramatic performance has definitely succeeded in Madrid. It consists in a short
play (around 15 minutes long) staged in a small room before a small audience. The
audience is so close to the players that they can even feel their breath.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-23575172133354424722017-05-09T02:04:00.000-07:002017-05-09T02:04:32.879-07:00The Positive Muse<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: red; color: #d6e3bc; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-highlight: red;">On Javier Vázquez and
Daniel Estandía’s</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> “Comiéndote
a besos” (“Smothering You with Kisses”)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDIQLvh9h74Lc4_rYs7nLe4wiEm-ZSH9keEwUxMKrgnxNxBq2lkb7JW6UUL2kBTUMlBUJ0lwLyOLYUeir2iuwxqLJRE_KKrnBpNuXjgadYJ7y64b3xxP3THba2UzxnEhvmzQ_Jg7w9yft/s1600/Comi%25C3%25A9ndote+a+besos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDIQLvh9h74Lc4_rYs7nLe4wiEm-ZSH9keEwUxMKrgnxNxBq2lkb7JW6UUL2kBTUMlBUJ0lwLyOLYUeir2iuwxqLJRE_KKrnBpNuXjgadYJ7y64b3xxP3THba2UzxnEhvmzQ_Jg7w9yft/s320/Comi%25C3%25A9ndote+a+besos.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Behind this affectionate title
we find the very first interactive tale on HIV; as a matter of fact, you get
two for one. For further understanding, keep on reading—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">On the one hand we meet <b>María</b>, a singer-songwriter. When she
was 24 years-old she moved to Madrid for new opportunities, and she is currently
playing her guitar in a little pub almost every week. For her compositions,
María usually finds inspiration in her granny, her village in Albacete,<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
and social injustice. However, her Muse is hard to find these days. One evening
at the bus stop in Lavapiés<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
she finds a young bearded man with lifeless eyes. Although she is sitting close
to him, he does not even realize! María can see teardrops falling from his
eyes. When he is about to leave, he suddenly turns his head and finally looks
at María. She introduces herself, and then they chat for a long long while
until they all in all have to say goodbye. She cannot help singing with her
sweetest voice while leaving. What is so appealing in this man?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I bet that you are dying to
know who the guy is. OK, here you have a short recap: the name is <b>Juan</b>, and he is a teacher of Spanish
for foreigners. He misses his days as an Erasmus Program student<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[3]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
in Berlin: his old friends, Claire (a French student he fell for), the parties,
the trips, all that laughing—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Juan never liked housework, so
he usually purchases convenience food. One day in a restaurant he met <b>Tere</b>, a collaborator of Imagina MÁS.</span><a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><b><span style="color: red;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[4]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></b></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><b><span style="color: red;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US">She asked him whether he has ever got tested for HIV,
and persuaded him to do it. Unfortunately, the result was positive! Juan had
had sex with some girls without protection in his Berlin days. Back then, he
was afraid that the women could get pregnant only. All of them were using birth
control pills, so. . .Yet, Juan never thought of sexually transmitted diseases.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tere took Juan to a hospital
in order to take the test again to confirm the result. Damn it! He had to wait
for a week to know. Tere stated that there was no need to worry, as great
achievements in new treatments have been attained: HIV+ individuals can live normally.
Juan eventually relaxed, and hugged her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A week later, Juan got the corroboration.
He was not enraged, though sorrowful; he was afraid of social rejection. What
would his friends think about him? Probably no girl would accept his condition.
. .After a long day at work, Juan usually walk back home. That day he decided
to take the bus in Lavapiés instead—and now you know the rest of the story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Juan wakes up earlier the next
morning. He is befuddled: has it all been a dream? Juan opens his backpack, and
there he finds the test result and the note with María’s phone number. For the
very first time in days, there is a smile on Juan’s face. He is wholly
determined to phone her, and consequently they arrange a date in a restaurant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After the lunch, Juan and
María go out for a walk in Parque del Buen Retiro.<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[5]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Juan wants to hold her hand, but he does not. How would María react to his
disease? She swiftly kisses him, and tells him that he looks somewhere else. Juan
summons all the courage that he has left and tells his truth. María takes some
seconds to answer: she holds his hand, confesses that she is falling in love
with him and that no disease will stop this. Oh yes! Inspiration finally comes
to María, and she just has to write down the lyrics echoing in her mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Some time later, María gives a
concert in a little café. She looks so beautiful tonight! In her black dress,
with a red flower in her hair. . .Juan cannot be prouder! María dedicates to her
boyfriend her new song: “Comiéndote a besos.” The reaction of the audience is really
enthusiastic. After the concert, when everybody has left the building, Juan and
María meet but say nothing: they just hug and smother each other with kisses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">THE END—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Hey now! This is <b>spanishgayfiction.blogspot.com</b>! Then, where
is the LGBT issue in all this? Have not we promised another story? Yes! Please
read below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pedro</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> came to live in Madrid from
Almería.<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[6]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
He initially felt so weird as he was used to an easy going way of life,
definitely not so busy as the one in Madrid. Pedro wants to become a
journalist. To make some money to pay his studies, he works as a waiter in a
café in Chueca, the world renowned gay neighborhood in Madrid. It was too hard
for Pedro to come out since he supposed that his parents and friends would
reject him. His sister <b>Bea</b> meant a big
support for him, and helped him tell the others. Pedro luckily found no disapproval,
but decided not to mention the issue at home frequently. Now he is an outgoing
college boy enjoying his <i>sexual
liberation</i>, and everybody likes his gift of gab and sense of humor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Pedro is not particularly very
much experienced in love. He went crazy about a guy that he met when he had
just arrived in Madrid. After a long year, Pedro still remembers him. Imagine
his surprise when the guy himself phones Pedro! He has something important to say,
so they resolve to meet in a park. It is obvious that this guy has been crying.
Something is wrong. . .It will not be long before he tells the cause: he has
taken the test and he is HIV positive. All of a sudden, a memory from the past
calls to Pedro’s mind: in a moment of passion, they had sex without a condom.
Pedro can be positive as well!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">. . .And that is what the
results finally proved. It took Pedro some time to see things easier. The very
moment he knew that he was HIV positive he felt extremely anxious, but he is
calmer now. Anyway, Pedro is terrified about falling in love again. How to tell
your sweetheart that you are seropositive? He occasionally has sexual
encounters—no strings attached.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">One evening an attractive
stranger comes to the little café where Pedro works. This hot man is glancing
at Pedro from time to time. Pedro has blithely noticed this, so he gets close
to the stranger’s table and introduces himself. The stranger is so petrified
that he cannot hardly speak a word! Probably the company of his friends has
meant an obstacle in talking easily. Nevertheless, life is full of
unpredictable surprises: it is closing time, and Pedro sees the stranger gazing
at him on the other side of the street. He has been waiting for Pedro, and he
is alone now. . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This time the stranger feels
comfy and accounted for introducing himself: his name is <b>Rafa</b> and he works as a caring nurse in the emergency department of a
hospital. (By the way, Rafa has become a huge fan of María, as he has listened
to her songs on the radio and just loves them! Rafa has used the internet to
collect some data about María, and he is happy as a lark since she is going to
give a concert soon in the little café.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Cupid shot a couple of his
golden arrows and you can take for sure that he did not miss this time! As it
could not be otherwise, Rafa and Pedro had sex all night long. Although they have
taken precautions, Pedro still feels awkward. That night Pedro dreamed of him
and Rafa on the beach of his village—the vision of true happiness! The sexy
nurse has totally destroyed the invisible wall that Pedro had put up to prevent
others from getting close to him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After an amazing week together,
Rafa is sitting at a table of the café, waiting eagerly for the stellar
appearance of his favorite singer-songwriter. Pedro is also there, working as usual.
As you may already presume, it is the very night when María sang “Comiéndote a
besos” for the first time. When she declares to the audience that her boyfriend
is HIV-positive, it makes Pedro’s heart skip a beat; Rafa spots his babe’s odd reaction
and realizes what is going on. When the song is over, Pedro starts to cry. Then
Rafa comes close and kisses him, whispering that there is no need to hide
anything as he loves him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If you are not touched by this
dazzling, kindhearted story, you really are not worthy of being a human! The
author Javier Vázquez made an outstanding work in producing a narration that
can move anyone, straight or gay, as well as a genuine portrait of the panic that
seropositive individuals may feel of the others’ response to the disease. In
addition, the publication displays the winsome illustrations by Daniel Estandía
conveying the tender, graceful, precious moral of the story: Love is the most
effective weapon against any kind of intolerance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As this is a 2014 interactive
tale published online, there are many sound and visual effects throughout its
pages. If you click on the pictures you will hear the sound of the sea, the
rain falling, a pot boiling, a cat purring, and so on. At the end of the story,
there is an extra bonus for your consideration: a video in which Rozalén,<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[7]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
the real singer-songwriter of “Comiéndote a besos,” performs the song. Enjoy
it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">You can find the original text in Spanish <i><a href="http://imaginamas.org/libro/index.html">here</a></i>. </span>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><b><span style="color: red;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></b></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><b><span style="color: red;"> </span></b>Located in the south-east of Spain, it is one of the five provinces of Castilla-La
Mancha, worldwide known as the setting of many adventures in Cervantes’ <i>Don Quixote</i>.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">A popular neighborhood in the city of Madrid.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[3]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> A European Union student exchange program established at the end of the
1980s. Named after the Dutch philosopher Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466 - 1536), this
<i>mobility </i>experience has become a cultural
phenomenon among European college students.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[4]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> Imagina MÁS (“Imagine MORE”) is the name of a Spanish non-governmental
organization aiming at HIV prevention, as well as sexual education, health care,
awareness campaigning, support for HIV positive individuals, etc. “Comiéndote a
besos” means one of their educational projects.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><b><span style="color: red;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">[5]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></b></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><b><span style="color: red;"> </span></b><i><span lang="EN-US">Park of the
Pleasant Retreat</span></i><span lang="EN-US">: one of the largest parks in
Madrid, and one of its main attractions too (runners love it!). Here you can
find, among other charms, a large pond for rowing under the gaze of the statue
of King Alfonso XII, the nostalgic Crystal Palace or even a Monument of the
Fallen Angel—inspired by John Milton’s <i>Paradise
Lost</i>—, which is the world’s only public statue of Satan; Madrid is
definitely the epitome of diversity.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn6">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[6]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">This province represents the ⅛ part of the autonomous
community of Andalusia. At the southeast—on the Mediterranean Sea—, it is one
of the hottest, driest places in Spain. Its unique desert-like landscape made
it the perfect location for Spaghetti Westerns such as Sergio Leone’s.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn7">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Positive%20Muse.doc#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[7]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> María Rozalén (Albacete, 1986) has become an audience favorite thanks
to her performances published on YouTube. She has released two albums so far,
as well as her collaborations with other popular Spanish musicians.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-86266397684096005432017-04-18T08:02:00.000-07:002017-04-18T08:04:37.260-07:00Interview with Javi Cuho<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmWeZCyAHICqNvxKSAB1lq8HQPHRnDT3SCrMQGVj2B_-ycmy_kE2K-EzzSeYcvnQy2QODu8No21nYTH0wOFiTxMxB3eKoTc0ebPOF8iiyb1DjYwpnid3cXOfCnInC4Rm-MXORlXr_IbAP/s1600/Javi+Cuho.TIF" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjmWeZCyAHICqNvxKSAB1lq8HQPHRnDT3SCrMQGVj2B_-ycmy_kE2K-EzzSeYcvnQy2QODu8No21nYTH0wOFiTxMxB3eKoTc0ebPOF8iiyb1DjYwpnid3cXOfCnInC4Rm-MXORlXr_IbAP/s200/Javi+Cuho.TIF" width="177" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SPANISH GAY FICTION: Where does this project come from? Is it usual a
short-story collection structure in the comic world?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JAVI CUHO: <i>Las horas perdidas</i> comes from the idea
of recovering different short stories that were already written and just
waiting for an opportunity in a drawer. I do not know whether a structure like
this can be regarded as <i>usual</i> in the
comic world, but other examples come to my mind, such as Osamu Tezuka’s <i>Under the Air</i> (“Kuuki no Soko”).<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Love%20Socially.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Why did you choose this title?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: There is a certain irony
behind it. When I was writing the stories I was thinking that they would never
ever see daylight and, therefore, I was <i>losing</i>
my time—though things did not turn out this way, eventually.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Regarding you are a writer, not an illustrator, why are your texts
always published in no other literary formats than comic books?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: I am a fan of comics as
well as an inveterate supporter of this wonderful means of storytelling. I just
love it and cannot think of any better way of explaining my stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: If there is any common denominator amongst the four stories, it is (in
my viewpoint) the impossibility that the lovers face to reach complete
happiness in their couple relationships, for different reasons each. Would you
say that this is your personal belief? Is this idea constant in the rest of
your work?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: This is an interesting
reflection. I believe in couple relationships, and human relationships in
general; they are recurring topics in my work. No matter if the story is set in
our times or a fantastic world, this is an issue that I am crazy about and always
return to, one way or another. In all my stories there is a certain
melancholic, somehow bittersweet air which has to do with my personality;
looking to the future optimistically, but inclined to turn my head so as to
remember my past. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: From the first story to the last one, there is a journey from a
tragic story to more hopeful ones. Was there any intention to leave a good
impression on the reader with this order?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: No, there was not. The
story order came up quite naturally. Although they are not chronologically
ordered, “La solución final” was the last story that I wrote and always
conceived as the last one. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What was so alluring in the Nazi Germany pictured in “Balada para
mi muerte” so that you decided to set a homosexual love story in a period like
that? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: It all came from the
figure of Marlene Dietrich and the story behind the song “Lili Marleen.” The
rest, such as the characters and events in “Balada para mi muerte,” were evoked
by the story of this topic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Geert represents absolute unconditional love, though a kind of
starry-eyed. However, Colton shows that he is not worthy of, frightened by
social and political reasons. According to you, is Geert the model of the
proper lover, or is he rather blind?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: I see Geert entailing a
fascinating duality: on the one hand, he embodies the idealization of unreal
love but, at the same time, the most realistic vision of the heartbreak that
you feel when the one that you deeply love just does not merit it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: At first sight, “Dos+1” seems the most lighthearted story of the
comic book. Curiously enough, it may be the most appealing one to discuss.
Here, a somehow bored homosexual couple decides to change their sexual routine
by having a threesome. What is your opinion about such a controversial topic?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: Who am I to judge a thing
like this? Jove forbid! [<i>Laughs</i>.] The
important thing is that everybody should pursue their own happiness. Thus, if a
couple is happy in an open relationship or having a threesome, as long as the
one does not hurt or cheat on the other, so be it! However it may be, I am not
intending to defend anything with this story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: It is Óscar the one proposing the threesome idea since it was a tip
that he learnt from television. To what extent do you think that we are
determined by advertising messages nowadays?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: I think that we all are
conditioned by our environment and its pressure on us. In the case of César and
Óscar, the television message is just a thinly veiled excuse to try something
that they both are attracted to and did not dare to confess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: In “La promesa,” my favorite story, you focus your attention on a
topic that—if I am not wrong—is rarely mentioned in homosexual comics: the gay
elderly. Regarding that you were a writer in your twenties back then, what led
you to this issue? May the reader suspect the beginning of a love story between
Jaime and his nurse Héctor in the last panel? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: Thanks, it is one of my
favorite stories too. I felt a special, once-in-a-lifetime magic when I was
writing it. The elderly issue has always concerned me, especially in the LGBT
context. I have always wanted to return to it in a future project. The story
ending is open to the reader’s interpretation. Who knows what this pair is
doing now! [<i>Laughs</i>.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Do you think that Jaime and Ígor could be friends if the latter
found out that his father Esteban had cheated on his mother with Jaime? Or, do
you think that the son does suppose that Jaime and his father had had a love
affair?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: It is an intriguing point.
. .But I am afraid that we will never know the answer. [<i>Laughs</i>.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: In “La solución final” you deal with fears, insecurities and
personal frustrations pushed to the limit. Have you ever suffered from
insecurity, or even rejection from others, due to your physique, and, like the
four friends of this story, considered suicide to put an end to your suffering?
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: Of course, I have felt
insecure because of my physique or other facets concerning me. We do not get
out of bed keenly each and every day, so this is not an issue that I am, or
have been, immune to. Despite everything, I have never considered suicide as a
solution to any of the problems that I have ever had.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: How important is friendship for you?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: Friendship is everything
to me; besides, you can find it in everyone, including your partner and
relatives. I would be nothing without my friends’ love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: If in “Balada para mi muerte” and “La promesa,” homosexual
relationships happen to be troublesome because of social reasons, in “Dos+1”
and “La solución final” the affairs of the heart have much more to do with
personal, sexual, or psychological issues. Now that the LGBT community is
enjoying more freedom and equality of rights with regard to the rest of the
population, why do you think that we still make things so complicated?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: If you are asking why
homosexual people are so complicated to ourselves, I think that the answer is
quite easy: we all, homosexual and non-homosexual, are human beings, and human
beings are <i>REALLY</i> complicated. [<i>Laughs</i>.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Are not gay men made for a monogamous behavior? Or, is fickleness a
feature inherent in human nature, regardless sexual orientation? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: I believe that emotional
monogamy, whatever the relationship may be, is not natural or healthy. Mind the
fact that I am talking about <i>emotional
monogamy</i>, not only sexual.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: There is a couple pattern repeated in the four stories: the one is
taller, stronger (physically) and more protective than the other. With the
exception of “Balada para mi muerte,” also the other three couples are
interracial, o at least the one’s skin is darker than the other’s. Whose was
the idea: the illustrator Andrea Jen’s, or yours?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: Andrea and I worked hand
in hand on the character design, but this was not something preconceived or
agreed in advance. As I do in all my projects, I always inform the illustrator
who works with me the way I imagine the characters, but it is the illustrator
who always adds the finishing touches and makes them their own in the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: How do you like Andrea Jen’s illustrations?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: It was a pleasure to work
with Andrea. Although we have no plans for a new collaboration, let’s see what
the future brings. I would love it myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What are you working on now? Can you tell me about your next
projects?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JC: I am working on the
sequels of my comics <i>Lost Kingdom</i> and
<i>Sandstorm</i>, as well as a new project
that I hope it will be taking shape little by little.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Love%20Socially.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">A collection of short stories by the “God of Manga”
(1928 - 1989) drawn between 1968 and 1970. Supernatural, hard-boiled, mystery,
romance, science-fiction and sex (in some of its weirdest ways)—all mixed-up in
this rare cocktail. Curiously enough, the protagonist of the first story, “The
Execution Ended at Three,” is a SS officer, just like in <i>Las horas</i> <i>perdidas</i>. In my
opinion, a flawless work of art.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-5963198451330578512017-04-12T04:28:00.000-07:002017-04-12T04:28:18.606-07:00Love Socially<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: teal; color: #fabf8f; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-highlight: teal;">On Javi Cuho &
Andrea Jen’s</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <i>Las horas perdidas</i> (“The Lost Hours”)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoba0T7c89ZGNqcqet8QPZ_aw64mEtTjH1ViOE6fEhMLJ23JSCZW6ipljZbkKHhL3k-soKX5sQQFr-0MtEDoIUiypwTUTTAxDi_2VhhFMNlA4Lci5kTckuU3OtpQn8-7PwjdwXIZlGinwV/s1600/Las+horas+perdidas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoba0T7c89ZGNqcqet8QPZ_aw64mEtTjH1ViOE6fEhMLJ23JSCZW6ipljZbkKHhL3k-soKX5sQQFr-0MtEDoIUiypwTUTTAxDi_2VhhFMNlA4Lci5kTckuU3OtpQn8-7PwjdwXIZlGinwV/s320/Las+horas+perdidas.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Let’s get back a literary
genre that here in <b>spanishgayfiction.blogspot.com</b>
we just have a weakness for: the comic book. Here you have a yaoi-style collection
(published in 2010) of four delightful stories—the index calls them <i>hours</i>—around one of our favorite topics.
. .Do you feel it in your fingers?, do you feel it in your toes? </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Yes! </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It is L-O-V-E. [<i>Sigh.</i>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After a short fragment from
Federico García Lorca’s downbeat, evocative poem “Meditación bajo la lluvia”
(“Meditation in the Rain”) we dive into “Balada para mi muerte” (“Ballad for My
Death”), which is the perturbing name of the first story—<i>Hour I</i>. Here, we find ourselves in Germany in the early 1940s.
Colton, a rough alcoholic SS officer wearing an eyepatch, is smitten with
Geert, a captivating cross-dressed singer in a shitty clandestine cabaret. Colton
has wife and children, but Geert falls on deaf ears: he is always willing to
share his bed with this horny specimen—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Trouble in paradise: François,
a member of the cabaret staff, is also in love with Geert. Like Taylor Swift in
“Blank Space,” François gets <i>drunk in
jealousy</i>, though his method to get rid of his rival is far away from the
Pennsylvanian blonde’s swanky style. One night that Colton is sleeping with
Geert in the cabaret, François reports the local to the authorities. The
damaging devotee warns Geert and tries to persuade him to leave Colton and run
away with him. Nonetheless, Geert stays with his stud when the police enter the
stage on cue. What the ambiguous artist might have probably not expected was
Colton’s response in this Catch 22 situation: the alpha male hands his wimpy
victim over to the police. <i>C’est la vie!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Geert gets sentenced to death
because of his <i>unnatural </i>demeanor
and, ironically enough, it will be Colton the officer to lead the firing squad.
Geert says goodbye to the world by singing “Lili Marleen.”<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Love%20Socially.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
This catchy, lovelorn tune was the song of the moment, and <i>their</i> song too. After the shooting, Colton is getting more
monomaniacal by the minute, drinking alcohol while the song is unstoppably echoing
in his mind. . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Miracles happen when you
believe—or rather when you are smashed—, and Geert appears in the shape of the
perfect angel. His comeback from the beyond aims to declare the obvious thing:
he was so passionately attached to Colton, morally superior to him (and the
others), that leaves the one-eyed Aryan in the most wretched state in this vale
of tears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Geert was freedom in its purest
form. Alas, he finally had to pay dearly for it in an envious, intolerant
world. At the end of the story, Colton’s pathetic pursuit to his vanishing
lover and his cruel dead end in a rain of feathers entail the icing on this
pitiful cake.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Please, do not let this tale
snow you over. The next story—<i>Hour II: </i>“Dos+1”
(“Two+1”)—is a funny one. Meet Óscar and César in a placid Saturday night in today’s
Barcelona. This hot couple is wearing their sexiest thongs in their apartment while
waiting for their date. Yes, you have read it right! Following the advice that
they heard on TV, a threesome may be a suggestive way to spice up their sexual
life, and the chosen <i>third</i> one is a guy
that they met on a dating website whose only picture is showing—his cute butt! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It must be said that they
start off on the wrong foot: Óscar looks a bit hesitant at first. However, when
César tries to phone the anonymous guest to cancel the date, Óscar flatly
opposes. Then, César sets out a role-playing game in order to relax and get
aroused in the meantime. It lies in imagining a situation in which Óscar is
working in the office and welcomes an unexpected provocative visitor played by
his frisky partner. His identity? César suggests Dani, the new boy in Óscar’s
office that he is talking about lately. All of a sudden, his companion loses
his temper: this boy has recently become a pain in Óscar’s ass. (He also does
not seem to approve Dani’s drug abuse). Wrong choice, indeed. A quick change of
strategy leads César to pull a big black dildo out of the couch cushion. Yet
again, Óscar is not excited at all, and he is about to throw in the towel when
the doorbell rings. . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In the wink of an eye, Óscar
hides in the bathroom while César opens the door. In César’s view, the website
boy happens to be a delicious blond guy in scarce tight clothes. For Óscar, he
turns to be the most unpredicted dread. When César goes for Óscar into his
hiding place, the latter confesses that the guy is the so called Dani!! </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">What can
they do? </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Óscar does not want to have
sex with a coworker, but Dani is sooooo sexy tonight. Once again, César has an
idea: he persuades Dani to get his eyes blindfolded as a game. This way, Dani
cannot recognize Óscar—though his voice sounds familiar to him—and the three of
them can therefore have a great time smoothly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Dani starts the party by
displaying his XL dick. Bad move: Óscar and César argue about who is going to
be the first one to ride it. Dani is getting bored. He stands up. . .and falls abruptly
on the table. What happens?, ask Óscar and César in their most petrified mode. A
doctor from the emergency room will give them the answer: Dani has had an
overdose (too many exciting pills for one night), but he is out of danger now. And
this visit to the hospital brings an end to the sassy experiment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">You might be thinking that
César and Óscar have already learnt the lesson, but right this moment Óscar
recalls another tip from TV: fetishism. And the charming bearded doctor is in a
stunningly white medical uniform. . . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We leave all this vaudeville
behind and get into <i>Hour III</i>. “La
promesa” (“The Promise”) is probably the most beautiful story of the collection.
Barcelona, December 25, 1970. At dawn, two long-haired gorgeous men have to say
goodbye after spending all night long making love in a room of the inn “Flor de
Loto” (“Lotus Flower”). The blond one is sorry about the nuisance of waiting
for next year to meet his better half again. But a promise is a promise. . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Time flies and we are now in
2010. In a retirement home the old folks are enjoying a Christmas Eve party
while the new nurse, Héctor, is anxiously checking his cell phone every so
often. His boss Gloria tells him off, but there is an explanation for this
behavior: Héctor’s inflexible boyfriend Luis is giving him an ultimatum. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">By the end of the night almost
all the presents have been given. There is still one waiting under the tree, and
the label reads: “Jaime.” </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Who is this Jaime? </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The young blond man that we met in that hotel room forty years ago, who
has turned into a sulky, lonely resident. It will not be long before Héctor and
Jaime become friends. Jaime tells him about the dark-haired, blue-eyed
enigmatic man, Esteban, and how they became lovers when they were young and met
every summer holidays. . .until they grew up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Some time later they come
across on one Christmas Eve. They are adults now, but the feeling is still the
same. They promise to meet every Christmas Eve, and they will for the next 30
years. The first scene that we have mentioned above was the last time they met;
in 1971 Esteban did not swing by the inn. No explanation. Due to the fact that
they had to be cautious (Esteban had wife and children, and Spain in the early
1970s was not the most suitable place to come out—Well, I guess no place was
good in those days), Jaime had no data about Esteban: no address, no phone
number. But Jaime’s unyielding will compelled him to book in the inn every
Christmas Eve and wait for Esteban in the same old room. </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It was
useless; Esteban dropped in never.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tonight Jaime is particularly
uneasy. This will be the first time that he does not make his appearance in the
inn: the doctor does not allow him to leave the institution. </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Never mind.
</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Héctor, touched by his words, will
help Jaime leave the place secretly and go to his yearned locus amoenus.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When they arrive, things are
definitely different. “La Flor de Loto” closed down months ago and there is a
show girls club instead. A helpless Jaime, angry with himself, is resolved to
surrender and drops in the snow the only picture of Esteban that he has been keeping
all these years. And this is the key moment when Fate lends one of Its mighty
hands. Just when Jaime and Héctor are about to leave the place, an odd bearded
cross-dressed prostitute who picked up the wrinkled picture identifies Esteban
as the man who was there not long ago. The prostitute also tells them that he
suggested him the train station inn to spend the night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As quirky as it sounds, Jaime
recovers his young years’ strength and runs like the devil towards the station.
Héctor can’t hardly follow him! There, Jaime looks everywhere and yells <i>Esteban</i> ceaselessly. Of course, such
behavior attracts the security guards’ attention, and when they are taking him
out, a man calls Jaime. Our desperate friend instantly recognizes him as Esteban.
However, the guy looks too young to be his missing lover. So weird—There is an
explanation after all: this is not Esteban but his son Ígor. He promised his
father before he died to find Jaime and give him a letter. OK, but why was
Esteban absent since 1971? Sadly, he suffered an accident which left him
disabled. My goodness!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Now that Jaime has solved all
the mysteries around his soulmate, he has nothing to do in Barcelona and that
gloomy institution. He is determined to buy a little house on the beach and
live there for the rest of his life. This was <i>their</i> dream. Jaime talks Héctor into becoming his personal nurse. Héctor’s
continuation in the nursing home is rather unlikely regarding his demeanor
tonight, and Luis has just broken up by text, so. . .what would you do if you
were in Héctor’s shoes? A bright Christmas sunrise seems to smile at the two of
them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Now the clock strikes <i>Hour IV</i>, and we reach the last story:
“La solución final” (“The Final Solution”). Four friends (Miguel, Julián, Pablo
and Rafa) are spending an evening on the beach. It seems a joyful event at
first glance. Actually, they have met to commit suicide. Why? According to
their speeches, they are not particularly happy with their own lives. The four
of them have different physical <i>imperfections</i>
which have made them socially rejected anyhow. They feel so bitter that even
call one another by the cruel nicknames that people use for them. The plan is
to drink all at once a poisonous potion provided by Rafa, who is a chemist, at
the end of the day. However, Miguel is so itchy and disgusted that swallows it
all of a sudden. Then, his friends are compelled to drink after him. As this is
their last night alive, they are determined to have fun drinking vodka and
swimming naked in the sea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">At daybreak we find the four
bodies lying on the sand beach. All dead? Not yet, as they start to wake up. .
.Not all of them: Julián does not open his eyes. Miguel starts panicking, and
when Julián finally wakes up Miguel inevitably confesses his caring love for
his friend. Besides, Pablo receives a phone call announcing that he has got a
part. At last! Pablo was working as an accountant, but his real dream was
becoming a professional actor. Still, he had always been turned down because of
his obesity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Things run smoothly this new
morning. Does anyone remember the potion? The four pass out and fall on the sand
right away. This is the end? No way! A little playful boy with angel wings wakes
Julián up with the help of his water gun. Confused, Julián wonders whether he
is in heaven now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Rafa stands alone by the
seashore. Julián asks him for an explanation. At the last minute Rafa saw
things clearly, and the potion that he handed them was not poison. Rafa
understood that they had one another after all, and their friendship was too
important so as to kill themselves. Life is hard, but not so much with the love
of your friends. And they happily hug one another and get into the sea on this shiny
brand-new day: their new birthday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We find a leitmotif in<i> Las horas perdidas</i>: Society plays an
influential role in the four stories. Colton relied heavily on a political
regime in which he took part and, after realizing it is making him unhappy,
finally wanted to escape; Óscar and César decide to improve their sexual life
by following a trend; Jaime and Esteban had to live their love story apart from
society, and others’ opinions have conditioned the four friends so much that
they have lived miserably so far. If there is a key message that the author
Javi Cuho (Barcelona, 1981) seems to teach us, it is that the only way to Happyland
is by releasing yourself from social impositions and trying to follow your own
drives, beliefs and feelings. Look at that!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As this is a comic book, the
touchy, sentimental texts by Cuho are wonderfully illustrated by Andrea Jen. Her
sensibility, sense of humor and attention to detail are really praiseworthy. We
would like to highlight her character design in some examples:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The sweet
delicacy of Geert<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">César with
his saucy leather belt necklace<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The (extremely)
romantic charm of Esteban, and<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Courier New";">o<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Jaime as an
old-but-still-sexy man<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Also her polished style gets
Super Deformed sometimes, providing a really wisecracking atmosphere that reaches
its peak in “Dos+1,” when depicting César and Óscar’s never-ending, almost
schizophrenic changes of mind. Doubtlessly, Jen’s contribution to this comic makes
the read a priceless experience.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8WrrP_9ltDNq9vQnCYxxO-wX0OvjSIBYBdj9MZQfHnGElVjPiK46V6I0MuVrFfOeRGqDGjtVUu3wP3gmIQIS18VRWynkqV2pRqhbZAU7pKGoOhCuSXz5b5rCM9wWvFVRkEzZwAQJCKR6/s1600/Contraportada+horas+perdidas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw8WrrP_9ltDNq9vQnCYxxO-wX0OvjSIBYBdj9MZQfHnGElVjPiK46V6I0MuVrFfOeRGqDGjtVUu3wP3gmIQIS18VRWynkqV2pRqhbZAU7pKGoOhCuSXz5b5rCM9wWvFVRkEzZwAQJCKR6/s320/Contraportada+horas+perdidas.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///D:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Love%20Socially.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> One of the most famous songs of the 20<sup>th</sup> century, and a total
hymn for the World War II soldiers. Lale Andersen was the first lady to record
it, but a huge amount of varied singers has made their versions since then
(Connie Francis, Amanda Lear, Spanish singer Marta Sánchez, and a long et
cetera), though we can firmly state that the most mesmerizing one was superb
Marlene Dietrich’s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-68099124023043275762016-11-08T08:51:00.000-08:002016-11-08T08:51:57.306-08:00Interview with Hecheres Beltrán<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_xiEmb4nmVwu2ui0xfLzl2m9XAcuNydLo97w0ADjPLhhqj87VX5bqUeRiZ7zQwCfQzfGaP4CNMG6c_Mh46NMcQ6Xuk9neTOKdyd9ElAYHB5aMhqM_f1B1b6rEDe3z7OdgWJ5a60zPl7j/s1600/Hecheres+Beltr%25C3%25A1n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk_xiEmb4nmVwu2ui0xfLzl2m9XAcuNydLo97w0ADjPLhhqj87VX5bqUeRiZ7zQwCfQzfGaP4CNMG6c_Mh46NMcQ6Xuk9neTOKdyd9ElAYHB5aMhqM_f1B1b6rEDe3z7OdgWJ5a60zPl7j/s1600/Hecheres+Beltr%25C3%25A1n.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Here in <b>spanishgayfiction.blogspot.com</b>
we appreciate the honesty displayed by the author of </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Billete de ira y vuelta<i>, <b><span style="background: blue; color: yellow; mso-highlight: blue;">Hecheres Beltrán</span></b> (Santa Cruz de
Tenerife, 1978). Considering his words, writing the novel must have been a way
to </i>exorcise<i> demons from the past. We
hope that the reader who is suffering or has suffered from bullying pays close
attention to this interview, as it is the speech of someone who was a victim
and is now recovered from all that emotional pain. In sum, an inspiring story.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SPANISH GAY FICTION: Up to what point can you say that <i>Billete de ira y vuelta</i> is an autobiographical
novel? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">HECHERES BELTRÁN: This novel is
full of autobiographical elements, but not entirely. I was a bullying victim
myself, hence my need to tell a story connected to this subject. In my case, and
in the time that I had to suffer from bullying, it was shame that made me conceal
from my people what was happening to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Do you feel that there is much contemporary LGBT literature on
school bullying, or is your novel one of the few examples? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">HB: School bullying is a social
issue rather recently regarded. In the past, bullying was disguised by adults
responsible as things that kids come up with. Not until the people who have
undergone it could tell the consequences that this abuse causes has society
become aware of the magnitude of the problem. From my point of view, the
visibility that has come from the popularization of the internet, where every
kind of cases and experiences has been shown and/or denounced, has played an
essential role as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It is also necessary to make
clear that bullying is a problem that affects us all, since it can come from
any given circumstance: race, gender, physique, sexual orientation, etc. I do
believe that there is much literature on several of these circumstances, but literature
on gay bullying may be scarce due to the fact that LGBT visibility is a rather
new thing too. There have always been different sexual orientations, but their
integration and normalization in society are still in progress, therefore it is
reasonable that there are not many books on this subject. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: How much do you understand Javier’s outlook and reactions?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">HB: I totally understand his outlook
because his experiences are based on my own ones, and his feelings are taken
from what I was feeling in those days. The only thing that distances me from
the character is his anger, since some time ago I left it behind and forgave everyone
who hurt me. It is not healthy to keep all those hard feelings inside yourself.
Hate will never let you be happy; I understood it once, and carried out an
amazing acceptance exercise that made me get rid of negative feelings which did
not lead to anything good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What role does <i>Billete de ira
y vuelta</i> play in your work?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">HB: For the moment I can say
that every one of my books is a world. They are dissimilar to one another, and largely
due to my constant attitude to learn new things. I like getting into different
genres, learning their ins and outs in order to produce, with varying degrees
of success, the stories that strike me later. None of them is my number one; they
all are important parts of my life and witnesses to my internal process
(maturing), and external process (style polishing).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What does Madrid mean to a Spanish young gay small town boy?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">HB: Freedom. Eclecticism. Diversity.
Learning. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: After witnessing the father’s homophobic attack against Javier, the
mother asks her husband whether he must be hiding something. What did you mean by
that? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">HB: Fear is a very difficult
thing to explain, as it is a very primeval instinct which has helped us keep
alive for a long time. But homophobia is not the only fear, there are many
others, such as, in this case, the need to give an explanation to the
mistreatment that a father metes out to his own son before a frightened
mother’s very eyes; the demand for an answer to such behavior towards the one who
is supposed to be your main, absolute priority. That is what I meant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: When the novel seems to lean towards the romantic genre, it
suddenly takes a turn and dives into the thriller chasm. I would even dare to
say the horror chasm. Would you say that your novel affirms the idea that
violence only begets violence? Could it be said that Javier is a <i>monster</i> created by abusers such as
Rayco, Alejandro, or his own father?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">HB: While I was writing, I
bore in mind references such as the film <i><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100318/">PacificHeights</a></i> (1990); those stories seeming to lead one direction and then turning
the whole thing around. Also <i>Psycho</i>
(1960), for instance: a movie about a theft at first, and then a psychopath shows
up in an astonishing twist which everybody knows. I wanted to produce something
like that; that is the germ of the plot structure in <i>Billete de ira y vuelta</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">From my viewpoint, violence does
<i>only</i> beget violence. And resentment, hatred
and every kind of worthless, unwholesome feelings. But above all, the novel intends
to reflect the avenging feeling, which beats inside us even though we are not aware
(or we do not want to be), and blows up with certain triggers. That is why the
protagonist eventually behaves like his attackers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: If you were in Javier’s shoes, would you accept the mother’s
invitation, or would you flatly refuse to set foot in there again?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">HB: I have been in Javier’s
shoes [<i>Laughs</i>]. I gave life to him and
suffered a lot with him. This novel was the beginning of a cathartic process in
which I gave up negative feelings, as I have already said. You need to be at
peace with the past, and it may take a long time to achieve this. You must
accept invitations when you are ready to face what may happen when you stir up
the past. Although you never can tell what is going to happen, feel up to find
out at least; otherwise the situation can get worse. In answer to your question,
regarding the way that Javier is presented in the novel, no, I would not.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: It is understandable that Javier distrusts Manuel at first. Do you
think that it is possible to fall in love with someone who took part in your
humiliations? Can you come to forgive so much?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">HB: You can forgive even more
than that. Fortunately, love is mightier than any other feeling. I believe that
this can truly happen, otherwise I would have not written it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: When he was a child, Javier explained his teacher the abuse that he
was suffering and she tried to play it down. I feel that many teachers have acted
and go on acting like this. Why do you think that they act this way?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">HB: The answer is similar to
the one that I have given before: there was no bullying awareness in the past. “There
have always been bullies; they will get over it when they grow up,” this is
what people used to think. But nobody spoke about the consequences that you
could suffer after being bullied. </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Until today. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In my opinion, teachers must pay attention to this
kind of things and act accordingly. An attitude of looking the other way and
downplaying is not only a mistake: it is similar to non-assistance to a person
in danger. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What is your opinion about the current situation? Do you think that
they are really applying zero-tolerance policy in Spanish primary and secondary
schools?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">HB: I feel that we still do
not give it the importance that it deserves; not only in Spain, but worldwide. If
we did, there would be no bullied children’s suicides, for example. But I think
that now we are aware of the fact that it is a problem and it must be main
objective in the country’s education policy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Regarding the quote by Balzac which you end the novel with (“In
revenge, the weakest one is always the fiercest”),<span style="color: red;"><a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Pay%20Back%20in%20Anger.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> </span>would
you say that Javier was <i>the weakest one</i>
in the story? </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">His revenge
is dreadful—<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">HB: Exactly. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Javier was
the weakest among his classmates, who did not act individually but as a group. And
the weaker you feel in humiliation and under threat, the more destructive your
revenge will be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: The Canary Islands mean to many gay people, both Spanish and
foreign, a vacation spot or even a place of residence. How true is this image
of a gay-friendly place? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">HB: The Canaries (just as the
rest of Spain) has changed too much in this sense in the last 30 years. The
novel is written upon the memories that I have from what I lived when I went to
school, at the end of 1980s and the beginning of 1990s. But the current
situation is the same; they publicize gay-friendly tourism not only for
economic reasons, but also because the islanders have become more tolerant. Even
in big cities such as Madrid there are homophobic assaults these days, therefore
it is not a problem localized in a community, but globally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What are you working on now? What are your next projects about? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">HB: I keep writing, of course;
it is a basic need for me. However, I am a kind of superstitious and never like
talking about unfinished projects. </span><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Call it a writer’s habit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span style="color: red;"><a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Pay%20Back%20in%20Anger.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></b></span></a><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">This is the original French version: “</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dans la
vengeance, le plus faible est toujours le plus féroce.”</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-43562566810002188702016-11-01T07:55:00.000-07:002017-02-03T08:49:35.163-08:00Pay Back in Anger<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="background: blue; color: yellow; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On Hecheres Beltrán’s</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <i>Billete de ira y vuelta</i> (“Rage Trip
Ticket”)<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Pay%20Back%20in%20Anger.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></span></b></span><!--[endif]--></b></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIjgIrpcHyUwRtRPhgFg-TRjb4SIectJeWAzJFC4S5OjRXquT0P30tvtG9zWDvO5LI2HvkncxpTct8RiIHgDN7Yp7tlB6VTyBy-wQwPWLgQ-T6X7zJZUuIF80a6tC3Z8IWdZGt0kwNHW8/s1600/Billete+de+ira+y+vuelta+-+Hecheres+Beltr%25C3%25A1n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIjgIrpcHyUwRtRPhgFg-TRjb4SIectJeWAzJFC4S5OjRXquT0P30tvtG9zWDvO5LI2HvkncxpTct8RiIHgDN7Yp7tlB6VTyBy-wQwPWLgQ-T6X7zJZUuIF80a6tC3Z8IWdZGt0kwNHW8/s320/Billete+de+ira+y+vuelta+-+Hecheres+Beltr%25C3%25A1n.jpg" width="173" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The protagonist of this 2008 novel
is Javier, a young gay man from the Canary Islands living in Madrid for the
last ten years who accepts his mother’s invitation to visit hometown for some
days. At first blush, you may think that it will be a lovely personal event for
the sonny. Well. . .nothing further from the truth: Javier is actually scared
about going back home. Why? Just keep reading—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">When he flew to Madrid, Javier
left behind a history of abuse by his classmates. In primary school, he had to
suffer Rayco’s cruel mistreatment; in secondary education, it was Alejandro the
source of all evil. (Things have been developed as expected for these two scummy
bullies: at present Rayco is involved in an issue about minors used as drug
dealers, and behind Alejandro’s dazzling façade—he got married for money—the
perfect example of an inveterate cheater is hiding.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In addition to this, Javier’s
family was not particularly <i>empathetic</i>
towards him. His siblings hardly paid attention to him; when they did, it was
hell. Moreover, his father used to hit him and insult him, calling Javier <i>fag</i> all the time, and griping that his
son did not act as a <i>regular</i> boy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Since Javier’s memories are
full of abuse situations, both physical and psychological, he currently undergoes
hard consequences: Javier is claustrophobic (a pretty bad feeling when taking a
plane, or even the subway; that is to say, when trying to pop out with total
freedom); besides, he distrusts people, what prevents him from socializing naturally.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But not everything goes wrong
for Javier. Dancing and swimming meant a new lease on his life in Madrid, and now
Javier has become a good-looking man, far from the image of <i>fatty campy nerd</i> from his past.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">For his surprise, revisiting the
island helps Javier live three awesome meetings:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 14.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">First, his joyful
reunion with <b>Muriel</b>, a good-natured Argentinean
woman settled in the Canaries who had (unsuccessfully) tried to become Javier’s
close friend: for the record, she was the first person who took him into a gay
bar;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 14.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Secondly, his
brother <b>Sebastián</b>, now grown into a gay-friendly
straight man under his girlfriend’s decisive influence (she has a gay brother
herself);<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 14.2pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "symbol"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And last
but not least, <b>Manuel</b>, a former classmate
who made Javier sing the blues in primary school, but now he has become a hot
surfer mad about Javier the very moment that he takes a look on our visiting hero.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Nonetheless, evil boils over
in the sizzling festive atmosphere on the black-sanded beaches of the Fortunate
Isles, and so Javier himself will check out that homophobia is a tightly rooted
concept in not only town residents’ minds, but also a few of his own relatives’—some
things are painfully impossible to change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Javier’s response to the
sudden end of what might have supposed a beautiful love story turns into another
pretty darker thing. Whether Javier acts fairly or not, justifiably or not—it
is up to the reader’s view. I just want to say that I find hard to remember any
other novel’s grim, sore, harrowing conclusion such as this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This disconcerting narration by Hecheres Beltrán means an impressive depiction about the tragic effects of one of the most dangerous plagues of our time. Sadly, bullying is not new: there have been lots of LGBT people enduring abuse and humiliation (in school, at home, etc.) throughout history. Nobody should turn a blind eye on this social problem, and reading Beltrán<span style="font-size: 21.3333px; line-height: 24.5333px;">’</span>s book is an excellent means of consciousness-raising.</span></div>
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Pay%20Back%20in%20Anger.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><b><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></span></b></span><!--[endif]--></span></b></span></a><b><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The original Spanish title is a play on words: the author puns on the
terms <i>ira</i> (“anger”) and <i>ida</i> (“departure”), altering the usual
expression <i>billete de ida y vuelta</i>
(“round-trip ticket”) for just one consonant. Thus, we could not find any other
translation better than the one proposed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-62928688824325903972016-08-08T06:41:00.000-07:002016-08-08T06:41:10.000-07:00Interview with José Carlos Andrés<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdy8ZvkMRsl1sxo1ZU3YTSUpjffBATDA1sICXHqkpm2eO1BnRg2Koo_T5NGEbbzxJ2ziNr6gQg_QQ8hQoVwpZ5JvjTyBUEJmyd2X7W1cPjOMhzI9s62QaF9HGAotdAfjEaDU6TZ8vamg9/s1600/Jos%25C3%25A9+Carlos+Andr%25C3%25A9s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdy8ZvkMRsl1sxo1ZU3YTSUpjffBATDA1sICXHqkpm2eO1BnRg2Koo_T5NGEbbzxJ2ziNr6gQg_QQ8hQoVwpZ5JvjTyBUEJmyd2X7W1cPjOMhzI9s62QaF9HGAotdAfjEaDU6TZ8vamg9/s1600/Jos%25C3%25A9+Carlos+Andr%25C3%25A9s.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Please join us to celebrate a party where the center of attention is not
the birthday child this time, but the clown: <b><span style="background: red; color: white; mso-highlight: red;">José Carlos
Andrés</span></b> (Madrid, 1969) has talked to us about his book </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Mi papá es un payaso / My Dad Is a Clown<i>, as well as his experience as a clown and
storyteller, his social vindications, the new kinds of families, or the
importance of education for children.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SPANISH GAY FICTION: Is <i>Mi papá es
un payaso / My Dad Is a Clown </i>your first experience in LGBT literature? Where
does the project come from? How familiar are you with the LGBT universe?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JOSÉ CARLOS ANDRÉS: In my
view, the story <i>Mi papá es un payaso / My
Dad Is a Clown</i> can be labeled (labeling is so exhausting!) as children’s
literature. However, there is a potential audience that I would like to aim at:
the grown-ups, since the children—if not swayed by their adults—do not question
same-sex parenting families.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The story came from the need
to introduce to every audience the existence of other types of families, and
there are only a few key things about them: love, affection and respect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">That is why the story begins
with something that I have been claiming for years: a polite use of vocabulary
in our society. Why is <i>clown</i>
pejorative, and not <i>lawyer</i>? Are some
professions more respectable than others? And, are <i>traditional</i> families more respectable than the others? I want the
readers, no matter their age, to enjoy my stories, but also question things at
the same time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Regarding my familiarity with
the LGBT universe, I must say that this is part of my life and my culture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Why is it published as a bilingual book? Did you intend to cross
borders with this book? If that is the case, do you know how it has been
accepted abroad?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JCA: Publishing the text in
English and Spanish was a decision of Nube Ocho, a publishing house very
committed to diversity themes. When same-sex marriage was legalized in Chile, its
administration purchased a big amount of <i>Mi
papá es un payaso / My Dad Is a Clown </i>books, interested in the portrait of
a same-sex parenting family. It is also selling pretty well in Mexican
bookstores. Yes, the text is bilingual, but it is actually succeeding in
Spanish-speaking countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: And what about Spain? Is <i>Mi
papá es un payaso / My Dad Is a Clown</i> highly-regarded? Did you expect more
of it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JCA: I know, and the
publishing house also knew, that this is not the kind of book that <i>conquers the market</i>. But it was
necessary, and the fact that we are right now talking about the story is a sign
of this. You could hear good reviews on the story even on a very conservative
radio station! This is not a best seller, but the people who have read it say
good things about it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: The story depicts a same-sex parenting family. As far as I know,
you use to dramatize your books, so you can see the audience reaction before
your very eyes. How does this story use to be accepted? Is there any difference
when it is an adult audience instead of children?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JCA: This is a very good
question! When I have told this tale I have found a wide range of responses in
adults—“<i>Not suitable for children!!</i>”—.
From satisfied faces to expressions denoting: “What am I doing here?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">But this is our society. I am
not surprised, that is true; I knew what was going to follow after telling this
story: for children, this is a nice story, with some funny situations, but for
some parents—phew! They had some trouble.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The best thing that happens
many times is that, after finishing the storytelling, lots of people come to me
and give thanks for it: mothers, fathers. . .EVEN GRANNIES AND GRANDPAS!
Something is changing. We are doing something well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Is children’s LGBT literature important to you? Do you think that
we give importance enough to LGBT education for children in Spain?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JCA: Literature is the most important
thing to me: it is my job, my <i>vice</i>
and my vocation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I think that we must not use
the LGBT literature <i>for children</i>
label. It is literature for children dealing about certain issues—Normal issues
such as death, divorce or same-sex parenting families. These issues are still all
taboo for many people. However, these issues do exist, and children need that
we talk about them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Would you highlight any LGBT work for children that you like, or
even used as a reference in <i>Mi papá es un
payaso / My Dad Is a Clown</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JCA: There are two wonderful
illustrated books in which two women fall in love, or there are families of two
fathers and two mothers: <i>La princesa Li /
Princess Li</i> and <i>El lapicero mágico /
The Magic Pencil</i>, by Luis Amavisca.<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/My%20Funny%20Medicine%20Man.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Do you believe, as you say in the book, that doctors and clowns are
“the most necessary professions in the world”?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JCA: Of course I do! “One
heals the body and the other heals the soul.” Although there is another group
left: teachers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In this little story there are
many vindications: love in the family, love between two men, opposition to the
use of certain words with offensive purposes, dignifying and valuing a
profession that our society considers <i>minor</i>
(or even worse!), love for a vocation that is your job—I have gone overboard!!
[<i>Laughs</i>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">My father was born in 1920; my
mother, in 1925. They did not understand that I could proudly say that I was a
clown. For them, I was a teacher (that is also true), but a clown—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Saving lives and making people
laugh, along with educating children, that is what our society needs. We all
know people who have lots of money, but no education. And without health or
happiness, what is the use of money?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: There is an intention to dignify the profession of clown throughout
the story. To what extent do you think that this occupation, your occupation,
is still denigrated? In your case, have you ever felt the need to defend your
vocation against contempt or criticism?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JCA: In the story I explain
how hard being a clown is. Day after day you need to study, rehearse, shape up.
. .Like a doctor. Like a teacher. Like an aeronautical engineer. Why are some
more highly regarded than others? Is it a question of salary?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A first team soccer player
works hard <i>physically</i> for twenty
years in his lifetime, more or less. Then he retires. The best clowns reach
their peak in their forties (wonderful exceptions aside).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And of course I have had to <i>stand up for</i> being a clown against many
people, but that is because not everybody knows my profession or is sensitive
enough or wants to understand the huge effort behind being a clown.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Is there any autobiographical note in the story, beyond the fact
that one of the characters is a clown?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JCA: Unfortunately not. It is
just fiction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>SGF: The boy’s final decision (becoming a doctor wearing a clown nose
when he grows up) reminded me of the true story reflected in the film </b><i style="font-weight: bold;">Patch Adams</i><b>,</b><b><a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/My%20Funny%20Medicine%20Man.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
</b><b>starring the late Robin Williams. Did the film or the story it was based on
have any influence when writing the book?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JCA: I love Robin. I say it in
present tense, since he will always be alive, but I do not think that his film
had any direct influence on me, apart from the fact that, when you are writing,
every single thing that you have lived, read, seen or heard leaves a trace that
you use in the creative moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I wrote the story because I
wanted to talk about a boy living with two fathers who are in love. That is
all. The rest just came up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: And what about the illustrations by Natalia Hernández? Did you two
previously discuss the style, or did she work freely? For instance, why the
exclusive use of colors red, black and white throughout the book, or the fact
that the three main characters are bald?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JCA: Natalia’s work was
coordinated by Nube Ocho, I had nothing to do with it. But when they sent me
the sketching—I LOVED IT ALL!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">There is a very nice story
about the colors: In 2007 I set up my clown & theater company, <a href="http://www.elclandelclown.es/" target="_blank">El Clan del Clown</a>, and my friend Joseph Sylvestre,
from <a href="http://www.1024pixels.com/">1024pixels.com</a> designed its awesome
website (he also designed <a href="http://josecarlosandres.com/" target="_blank">my own website</a>).
He chose the company colors—a marketing issue that I was ignorant of—: <i>white</i> (from the whiteface clown), <i>red</i> (the most typical color of the
clown), and <i>black</i> (usual to outline
contours and the clown’s eyes). And then I found that <i>Mi papá es un payaso / Mi Dad Is a Clown</i> shared the same colors.
THAT WAS MAGIC.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I guess that the fact that
both dads are bald is because baldness is sexy, natural and sweet, isn’t it? Or
just most boys’ fate! [<i>Laughs</i>]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What are you working on now? What are your next projects?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">JCA: I can tell you, secretly
and exclusively, that I am focused on creating stories for illustrated books.
Two new books will be released this year. And for next year there are two more
projects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Not big deal, but I tell you for
sure that it makes me happy. Really happy. Like a clown in a party balloon
store. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/My%20Funny%20Medicine%20Man.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">Both bilingual books are also published by Nube Ocho.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/My%20Funny%20Medicine%20Man.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <i><span lang="EN-US">Patch Adams</span></i><span lang="EN-US"> (1998), directed by Tom Shadyac. Based on the real story of Hunter
“Patch” Adams, a revolutionary doctor who founded the Gesundheit! Institute, a
project of reforming health care system by complementary therapies, in which
the concept of “humanitarian clowning” plays a key role. The film was an astounding
box-office success in its time.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-13517406654002670232016-08-01T08:57:00.000-07:002016-08-01T08:57:08.649-07:00My Funny Medicine Man<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="background: red; color: white; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-highlight: red;">On José Carlos Andrés & Natalia
Hernández’s</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <i>Mi papá es un payaso /
My Dad Is a Clown</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This time in <b>spanishgayfiction.blogspot.com</b> we are
happy to take into consideration a range of audience that we have disregarded so
far: the children. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAlgPvieT6z4K9aCXf5fXe00IoAlwH6_osFj9rEIKoP4bND_qvSehbmgvfHVLR0CAUzqf7voHe2VNDsXKQ8oCUT_4LDxWRYzxRYChrrrdY0l0eZRD9h1dDi7PgurapwH2wlvXPRBWgCrp/s1600/Mi+pap%25C3%25A1+es+un+payaso.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIAlgPvieT6z4K9aCXf5fXe00IoAlwH6_osFj9rEIKoP4bND_qvSehbmgvfHVLR0CAUzqf7voHe2VNDsXKQ8oCUT_4LDxWRYzxRYChrrrdY0l0eZRD9h1dDi7PgurapwH2wlvXPRBWgCrp/s320/Mi+pap%25C3%25A1+es+un+payaso.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This delicious bilingual book published
in 2013 tells the story of a little boy and his two fathers. The one is a
doctor, and the other is a clown. They have explained the child that they two
are really important to society: the one heals the body, and the other heals
the soul.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The boy is still too young to
be sure of what he wants to be when he grows up. He first ponders on becoming a
spy, and persuades his Daddy Doctor to tail Daddy Clown just for one day. This
way, the boy will find out the huge effort that Daddy Clown needs to make so as
to result in an excellent work. He spends a lot of time working out in the gym,
and that is just for starters; later in the theater, hours of rehearsal to tweak
his performing arts. Andrés highlights a professional clown’s hard training:
long sessions of practicing to make his gags perfect and get the audience’s
loudest guffaw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Enthusiastic about Daddy Clown’s
job, the little boy has resolved that when he grows up he will be a doctor
wearing a red sponge clown nose, making doctor visits fun so that kids may get
rid of their usual apprehension. This final choice, the blending between
medicine and comedy, can just be taken as a fine example of the 1<sup>st</sup>
class moral, human, altruistic values that parents—whether straight or
gay—could use to raise their children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">José Carlos Andrés portrays an
affectionate same-sex parenting family with no particular trouble regarding social
inclusion; also the boy—or any of his classmates—does not feel odd at all about
having two fathers instead of the traditional father-and-mother pattern. We certainly
know that we are dealing with a book for children: straightforwardness is supposed
to be the name of the game, and things must be presented in a mild, agreeable
way—that would be a simple reading to us. In fact, we believe that this book is
the perfect illustration of one of the greatest achievements of our time: a
homosexual couple raising a child is not viewed as a problem in an urban
society in a developed country, so there is no need to demonstrate, persuade,
convince, or argue about. Things seem definitely okay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">As is often the case with
children’s literature, this charming story is illustrated, with sweet, rare, loving
cartoonish pictures by artist Natalia Hernández.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-5432970553555966162016-07-11T05:01:00.001-07:002016-07-11T05:01:52.629-07:00The Private Parts of a Private Eye<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: fuchsia; color: #77be30; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-highlight: fuchsia;">On Iván
Babiano’s</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <i>La Serpiente Arco Iris</i> (“The Rainbow Serpent”)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpAT2MBcnnY7aXNM1SO_nr-wsX6CsFJk8w6U614fi_HPVoWrCLamrd3PFOkrKCG9us6kzFxTzPGydiVHVw18h7d7-EfR7hk77cFskT9h0QVqzUF5ZsEIyek5INBA_WK5GhMK42fQw_hsY/s1600/La+Serpiente+Arco+Iris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxpAT2MBcnnY7aXNM1SO_nr-wsX6CsFJk8w6U614fi_HPVoWrCLamrd3PFOkrKCG9us6kzFxTzPGydiVHVw18h7d7-EfR7hk77cFskT9h0QVqzUF5ZsEIyek5INBA_WK5GhMK42fQw_hsY/s320/La+Serpiente+Arco+Iris.jpg" width="172" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Felisa Karr, the private detective
that author Iván Babiano introduced to the readers in this 2007 novel, has a
different story. Quite a girly beauty, no particular tough appearance, pretty
meticulous in respect of her wardrobe, having a soft spot for the color white
(a feature that makes her the most dazzling, glamorous PI in Madrid)—Felisa’s
female perceptive <i>touch</i> makes her
unbeatable in her job. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A series of helpers support
Miss Karr in her investigations. Among them, an old bookstore owner, aged Hindu
Yhajaira, stands out in this adventure as the cultivated interpreter of the ‘rainbow
serpent’ symbol. Felisa also enjoys the assistance of the usual detective’s
secretary—a kind of gossipy in this case. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So. . .What makes Felisa’s
story so exceptional? Let me tell you her biggest secret. Please lend your ear—:
Felisa is actually a transgender detective.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In <i>La Serpiente Arco Iris</i>, the author focuses on the investigation revolving
around the murder of Leandro, <i>Lean</i>, the
partner of Felisa’s Irish client, Robert Mitch (a nod to the male lead in Jacques
Tourneur’s <i>Out of the Past</i>, and
Charles Laughton’s <i>Night of the Hunter</i>?).<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Private%20Parts%20of%20a%20Private%20Eye.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Mr. Mitch found Lean’s body home. The corpse signs suggested that the poor
fellow had been brutally attacked and raped by several men. Karr finds
suspicious the presence of several tattoos throughout Lean’s skin representing
a rainbow snake eating itself, a clue about something that even her client
himself is hiding. . .Later Felisa will find out that Lean and Robert had an
open relationship, and the two of them were regular patrons in La Serpiente
Arco Iris.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">La Serpiente Arco Iris is a
night club chain spread all around the world, with a clear target audience:
committed gay men. Committed to—what, you ask? Committed to the society’s own
rules. In fact, this is the cover for a cult consisting of a close circle of
homosexuals that have bareback sex among their members <i>only</i> in order to protect themselves from sexually transmitted diseases.
They found out that Lean had broken the rule the moment he fell in love with
someone unconnected with the society, so they decided to <i>eliminate</i> him.<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Private%20Parts%20of%20a%20Private%20Eye.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">During her inquiries, Felisa will
unfortunately need the help of the police. I say <i>unfortunately</i>, as she should meet again some former colleagues from
her not so distant young years as a policeman, from inveterate homophobe,
unpleasant sexist Lt. Ramón Díaz, to a more delightful reunion: Ángel (the name
fits like a glove), an attractive workmate who was always nice to her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Given that passing herself off
as a man is the only means to enter the society and solve the mystery, Felisa
will get her long blonde hair cut, and hide her oversized breast. This way, our
classy heroine will have to face her old times’ hardest facet: the memory of Felipe
Carrillo—her previous <i>self</i> before she
decided to look like a woman on the outside.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">At the end of the book, Felisa
Karr not only seems to have overcome her unhappiest, most traumatic episodes after
making peace with her past, but you can also have the feeling that she has made
the ultimate resolution on sex reassignment surgery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The most interesting aspect in
Babiano’s book may be the portrait of the sleuth rather than the plot, extremely
typical and weak in terms of suspense. A key point in this kind of literary
genre is the surprising final twist; here, the <i>villain</i>’s identity is obvious from their very first appearance.
Anyway, it is nice to walk hand in hand throughout the narration with Miss Felisa
Karr, probably the sweetest, most charming private investigator in Spanish
fiction. Anyone would be pleased to be a friend of hers—or take a spicier step
forward!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Private%20Parts%20of%20a%20Private%20Eye.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> This is not the only cinematographic reference in the book:</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
when Felisa ran into her transgender prostitute friend, its depiction is quite similar
to the moment when Manuela (Cecilia Roth) met La Agrado (Antonia San Juan) again
after many years in Pedro Almodóvar’s <i>All
About My Mother</i> (original title: <i>Todo
sobre mi madre</i>). Also the atmosphere in the night club reminds of the mysterious
private party that Dr. William Harford (Tom Cruise) attended in Stanley
Kubrick’s <i>Eyes Wide Shut</i>.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/The%20Private%20Parts%20of%20a%20Private%20Eye.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: ES; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><b><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Regarding
the fact that we are dealing with an organization aimed to protect their
members from sexual diseases, it is hard to understand why they <i>condomlessly</i> rape the individual who has
had sex with someone outside the society. . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-28730026284542212282016-03-23T05:13:00.000-07:002016-03-23T05:15:08.492-07:00I Sing the Body Terrific<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="background: teal; color: #b6dde8; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On Luis Cernuda’s</span></b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i>Poemas para un cuerpo</i> (“Poems for a
Body”)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In <b>spanishgayfiction.blogspot.com</b> we think it is high time for Poetry,
and the occasion calls for one of the best 20<sup>th</sup> century Spanish
poets. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3B1I8PdxXol19hng9u3V3rkFMjWrP42pWBopa2gl8ISgAtbo4lQ6_52cviu3nTTbH1muzILyLniAH27w9TyYvKRS8Q3CXiMdmsUJZfGqdq5hKdwJyRbPoHNpFwYqtTO-zEx_YQjjXed7G/s1600/Retrato-de-Luis-Cernuda-1939-630x779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3B1I8PdxXol19hng9u3V3rkFMjWrP42pWBopa2gl8ISgAtbo4lQ6_52cviu3nTTbH1muzILyLniAH27w9TyYvKRS8Q3CXiMdmsUJZfGqdq5hKdwJyRbPoHNpFwYqtTO-zEx_YQjjXed7G/s320/Retrato-de-Luis-Cernuda-1939-630x779.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="background-color: #134f5c; color: #76a5af;">Portrait of Luis Cernuda</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Luis Cernuda (Seville, 1902 - Mexico
City, 1963) was not only a poet but also a literary critic who belonged to the
so-called Generation of ’27.<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/I%20Sing%20the%20Body%20Terrific.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Although not so universally popular as his acclaimed friend Federico García Lorca,<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/I%20Sing%20the%20Body%20Terrific.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
his work is also interesting in the study of Spanish LBGT literature. In 1936
he published his collected poetry so far in the book <i>La realidad y el deseo</i> (“Reality and Desire”).<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/I%20Sing%20the%20Body%20Terrific.doc#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[3]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
This work was much praised by Lorca himself, and was supposed to establish the
beginning of a brilliant career—but the cultural impact of <i>La realidad y el deseo</i> was collapsed by the upcoming outbreak of
the Spanish Civil War. Society was definitely <i>not</i> in the mood for Erato’s stuff in those days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Since 1938, Cernuda starts a
never ending exile: from Europe (London, Glasgow, Cambridge, Paris) to America
(Mount Holyoke, Los Angeles, San Francisco). In most of these places he works
as a lecturer of Spanish for a living, but Luis never feels easy at all—until
1951. This year he will travel to Mexico for holidays and there he meets Salvador
Alighieri, the young bodybuilder who inadvertently inspired <i>Poemas para un cuerpo</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Our author had already sung
young beautiful men’s praises, in the ways of the Surrealist aesthetics, in
1931 in the book <i>Los placeres prohibidos</i>
(“Forbidden Pleasures”. . .quite a telling title). However, in the case of <i>Poemas para un cuerpo</i>, we cannot say its
tone is particularly carnal or sexual, no matter what the use of the term <i>cuerpo </i>(“body”) may suggest—Apparently, Cernuda
and Alighieri’s relationship did not surpass the boundaries of a male proper regular
friendship.<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/I%20Sing%20the%20Body%20Terrific.doc#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[4]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Then, what do we find in these
poems? Lots of things: From the traditional poem in which the Poet puns on the
meaning of his Beloved’s name (I . “Salvador”, meaning <i>savior</i>), or recalls the very moment that the Beloved got away from
him (II. “Despedida”: “Farewell”), to a surprisingly deep reflection on love as
the distinguishing nature of Fiction. In IX. “De dónde vienes” (“Where Do You
Come From”), the Poet rejects the assumption that his Beloved may have parents,
but he is Cernuda’s own creation. The last line of this poem, meaningfully
apart from the general stanza, as a maxim, says: <i>Un puro conocer te dio la vida</i>. (“Just a pure knowledge gave birth
to you”). The same as the title of his whole work, <i>La realidad y el deseo</i>, you can well deduce two Platonist existential
planes from <i>Poemas para un cuerpo</i>: <i>Reality</i>, in which the Beloved was his
parents’ son; and <i>Desire</i>, where the
Beloved is an idea in Cernuda’s mind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Additionally, Cernuda reflects
on the concept that the Beloved has also created him. This is in XIII. “Fin de
la apariencia” (“End of the Appearance”), where the Poet expresses that the
Beloved has somehow <i>deconstructed</i>
him, tearing his past life apart, but making him a brand new, innocent man who
has to cope with life away from the Beloved. The Poet also adds that the only purpose
of his existence is to love, though he knows that the Beloved does not seem to
need or care about this affection. This bitter note, in which the Poet shows this
awareness, is also repeated in other poems throughout the whole series. The
Poet is sensitive about this situation. His love is a one way road: his
feelings are not returned, and he has <i>elevated</i>
the Beloved. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This way, creation and creator
form a vicious circle: The Beloved needs the Poet to be created, to be alive;
and the Poet needs the Beloved to love, to go on living. Instead of clay, the
poet works with the <i>hermosa materia</i>
(“beautiful material”), that hot sleeping body at which Cernuda stares, the same
way a God stares at his creation (in the last poem of the series, XVI. “Un
hombre con su amor”: “A Man with His Love”). And all this is expressed in
words. After all, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God,
and the Word <i>was</i> God.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This <i>creator</i> topic pushes the limits of blasphemy. In XV. “Divinidad
celosa” (“Jealous God”), the Poet claims that God pushes lovers apart as he is
jealous of them: A man can get together with his equals, but God, being an only
entity, cannot. Also in V. “El amante espera” (“The Lover Awaits”), the Poet
begs God to make his Beloved come back, as he feels that God is the only
helping friend that he can count on and his Beloved is his ultimate reason to
live, though he admits that what he is pleading for is a sin. . .Finally, in
XI. “El amante divaga” (“The Lover Digresses”), the Poet wonders if Heaven and
Hell are nothing but earthly inventions by human beings with no other purpose
than making life spicier. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">In general terms, <i>Poemas para un cuerpo</i> is Cernuda’s continuous
conversation with himself (an evident symptom of solitude: Cernuda is typically
described as a dandy-like man in tweed, smoking a pipe, absorbed in his work—a
sort of mild, silent, unsociable loner). He uses several person voices in his
clear, unadorned, almost conversational style: sometimes 1<sup>st</sup> person
(e.g., he even names himself in III. “Para ti, para nadie”: “For You, For
Nobody”); 3<sup>rd</sup> person (in I. “Salvador”, when the Poet asks the
Beloved to save <i>him</i> or condemn <i>him</i>); and even 2<sup>nd</sup> person (for
instance, in VI. “Después de hablar”: “After Speaking”, where he disapproves
himself for telling his love out loud). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Despite this sorrowful picture
of a lonely man recalling a past, unrequited love, Cernuda does not want our
pity: He shows proud that, even after long years of lonesomeness, and though in
his fifties, he has eventually experienced love—non corresponding, okay, but
love indeed—, and he comes to the conclusion that the memory of this feeling is
the high power that keeps him alive: now, he knows himself better than ever. In
this fast, material, superficial, egotistical world. . .who else has loved as
much as this profound, Platonic, fascinating, one-of-a-kind author?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/I%20Sing%20the%20Body%20Terrific.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> In Spanish, <i>Generación del 27</i>:
a group of writers and intellectuals who gathered in Seville in 1927 to pay
homage to the Spanish Golden Age poet Luis de Góngora for the 300<sup>th</sup>
anniversary of his death. Besides Cernuda, you can find amongst them: Federico
Gª. Lorca, Rafael Alberti, Dámaso Alonso, and Nobel Prize-winning Vicente
Aleixandre. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/I%20Sing%20the%20Body%20Terrific.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> After Lorca’s execution, Cernuda produced the elegy “A un poeta muerto
(F. G. L.)” (“To a Dead Poet”), whose sixth stanza was considered not for
publication and thus removed. </span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Here it is:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 1cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Aquí la primavera luce ahora.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 1cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Mira los radiantes mancebos<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 1cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Que vivo tanto amaste<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 1cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Efímeros pasar junto al fulgor del mar.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 1cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Desnudos cuerpos bellos que se llevan<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 1cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Tras de sí los deseos<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 1cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Con su exquisita forma, solo encierran<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0.0001pt 1cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Amargo zumo, que no alberga su espíritu<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-left: 1.0cm;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">Un destello de amor ni de alto pensamiento. </span></i><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">In these lines Cernuda
describes splendid, seductive (though unkind and low-minded) boys walking naked
on the beach in spring, and states Lorca loved them so when alive. The elegy
was eventually published complete in <i>Las
nubes</i> (“The Clouds”), a book that became the 7<sup>th</sup> section of <i>La realidad y el deseo</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/I%20Sing%20the%20Body%20Terrific.doc#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[3]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> As a matter of fact (and as it was pointed out in the previous
footnote), most of his following works will also be collected as sections of
this book in later publications. <i>Poemas
para un cuerpo</i> was first published in Málaga in 1957; however, they are now
usually found as a short independent series of 16 poems inside the book <i>Con las horas contadas</i> (“Hours Are
Numbered”), which happens to be the 10<sup>th</sup> section of <i>La realidad y el deseo</i>.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/I%20Sing%20the%20Body%20Terrific.doc#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[4]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <span lang="EN-US">Regarding that Salvador Alighieri himself stated that gay
men usually tried to score him, that he used to visit Cernuda in his apartment
many times, that they both went on holidays together, and Cernuda always paid
the bills, a twisted mind could think that Alighieri knew Cernuda’s feelings
towards him and took advantage. . .Anyway, as I said before, this is typical of
twisted minds—not our minds, so sweet and gentle and well-meaning. </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-30354317163907765012016-02-29T08:36:00.000-08:002016-02-29T08:39:10.901-08:00Interview with Nazario<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbID0v3VwqnLWs366wYjqLfGvZN3h4wOdysMzZUxCp6Xa1j4MA5HbY2Oxe41gq_W8a9oyrEL61APG_QpH_NsmnCOqnubrQHpY9dRTeIdg45rlxNI96J6mbZcUhqn7UGlBQxX3-gMzL8UP/s1600/Nazario+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbID0v3VwqnLWs366wYjqLfGvZN3h4wOdysMzZUxCp6Xa1j4MA5HbY2Oxe41gq_W8a9oyrEL61APG_QpH_NsmnCOqnubrQHpY9dRTeIdg45rlxNI96J6mbZcUhqn7UGlBQxX3-gMzL8UP/s200/Nazario+2.jpg" width="156" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">One of the greatest honors since the opening of this blog:
ground-breaking LGBT artist <b><span style="background: purple; color: #8db3e2;">Nazario</span></b>
(Castilleja del Campo, Seville, 1944) has discussed with us his comic book</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Alí Babá y los 40 maricones<i>, as well as his long lasting career, unforgettable friends such as one-of-a-kind
Ocaña, sexual behavior, open relationships, censorship at present and in the
Franco regime, other experiences in the world of art. . .Extremely touching is
his remembrance of the love of his life: late artist Alejandro Molina.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Definitely not for prudes. . .Do not hesitate and enjoy the speech of this contumaciously bold, hopelessly
square peg and terribly cuddly human being.</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SPANISH GAY FICTION: Do you remember your early years in the comic tagged
as <i>underground</i>? How was the comic
book universe when you began? How different was your style from the type of
Spanish mainstream comic then?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">NAZARIO: In the 60’s/70’s the
trend was sci-fi comic for adults, and adventure stories by French authors were
translated. In Italy they were interested in Crepax’s <i>Valentina</i> or Hugo Pratt’s <i>Corto
Maltese</i>, though I preferred comics such as <i>Lucifera</i> or <i>Belzeba</i>.
Anyway, my biggest interest was French comics (e.g., <i>Barbarella,</i> <i>Jodelle</i>.)
When I discovered American magazine <i>MAD</i>,
I found a wide field of possibilities which would have influence in my
dedication to comic. Then <i>Zap Comix</i>
showed up, and everything changed. Crumb’s sassy scripts, and Clay Wilson’s
messy, baroque drawings, plenty of sex and violence, started to define the way
that I was going to lead as an illustrator. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The press started to use the
term <i>underground</i> to classify us in
the American trend, though our situation was a way really different under the
strict censorship of the Franco regime. This censorship rules were applied to
our comics, so I had to publish my most salacious stories in France; and in
Spain I had to publish my own editing <i>La
Piraña Divina</i> (“The Divine Piranha”) secretly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: You are usually considered the father of the Spanish underground
comic in general terms, and the Spanish gay comic in particular. What do you
feel about these labels? Do you think that they are fair, or excessive? Were
there no Spanish underground or gay comic authors before you started to work in
comics?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">N: When I met the young
illustrators in Barcelona, people who would take part in our publications
later, I was coming from Seville with a portfolio full of drawings. I was a bit
elder than my colleagues, and a kind of mature artist. From the very beginning
I got interested in comics as an instrument to denounce the repression that
women were suffering first, and later the repression that gays had suffered and
were still suffering due to the religious, patriarchal education. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">By those days, the only openly
gay illustrations that I knew were by Tom of Finland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Do you feel recognized in Spain? If not, which do you think the
reasons are? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">N: My work as an illustrator
committed to freedom of speech and homosexual liberation, as well as the usual
scandals with my publications and exhibitions, make average educated people
know my work. Curiously, it may be the comic world—an atmosphere where I never
felt fully identified with—where my work is not very much appreciated. I have
never received an invitation to give a lecture about my work in any of the
hundreds of comic book conventions held throughout the country. However, universities
and museums have really got interested in my work.<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: And beyond the Spanish boundaries? Are you a renowned author
abroad?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">N: Just <i>Anarcoma</i> was edited in English (in USA it was sold in sex shops
only), French, Italian, German and Swedish. The rest of my work has not packed
quite a punch internationally at all—except for the serial publication of <i>Alí Babá y los 40 maricones</i> in France.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: The concept of <i>Alí Babá y los
40 maricones</i> reminds of Francisco Ibáñez’s <i>13, Rue del Percebe</i>. Curiously, though you and Ibáñez are two legends
in Spanish comic, your styles are really different. Ibáñez is a mainstream
author for all audiences, while you are a cult author for a much more specific reader.
Did you conceive <i>Alí Babá y los 40
maricones</i> as a way to <i>deprave</i>
Ibáñez’s work? Did you get the inspiration from a real neighborhood—yours, for
instance?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">N: In 1977 I published three
series of two pages each in <i>Por Favor</i>
magazine<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
under the name <i>Sábado, sabadete en los
Apartamentos La Nave</i> (“La Nave Apartments when Saturday”.)<b><span style="color: red;"><a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">[3]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
</span></b>It was the first time that I used the <i>room
scheme</i> created by Ibáñez. It consisted of eight rooms where I portrayed the
ordinary life of different groups: lefties, gays, lesbians, dopers, a young
married couple, a traditional family, a young loner and a boarding house room.
Years went by, and in 1990 I got around to repeating the room scheme to represent
a variety of gay types: the young student in the attic who still has not accepted
his homosexuality; the usual couple in which the one is promiscuous and the
other is faithful; three friends sharing a room: the <i>swishy</i>, the <i>Tom of Finland</i>-type,
and the <i>office boy</i>; and besides, the
pub run by a kind of madam, where some neighbors meet a motley group. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Lola, the Alí Babá pub owner, is surrounded by gay men that she
wants and tries to seduce, but they obviously reject her for being a woman. Is
she inspired in anyone that you have ever known? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">N: She works as a counterpoint
among so much campy. If I had chosen a man, he would have been a problem in the
relationships issue; a woman avoided problems for me instead, as there would be
no rivalry with other fags to see who scores a misled good-looking man, or a
hunky drunk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What happened in 2007 when a government website considered <i>Alí Babá y los 40 maricones</i> as a
recommended reading? Could you please explain it to the current reader? What
did you feel about it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">N: One day someone suggested
me to search on the web <i>Alí Babá y los 40
maricones</i>. I was not aware at all, and I just could not believe what I was
reading. The socialist administration recommended the teachers to read it and
keep up to date about what homosexual relationships are, and the Right Wing
distorted it all, accusing the Ministry of Culture of corrupting school boys
when making them read it. Bishops, journalists, radio stations and the whole
right-winged mass media, from Castile to the Argentinean Pampas, asked for
excommunicating each and every single member of the <i>depraved</i> socialist administration. I was all confused, as nobody
from any of the two sides got in touch with me to ask my opinion. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: <i>Alí Babá y los 40 maricones</i>
is dedicated to Ocaña. Could you please explain the reader who Ocaña was and
what he meant in the society of that time?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">N: Ocaña meant a wake-up call
in Barcelona 1970s. He was a stirrer and a revolutionist who, endowed with
superb dramatic qualities, knew how to connect with his audience, striking a
chord with them. Wherever he was (Las Ramblas,<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[4]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
a political meeting, the premiere of his films, a party or La Modelo),<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftn5" name="_ftnref5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[5]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Ocaña was never gone unnoticed; as striking as provoking, he proclaimed boisterously
his sexual orientation and everybody’s right to live their lives freely and
enjoy their own bodies as the most beautiful gift that Nature has given to us.<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftn6" name="_ftnref6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[6]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Do you miss Ocaña? Do you think that we are in a time of political
correctness that shouts out loud the need of many other <i>Ocañas</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">N: My life consists in giving
up, healing my wounds and burying friends. With every dead friend, some places
in my memory and irretrievable feelings are cut off inside me. Fortunately, I
am easy going and try to accept getting older—something that never worried me
much—and loneliness, a new situation in my life, something that I always tried
to avoid by living with friends, in communes or as a couple. Today censorship
is something unavoidable; repression wears new masks and crouches on the net or
social networks, or is disguised as counter-terrorism. Today Ocaña would hold
parties campaigning for revolutionary political groups, asking out loud through
Las Ramblas for the support of immigrants, street vendors, neglected elderly,
alcoholics frozen to death on the streets, or prostitutes’ free use right of
their own bodies. . .Gays have been discriminated for centuries, and now we
need to support every weak, vulnerable minor group.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Continuing with the political correctness issue, in <i>Alí Babá y los 40 maricones</i> you quote
Kavafis, Mario Mieli and Marquis de Sade, three authors related to
homosexuality, and (especially the latter two) polemical and controversial. Why
did you choose these authors? Do you feel somehow identified with them, beyond
the homosexuality topic?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">N: Since its appearance in
1973, I treasure <i>Recherches</i> magazine
number 12, “Trois Milliards de Pervers: Grande Encyclopédie des Homosexualités,”
on which Deleuze, Foucault, Genet or Guattari collaborated, among others. Since
it was published in 1979 in Spanish, Mario Mieli’s <i>Homosexuality and Liberation: Elements of a Gay Critique</i> (original title:
<i>Elementi di critica omosessuale</i>)
shines close to Tom of Finland’s complete works in my library; and, since my
tender years, the books by Marquis de Sade has given pleasure to both my
imagination and my cock. Kavafis, who is not my favorite poet, has been lying
on my bedside table for long. As my creations are somehow a part of me, the
logical thing is that they read and discuss authors closer to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: I deduce from your description of Ernesto, the college boy in the
attic, a certain criticism on the romantic, chaste homo <i>saving</i> himself for Prince Charming. Is he a type of homosexual that
you dislike? Do you defend promiscuity against this attitude?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">N: I had a friend who was the
victim of a terrible disquisition: he could never have sex with someone he was
not deeply in love with, since sex and love are two separate things for him.
The boy in the attic suffers from immaturity, and a terrible repression above
all. He refuses to have sex with a man that he likes, but he later masturbates
while thinking of this man. As far as I have named my autobiography <i>Un pacto con el placer</i> (“An Agreement
with Pleasure”), you can easily understand that, in the question of men, I
consider myself greatly fond of at least—if not addicted to. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Tom and Tito are portrayed as an open relationship, whether Tito
likes it or not. Tom cheats on him whenever he can, and Tito finally finds out
and accepts it, though not his pleasure. Do you think that every homosexual
couple will always fail in monogamy? According to you, is Tito submissive or
permissive? Is Tom a morally guilty man, or just hopeless?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">N: I fell in love with
Alejandro<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftn7" name="_ftnref7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[7]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
the very moment I met him, and, after a 36-year-long relationship, and more
than a year since he died, I am still in love with him. I found too hard to
overcome jealousy, dependence and exclusiveness. He was even more sexually
active than me, and, if we had sex three times a day and later I discovered him
having sex with another guy, then I pondered, if he was able to fuck for a
fourth time, why should I stop him? Little by little we were meeting other men
who occasionally came home to fuck with us both. We had sex with the same
boyfriends for 15 or 20 years. We had an open relationship and, after some
years, when any of these men finally chose me or Alejandro, we both still
welcomed them home without incident. With the couple Tom and Tito I somehow
tried to mock the concept of <i>ordinary</i>
couple as a copy of the straight marriage.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: To what extent do you think that the gay universe portrayed in <i>Alí Babá y los 40 maricones</i> is still
present? Do you think that some changes have happened, and for better? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">N: After the big shake-up
which the discovery of AIDS meant, the increase in the rate of homosexual
couples and the legalization of same sex marriage and adoption, I feel that the
gays portrayed in this book are still archetypes and have not evolved at all. Today
I should increase the number of apartments to try to picture other types who push
the boundaries somehow: activists, agitators, crusaders committed to breaking
the rules imposed and copied from stereotyped heterosexual relationships. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: There is a noteworthy evolution in the comic; in the first strips
you depict <i>bareback</i> sex, though in
the last ones you highlight the use of condom in order to prevent sexually
transmitted diseases. Was it an imposition by the publishing house? Was it a
personal choice in regards to raise awareness among your readers? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">N: I always tried to leave my
creations free to fuck the way they wished. But there was a time in which I
collaborated in “Póntelo, pónselo”<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftn8" name="_ftnref8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[8]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
campaign first, and the campaign for HIV positive gays later, and it made sense
to me that I could use my creations to support. There is a chapter in which La
Borrega discovers that he is HIV positive, and I made the other characters show
support for him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What is your opinion on the current Spanish gay comic? Would you
highlight any author or work in particular? Do you know any author who
considers Nazario as an example? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">N: Since I stopped illustrating
comics to work in painting, I left the comic book world. I got interested in
just a few <i>graphic novels</i>, and
critics announced that these have made comic books achieve artistic maturity
(putting comic on the same level than literature, just to depreciate the
artistic interest of comic itself); they seem to me short-sighted and vague.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What are you working on now? What are your next projects?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">N: I spent more than a year building
my website, and three years writing my autobiography—one of its chapters, <i>La vida cotidiana del dibujante underground</i>
(“The Ordinary Life of an Underground Illustrator”), will be published in May—;
I have spent a lot of time scanning most of my comics to share freely on a
hosting service, but I have eventually got censored. (Later, I created the blog
nazariocanalla.blogspot.com, where I host them now.) I finished the 3<sup>rd</sup>
part of <i>Anarcoma</i>, whose script I had
sketched for years—1<sup>st</sup> and 2<sup>nd</sup> part had been summed up to
be published in one book; La Cúpula publishing house is prolonging the project
to edit both parts together—. I dream of being able to post in a blog the book <i>La Barcelona de los 70 vista por Nazario y
sus amigos </i>(“Barcelona in the 70’s Seen by Nazario & Friends”), adding
more pics and videos. After last year’s exhibitions of <i>Turandot</i> in the University of Seville, and another one about <i>Censorship</i> in Bilbao, a photography
exhibition about Plaza Real,<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftn9" name="_ftnref9" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[9]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
and another one of works by me and Alejandro, I am preparing an audiovisual event
about my pictures, photomontages and videos on Plaza Real through the years. I
also need time to work on a script for a film on the atmosphere of Plaza Real
and surrounding areas in the 70’s/80’s. This continuous frenzy lightens the
grieving, traumatic absence of Alejandro, my boyfriend for 36 years and <i>husband for five days</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US">Nowadays Nazario’s
work is exhibited in several Spanish museums, such as Reina Sofía in Madrid, or
Museo de Arte Contemporáneo in Seville. He has also been awarded with Pablo
Picasso Prize or Ministry of Culture’s Medalla de Oro de las Bellas Artes (“Fine
Arts Golden Medal”), high honors in the Spanish cultural world. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><b><span style="color: red;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[2]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></b></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><b><span style="color: red;"> </span></b>A humor magazine published from 1974 to 1978. It was considered a
politically committed publication during the last period of the Franco dictatorship
and the early years of the <i>Transición
Española</i>.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" style="font-size: medium;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">[</span></span></span></b></span></span></a><a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;"><b><span style="color: red;">3</span></b></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b><span style="color: red;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;">]</span></span></span></b></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt;"><b><span style="color: red;"> </span></b>From <i>Sábado, sabadete, camisa nueva y polvete</i> (<span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">“</span>When Saturday, a clean shirt and a quickie<span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">”</span>): Popular sassy saying about the old day<span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">’</span>s Spanish custom of changing clothes and having sex once a week on Saturdays.</span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
</div>
<div id="ftn4">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftnref4" name="_ftn4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[4]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> Iconic street in the city of Barcelona. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn5">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftnref5" name="_ftn5" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[5]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US">Penitentiary
center located in Barcelona. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn6">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftnref6" name="_ftn6" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[6]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> In addition to Nazario’s brilliant description, you can also see Spanish
filmmaker Ventura Pons’s extraordinary documentary <i>Ocaña, retrato intermitente</i> (1978)—highly praised by Academy Award
winner Fernando Trueba—for further information on José Pérez Ocaña (Cantillana,
Seville, 1947 – 1983). </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn7">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftnref7" name="_ftn7" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[7]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US">Alejandro
Molina (1951 – 2014). He was an artist, particularly devoted to sculpture. Although
he was from Andalucía, his work is much more related to the city of Barcelona,
where he designed the festivities decoration in Plaza Real for several years. Nazario
and Alejandro met in 1978, and from that moment on they lived a beautiful
story, unusual according to the traditional love relationship pattern, such as
Nazario pictures it in this interview. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn8">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftnref8" name="_ftn8" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[8]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> <i><span lang="EN-US">Use it, make your partner
use it</span></i><span lang="EN-US">: Motto of a popular media campaign for the
use of condom to prevent sexual transmitted diseases among teenagers in Spain
in the early 1990s, quite controversial due to the Catholic Church protest.</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn9">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftnref9" name="_ftn9" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[9]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> An outstanding square in Barcelona, adjoining Las Ramblas, located in
the tourist Gothic Quarter. </span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-67334000841593175752016-02-22T10:04:00.002-08:002016-02-23T01:47:52.500-08:00Hungz n the Hood<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="background: purple; color: #8db3e2; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On Nazario’s</span></b><span style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <i>Alí Babá y los 40 maricones</i> (“Ali Baba
and the 40 Fags”) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8teJ92lAFUfcSorQJobPaodjQSo0Ge-sew0Ht7W6A3_eZq-VmGTcSwXza00hMi3U7YCVOKnCco_XW3XauQ9RDKI9xBv589EuLsrDi6S7PHV4WRkRbBNfUcOaOJmpo5We1kCWRCiqdZrkj/s1600/Al%25C3%25AD+Bab%25C3%25A1+y+los+40+maricones+-+Nazario.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8teJ92lAFUfcSorQJobPaodjQSo0Ge-sew0Ht7W6A3_eZq-VmGTcSwXza00hMi3U7YCVOKnCco_XW3XauQ9RDKI9xBv589EuLsrDi6S7PHV4WRkRbBNfUcOaOJmpo5We1kCWRCiqdZrkj/s320/Al%25C3%25AD+Bab%25C3%25A1+y+los+40+maricones+-+Nazario.tif" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Comic book author Francisco
Ibáñez (Barcelona, 1936), the creator of worldwide known T.I.A. secret agents <i>Mort & Phil</i> (Spanish original:
Mortadelo y Filemón), also portrayed in <i>13,
Rue del Percebe</i> a series of strips in which we can see the humorous, crazy,
bizarre, overhasty day-to-day life of a bunch of inhabitants of the same
building, from the ground floor to the attic, thanks to the disappearance of
the fourth wall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We find this same pattern in
Nazario’s <i>Alí Babá y los 40 maricones</i>
(1993).<span style="color: red;"><b><a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;">[1]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
</b></span>In fact, this comic book may well be considered the gay, adult version of <i>13, Rue del Percebe</i>—Regarding this
inspiration, one of the strips is named “13, Rue Carolinas”—.<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[2]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Let’s have a look to the rule-breaking community
that Nazario has amusingly pictured. We will begin from the top—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">•Attic: Here we have Ernesto,
a tall, blond, hung college student. However, behind his eyeglasses there is a
shy and sentimental boy who never dares to have sex with others, so he
eventually gets swept up in wet fantasies and beats off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Conversely, his cat<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftn3" name="_ftnref3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[3]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
is always excited and screws every other feline in the neighborhood. He also laughs
at his owner’s virgin and naïve attitude. This relationship reminds of the famous
Garfield and his owner Jon’s; besides, the cat is the same tabby kind than Jim
Davis’s creation, as well as in one of the strips—“Entre policías y ladrones”
(“Among Cops and Robbers”)—he admits his wish to have sex with Garfield.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Ernesto is fond of
weighlifting to build his vigorous body, as well as the art of Renata Tebaldi and
Espronceda’s “Canto a Teresa” (“Song to Teresa”).<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftn4" name="_ftnref4" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: red;">[4]</span></b></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Sometimes Nazario pictures him
being raped by several men all at once (maybe one of Ernesto’s sexual fantasies?),
or afraid of going out in female disguise when Carnival, as he does not want to
be recognized by his college classmates.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">•2<sup>nd</sup> Floor: Here we
find three roommates. Let’s start with Yanpol, a voracious leatherman whose look
is very similar to the typical heroes by Tom of Finland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">With his 3-day beard and hairy
chest, Yanpol <i>deflowers</i> workmen who
claim no previous homosexual experience before him. He and his roommate
<i>La Borrega</i> (“The Sheep,” also meaning
simple-minded) celebrate orgies at the drop of a hat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">La Borrega</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> above-mentioned
is a phallomaniac hooked up in his own private quest for the biggest cocks in the
gay universe. He is dark, curly haired, and wears thick-rimmed glasses; he is not
especially charming—though really hung. He can cause a bathroom breakdown just
to welcome home again his favorite plumber. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">He finally gets AIDS. .
.Nevertheless, he will enjoy the understanding and affection from all his group
of loving, horny friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">And there is also Luigi (sometimes
called <i>La Deisy</i>). He represents just
the opposite to his two roommates: He is a swishy, pansy, weedy, blond drama
queen who seems to hate sex. He frequently quarrels with his roommates because
of the orgies that they celebrate counting him out, as well as he takes a crack
at their lovers. He is also terribly afraid that the sofa cover gets ruined
during these orgies. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">He owns a poodle called <i>Divain</i>, who looks like a canine version
of him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Luigi is fond of gossip, a
Walt Disney Pictures’ <i>Little Mermaid</i>
fan and a Barbie collector.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">•1<sup>st</sup> Floor: The one
and only long term relationship on the block: Tom and Tito. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tom is elder than Tito. With his
incipient baldness and a long, scarce ponytail, he makes the most of Tito’s
absence to cheat on him. Tito always finds out, and Tom excuses himself by claiming
that it is Tito the one that he really loves. To make matters worse, Tom is extremely
jealous of Tito. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tom keeps a diary in which he
takes down all his affairs. He usually catches sexual transmitting diseases due
to his immoderate infidelities. Sometimes he is a kind of reckless, and once he
even welcomed home a group from a satanic cult that practices human sacrifices—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Tito is a hot, pretty boy
(Nazario endows him with a forelock very similar to Superman’s). Tito is loyal
to Tom, despite the sex offers from numerous men (including <i>La Borrega</i>). When Tom met Tito, Tito was
bisexual. But since their torrid love affair began, Tom is the only love in Tito’s
life. Tito is so used to his partner’s unfaithful behavior that he accepts this
as long as he does not see it. He commonly dislikes Tom’s lovers.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">•Located in the ground floor,
there is the Alí Babá pub. Lola, the owner, is a woman who is a dead ringer for
John Waters’ films star Divine. She is the nosiest in the whole neighborhood. Her parrot, called Alí Babá, is as snooping as his owner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Lola tries to score every hung
& hunk men (with a special predilection for workmen, sailors and black men)
who turn up in her pub. . .The point is that each and every single one are gay,
so she does not have any other choice but sucking it up. Just as Luigi, she loves
being the center of attraction. Lola does not accept the passing of time. She
is a widow, so she is used to fend for herself; she does not feel intimidated
when problems show up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The usual barflies in Alí Babá
are workmen, grey foxes, young gym queens in fashion, junkies, cross-dressers—most
of them horny or broken hearted. There, they hold disguise parties that tend to
come to a terrible end, such as robberies, etc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So, here you have a brief description of the wild, urban, loony, wacky, lustful, shocking, irrepressible, irresistible modern Sodom full of sound and fury that Nazario imagined, with no other purpose than the joyful celebration of inflamed sex. Thus</span><span style="font-size: 21.3333px; line-height: 24.5333px;">—What are you waiting for? Hurry up and join the party!</span></div>
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><b><span style="color: red;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></b></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><b><span style="color: red;"> </span></b><span lang="EN-US">Although 1993 was the year in which the whole
collection of strips was published as a comic book, they actually had been
published separately in several underground magazines before. </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[2]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <i><span lang="EN-US">Calle Carolinas</span></i><span lang="EN-US">: a popular street in the city of Barcelona.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn3">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[3]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"> In Ibáñez’s <i>13, Rue del Percebe</i>,
the attic resident—an inveterate debtor—also lives with a cat.</span><span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Hungz%20n%20the%20Hood.doc#_ftnref3" name="_ftn3" style="font-size: medium; line-height: normal;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[4]</b></span></span></span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 16.8667px;"> José de Espronceda (Almendralejo, 1808 - Madrid, 1842). He was one of the most outstanding Spanish poets in the Romanticism period.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn4">
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-61556017518971178352016-01-27T13:00:00.000-08:002016-02-02T13:35:55.582-08:00Interview with Lluís Maria Todó<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpC2XJk5QsEqvugZBN2Gk3eIfmj3DLjHKFSTchx_93OU-WvWAPdGhbtJ9EDxQWE8OZOb1efcgvEc8df5PGOHoK6epFsLkL4iNnx3y_iKJLR3wNIOXYFnIS_cCh1g1RcsAxnhCXsrOCGKQ/s1600/Tod%25C3%25B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpC2XJk5QsEqvugZBN2Gk3eIfmj3DLjHKFSTchx_93OU-WvWAPdGhbtJ9EDxQWE8OZOb1efcgvEc8df5PGOHoK6epFsLkL4iNnx3y_iKJLR3wNIOXYFnIS_cCh1g1RcsAxnhCXsrOCGKQ/s1600/Tod%25C3%25B3.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i>One of the most significant
Spanish authors devoted to LGBT themes currently, <b><u><span style="background: blue;"><span style="color: red;">Lluís</span></span><span style="background: blue;"><span style="color: white;"> Maria
</span></span><span style="background: blue;"><span style="color: red;">Todó</span></span></u></b> (Barcelona, 1950), has discussed with us his young adult
novel </i>Isaac y las dudas<i>; you will
find his interesting remarks on topics such as creativity and reality, sexuality and
censorship, if you read this juicy interview. </i><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SPANISH GAY FICTION: If I am not wrong, <i>Isaac y las dudas</i> came up from a request. Could you please explain
this?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LLUÍS MARIA TODÓ: It was around
2002 when the person who was in charge of La Magrana publishing house made an
appointment for me. She told me that secondary education schools were lacking a
fiction depicting young gay people and their issues in a positive way, and
asked me if I wanted to solve this deficiency. That is to say, to write a young
adult novel about teen gays who are not discriminated, attacked, or eventually
determined to commit suicide or hopelessly embittered. It was supposed that the
book would become a recommended reading in high schools, and therefore sell
well, as well as an opportunity to visit schools and talk to young readers
about the book, about them, about me. I really liked the idea and accepted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Are there autobiographical elements in this novel?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LMT: Not in the least. This is
the least autobiographical of all the novels that I have ever published. It is
all fictional.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Do you remember when you realized your sexual identity? Would you
say that it was a relieving experience like Isaac’s, or rather different?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LMT: I talked about this in <i>El mal francés</i>:<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Dancer%20from%20the%20Slavs.doc#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[1]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
it happened when I was a 19-year-old student in France, while my girlfriend was
expecting my first child in Barcelona. No doubt my experience was much more
dramatic than Isaac’s, indeed. Other times, other manners—And all that was
reality, not fiction.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Do you think that Dimitri’s story is now much more up to date than
the time the novel was published, regarding the current Russian
administration’s homophobic attitude and the increasing number of homosexual
Russians exiled in our country?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LMT: Absolutely. The type of
the gay pretty Russian boy has sadly changed from a sort of sexual fantasy (like
in the novel) to become a tragic reality in mass media and host countries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Roser, David’s mother—is she based on any real person that you have
ever known?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LMT: No, I have never met any
woman keenly wishing that her son declares himself as gay, so that he may lend
a hand in her dance studio—As if all gays were good at dance! This character, like
many other elements of the book, meets the general strategy to display a
favorable—though not too much sentimental—scene for teen gays, modulating this
positive vision with a touch of humor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: The most original aspect in your novel may be the fact that a boy
has sex with another boy to reaffirm his heterosexuality—no fuss, no mock. How
did this idea come about? Have you ever known any straight guy who has
experienced anything similar?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LMT: Yes, I know boys who have
had homosexual experiences—to reaffirm their heterosexuality?, I do not know.
But they wanted to see how it is, and then resolved that they like sex with
girls rather than boys. My first homosexual experience fits in this scheme. Of
course, it was the other guy who was testing, and gratefully resolved that it
was not bad, but he was determined to stay with his girlfriend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: How important is this novel in your work? Is it one of your favorites?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LMT: It plays a special role
in my work. To start with, and as I said before, this is the only time I write
a book on request so far, and was thought as a young adult novel. <i>Isaac y las dudas</i> is also special for me
as this is the only novel of mine which does not include any autobiographical
element. I liked it, and was pleased to see that I was able to make up
characters, situations, a funny, believable plot. Years go by, and this group
of young boys, Isaac and his doubts, and his boy friends and girl friends, and
their partners and dads and mums—it all seems to me too sweet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: As this is a project on request to make homosexuality become
normalized in secondary education schools, do you feel that this affects the
tone of the book? Is <i>Isaac y las dudas</i>
very different from your most personal projects?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LMT: Absolutely. I wanted to
design an imaginary scene in which young gays are not only accepted by their
families, but also their sexual orientation is considered better in some cases.
In addition, the book contains a mystery plot, a joke on contemporary dance
(which gets my nerves), plenty of humor. Yes, everything in <i>Isaac y las dudas</i> is different to my
other books. Another point is, for reasons that I ignore but can guess, that
the book did not become a recommended reading in any secondary education school—as
far as I know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Now let me vouch for Rafa and other swishy gays. Why in this much
more diverse society are effeminate homosexuals still made fun of, or not taken
seriously, even within the gay universe?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LMT: I really cannot diagnose
such an interesting topic. But I can state without hesitation that the
character of Rafa was created just to vindicate the swishy gay, to fight
against one of the most long-lasting homophobic strongholds, even (or should I
say <i>above all</i>?) in the gay community
itself. Prejudice against being swishy is unfair, reactionary, stupid, and very
usual at the same time. Do not ask me why, but it is so. I actually have the
impression that nobody knows well what is to be swishy about (saying it means <i>effeminacy</i> is an absurd simplification; women
are not used to be swishy). Why some little children and some adults are
swishy, and what the connection between being swishy and homosexuality is, what
being swishy expresses to us. . .Many mysteries and one slogan for the moment:
you have to love swish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Let’s talk about Ferrán, Isaac’s teacher. . .Do you feel sorry for
him, or do you think that he is a miserable wuss? What do you really think
about him?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LMT: Regarding Ferrán, let me
tell you an interesting story: when I went to the publishing house to give the
novel, the person in charge was not the same woman who had requested me the
book. After a few weeks we met and she told me that she had found the tone of
the book too <i>frivolous</i> for a <i>significant</i> topic such as homosexuality
in teenage (of course, this was her idea, not her words). And worse: if they
had to suggest the book to high school teachers, Ferrán could not come off so
badly, so coward. I tried to defend my choices, but I finally adapted to the new
manager’s needs. After all, it was a novel on request. In the Catalonian
version<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Dancer%20from%20the%20Slavs.doc#_ftn2" name="_ftnref2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[2]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a>
Ferrán is therefore a much more <i>positive</i>
character, he manages his pupil’s love in a more courageous way, or at least
more elegant. Later, when the possibility to translate the novel into Spanish
arose, I recovered the original, uncensored version, where Ferrán is more
afraid of a kind of teen sexuality that he himself has made spring forth. As a
punishment to the <i>censor</i>, every time
they ask me, I say that I prefer the Spanish version, which is a very good
translation and displays a plot more faithful to my intentions. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: When the kids are working on a project about homosexuality and
literature, they take an interest in homosexual authors’ wives. Are you also
interested in these women historically overshadowed by their renowned gay
husbands?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LMT: That was also one of the
publisher’s <i>suggestions</i>, and a price
that I paid with no objections, given the circumstances. Actually, I do not
think that the type of the gay author’s uncomplaining wife is too usual.
Moreover, it is almost disappeared, typical in the times when every homosexual
needed to marry a woman to be socially accepted. Of course it would be very
interesting to portray women married to homosexuals in the pre-gay age, no matter
if their husbands were authors, taxi drivers, or presidents of the government.
These women were lots, and they are still many today, and for sure they have a
lot to say.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Isaac’s father, Lluís, is worried that his son may be gay. Is it a
homophobic issue, or rather a feeling of unease since his son may suffer in
life a lot because of his sexuality? According to you, to what extent may
parents concern the same in real life?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LMT: Lluís’ dialectical trick
is too usual. That is to say: “I am not against gay people, but I would prefer
not to have a gay son, since he would otherwise suffer discrimination.” People
who say this do not realize that they themselves are discriminating, and
causing suffering to their children. The only honest position before your
children’s homosexuality is to love that homosexuality, as this is an essential
feature of them. Anything else is homophobic rubbish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: Is there any criticism on those writing workshops that Lluís
attends? What is your opinion about these workshops where you can <i>learn to write</i>?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LMT: In writing workshops they
teach to write books that meet the publication market demand, best-selling
books. That is absolutely okay, but has almost nothing to do with my concept of
what literature is. Until proven otherwise, to be a good writer you need
talent, a lot of reading, deep knowledge on the language you are going to write
in and, above all, something original to say. The main point is that you need
to have the feeling that there is something in your mind which is still
unwritten, and take over the task to get it down on paper or record it in a hard
disk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">SGF: What are you working on now? What are your next projects?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">LMT: I am writing a somehow
weird book, still unnamed. There I will explain my varied relationships with the
books, or the authors that have helped me the most become the writer that I am.
I will speak as a reader, as a teacher, as a translator and as a novelist about
the authors that I have been keener on, in terms of similarity or just for
professional need: Proust, Flaubert, Stendhal, Balzac. It is a combination of
informative essay and intellectual autobiography. We will see—<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" />
<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />
<!--[endif]-->
<br />
<div id="ftn1">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Dancer%20from%20the%20Slavs.doc#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[1]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> A title hard to translate, as this
phrase is polysemic. Possible choices: ‘The French Disease’ (that is, <i>syphilis</i>), ‘The Bad Frenchman,’ ‘Broken
French’. . .This book is a journal in which Todó portrays a turning point in his
private life, as well as he considers the recent history of Spain, from the
last years of the Franco regime to the first stages of our current democracy. This
book won the 2006 Josep Pla Prize, a prestigious literary award for books in
Catalonian.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText">
<a href="file:///E:/Spanish%20Gay%20Fiction/Dancer%20from%20the%20Slavs.doc#_ftnref2" name="_ftn2" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: red;"><b>[2]</b></span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></a><span lang="EN-US"> This book was published in
Catalonian first, the title being <i>Isaac i
els dubtes</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-516699518210404093.post-81918778566139326872016-01-20T09:38:00.000-08:002016-01-20T09:38:37.323-08:00Dancer from the Slavs<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background: blue; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: white;">On </span><u><span style="color: red;">Lluís</span><span style="color: white;"> Maria </span><span style="color: red;">Todó</span></u><span style="color: white;">’s</span></span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%;"> <i>Isaac y las
dudas</i> (“Isaac and the Doubts”)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXu2ha1ZhwLrcKpAhUg4FXmgzdQWk3OWJAJQCckfwAtF2P8u66jktZTNmPpcxuWAJrzLBxPGGZJVVJh7hr9vy7IcLDNa-TbYe84T-_3J9GtitKc5JVc_5oGywaQ10OUx-1gQHYbodqsqw/s1600/Isaac+y+las+dudas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfXu2ha1ZhwLrcKpAhUg4FXmgzdQWk3OWJAJQCckfwAtF2P8u66jktZTNmPpcxuWAJrzLBxPGGZJVVJh7hr9vy7IcLDNa-TbYe84T-_3J9GtitKc5JVc_5oGywaQ10OUx-1gQHYbodqsqw/s1600/Isaac+y+las+dudas.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The plot of this 2003 novel of
sexual initiation is pretty simple: 17-year-old Isaac is still doubtful about
coming out. Also, he knows his father Lluís is secretly wishing him to declare
himself straight once and for all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Isaac’s platonic love is his
hot young literature teacher Ferrán, who glances at Isaac every time he
mentions gay authors in class; the teacher highlights the point that this is
the moment in history when you can openly discuss about homosexuality. Ferrán’s
attention to both the topic and his enchanting student gives cause to Isaac and
Rafa—Isaac’s swishy, sexually experienced gay seatmate, currently dating a cop
nearly twice his age—for thinking that Ferrán is gay as well, and blindly drawn
to Isaac.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">One day Isaac gathers his
courage and dates Ferrán for opening his heart—but his precious teacher does
not respond the way that Isaac and his friends had expected. . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Well, this is not the end of
the world—especially when Dimitri turns up. This new character is a gay Russian
dancer who has recently arrived in Spain, a destination that he had chosen filled
with hope and expectation. Dimitri and Isaac like each other at first sight—No
wonder: Isaac is described as a Greek beauty: dark, deep eyes and curly, bushy
hair; while Dimitri squares with the Slav type: pale, blond and light piercing-eyed—besides
his perfect anatomy built up through years of dedication to ballet. Dimitri
happens to be the guy to whom Isaac eventually loses his virginity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Anyway, not everything is joy
and pleasure; Dimitri is almost killed in an attempted murder. The Russian mafia
that helped him leave his native country is believed to be behind. Isaac gets
determined to watch over him while Dimitri is hospitalized, and this decision
will bring about Isaac’s final coming out, showing that sexual identity is not so
much asserted because of sexual rather than sentimental resolutions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Once to this point—what makes <i>Isaac y las dudas</i> so different, so appealing?
Well, we have left aside another important story so far—let’s go back. . .<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Isaac’s classmate David is
also inexperienced at the beginning of the novel. His mother Roser, a so
fanciful, so romantic dancing school for children owner, always inclined towards
<i>arty-farty</i> stuff—as well as a casual
stoner—, is ready and willing to hear from her son: “Mommy, I am gay.” But this
sentence still remains unuttered. What is eating David? Why is he waiting so
much to confess his inclinations, given that his mother is so happily
receptive?—The truth is that David is in a fog.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">He can see the hints: his
mother’s unyielding wish that her son <i>must</i>
be gay; also, his <i>unmanly</i> company: a
circle of none-but-gay-or-girl friends—However, he is not so certain. . .What
can he do? Well, here is when the most exceptional feature of this novel
happens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">To make up his mind, David is resolved
to have sex with another guy. The chosen one is his mother’s hot new employee, Dimitri.
Sex happens naturally, and it is okay—but after this experience David is sure
that he is not gay. This event means a variation in the usual topic of the gay
man who has sex with women to test his sexuality. It could be said that the
best aspect is that the boy does not try it out as a bruising issue, but he gleefully
shares his experience with his gay and girl friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Another surprising feature in
this novel comes from the point that it is adult people who must learn an accepting
lesson:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21.3pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Ferrán, his
true sexual identity;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21.3pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Isaac’s
father, his son’s homosexuality; and, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 21.3pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">David’s
mother, her son’s heterosexuality—no matter how much she loathes this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">This novel also reminds us of
the state of play in other countries different from Spain. Concerning Dimitri,
he had to turn to the mob so that he could leave Russia, a place where
happiness is not possible for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Lluís Maria Todó’s narration
is as unaffected as elegant. For instance, sex is shortly mentioned; this is
not a scabrous novel aimed to make the reader arouse and enjoy some fun. The
author respects his creations and takes care of their privacy. After all, Todó
is focused on the feelings of this group of adults and teens, all confused at
first, but able to see the light at the end of the tunnel in the end.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Alejandro Gutiérrezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08135478380433658909noreply@blogger.com2