Federico García Lorca

Spanish (1898-1936)

 

Poet, playwright

 

Famous for deep symbolism, and for his intimacy with regional and folk culture of Spain (including Gypsy/Roma and Moorish traditions). 

 

Draws on the sensibility of “Flamenco” – i.e. passion, improvisation, “soul” or in Spanish duende

 

Cultural issues of church, nation, male/female roles, tradition vs. modernity (including the bullfight etc.) all loom large.

 

 

 

 

"Reading" and Lorca

 

If "Mars Needs Terrorists" was an indeterminate text that killed the author and turned things over to the reader--"Blood Wedding" is much more determinate. Yet in using powerful, idiosyncratic symbols (not conventional symbols), García Lorca also creates a significant space for readers to create meanings.