Imagining Argentina
"Literature has a role to play in developing a representation of a particular society. What views and values do we experience in reading Thornton's book? " - Essay responseEvery piece of fictional writing ever written, from sci-fi to the bible, tells us something of the time in which it was written, either because it is set in that time, or because of the way the author perceives the time in which it is set. Any piece of writing that we read is also coloured by the views expressed by the author, some times blatantly, sometimes subtly.Thornton's novel paints a portrait of the Argentina junta as a cruel and faceless regime, that destroys those who seek to oppose its views with the self-righteous anger that is usually associated with the fervour of fanatical religiousness. But would the novel have such credence if the junta remained in power today, or if the world political stance was more accepting of right-wing politics?
But it must be said that all literature must be read in conjunction and context with other works of the same period in order to stimulate a healthy, rounded view of a society. If no historical or fictional account of the holocaust remains in 50 years time, then the people of the future will be missing a large portion of what we know to be real. In reading "Imagining Argentina", we experience Thornton's values twofold, firstly those that are related to political or social ideals, and secondly those that relate to the world of the "paranormal". That is to say it is impossible to read a piece of a certain era and expect it to magically reveal a comprehensive insight into the society which it represents, also as a result of the fact that all authors have a bias. This said, however, the novel can still be recognised as a good piece of writing, no matter the political stance of the reader. It helped Silvio to overcome his surrounds when he refused to forget his own name, which in itself is akin to imagination, that is the imagination to dare to stand up against those who seek to oppose or persecute you. The phrase "History is written by the victors" is one that even today rings true. In many instances, imagination has given salvation and hope to those people held in captivity. In "Imagining Argentina" the main emphasis of Thornton's writing is on the power of the imagination and its effect on people. In the film-text "Life is Beautiful", the richness of Guido's imagination is what saves Joshua from the awful truth behind what occurs in the prison camp in which he is held. If the Axis powers had not been defeated in WWII, would our history be written from an Aryan perspective, disregarding all Jewish history, and if so, who would doubt it? The sad fact is that many people blindly accept what they are told to be true, without questioning the motives of those who tell them. The author places great importance in the text on the power of imagination, literally, in the novel, as a means of salvation, but I believe this is a metaphor for those who use imagination to make sense of a situation that seeks to overwhelm them. Literature does serve to form a representation of a particular society, but due to author bias or the way in which it is written, this is not always a "good" thing. Thornton's own political beliefs also are shown throughout the narrative, as the writing is deeply sympathetic to the cause of the people, and his obvious alliance to the politic if the left is also shown.
Common topics in this essay:
,
Imagining Argentina,
Life Beautiful,
representation particular society,
particular society,
representation particular,
form representation,
form representation particular,
piece writing,
seek oppose,
power imagination,
political stance,
imagining argentina,
shown novel,
history written,
|
Acceptance Essays
