time ago, a German professor named Dion Duran contacted me because I was looking for new Latin American writers for inclusion in a course that would dictate in the Masters in Latin American Studies at the University of Salamanca. Thus, in one of his classes discussed the story "Porcelain." After one of his students, Omar G. Villegas, decided to make his final work on my work. After several interviews via email, this was the result. Thank you very much both for your interest in my letters.
Hello, Gooodbye
Omar G. Villegas
University of Salamanca
Mexican journalist and student of Masters in Latin American Studies
"They say I'm a bad girl and I'm crazy. Perhaps they are right. " The young writer Jennifer Thorndike Peru (Lima, 1983) has wide awake to the letters in your country and challenging a transgressive attitude that makes declaring unequivocally: "I am a writer and designer, bisexual, feminist and activist for sexual diversity."
Jen, as they call it, is a member of that generation of breaking traditional paradigms. Novice writers in Latin America defined intellectual and political stance increasingly early and firmly. The postmodern magicians are heard, and they do so by all means and deprived of weights.
Last year, she aroused the curiosity of the literary environment Lima with the publication of his first collection of short stories Z chromosome (2007), a crucible of short stories, from experimental narrative techniques, offers urban stories of madness, bisexuality, overflowing passions, violence and fetishism.
***
Jennifer is an absolute passionate literature. The enjoy and exercise since age 15. "There is nothing that makes me feel what I feel literature," he said. "The fact of playing God, to destroy and build worlds, produces an indescribable feeling and is a rich intellectual process."
How do you define a vocation that early and decisive?
write since I have fifteen years, I think from that moment I knew that was what I wanted. Writing for me is a passion, is what makes me most happy, but as all writers are a contradiction (As he says Marguerite Duras), writing is not only a pleasure but is to be committed to yourself. And that commitment comes responsibility, that the principal be aware that you do is what I really want to do, and go on with what you get.
How do you take a transgressive identity at your age and your particular context? Do you support your family? Do your friends do you say?
is very difficult. I think there is much fear, fear of losing what you have and you could stop having to reveal sexual identity other than heterosexual. All that remains is, as we say here, zurrarte, which is not taking into account what other people say to try to be who you really are and not living a double life. That's what I've done, but there is always a price to pay, I do not doubt it. In my case, I preferred to do so because I believe that there is nothing wrong with what I do and deserve the same respect as anyone, plus I've always wanted to do that with what I feel happier. I think I've been very lucky because my family and my close friends have respected my sexual orientation without any rejection. I know this does not always happen, I know stories closet outputs painful and terrible, so I think lucky.
in Latin America apparently channel mobility and expression are increasingly expanding to allow the emergence of different identities more quickly. "Peru is a less conservative today?
Much has been done on that topic, but there's always controversy, rejection and to discriminate against certain issues. However, the new generation (the kids who are now between 14 and 16 years) are more receptive and take these issues with greater ease.
As a young writer, how important is for you educational background?
is important as it is known to recognize what is true or false for you. Not everything they say is always true or absolute truth, it is important to form an opinion and voice. In fact I do believe you have to read a lot and we should know the technique, but the capacity of the building you can not teach anybody.
What kind of career you are interested in developing literature?
No, just ask me when I experienced a strong vocational crisis. What happens is that she was determined to study literature (something I could not do when I finished school), but I've realized that academic life is not my purpose. What I do is write, not teach literature, not research or criticism of texts. That's why I decided not to go to college, I think the writer's craft is grown writing, practicing writing, receiving and accepting constructive criticism to improve the technique (which should be the way to find his own style) and reading widely, selecting readings that you can get something.
***
's cold in Lima and Jennifer is happy. "I love the winter," he says. In one of several electronic interviews that led to this paper talks about that terrible impact of the crisis professionals and decisions that she, now in his 25 years, should take: work, profession, university , writing.
"I was convinced of wanting to study literature for eight years and went to pre to enter the state university (where they teach because the other is too expensive), so I can nose against all courses because he already knew me terribly bored, who do not ... because I am not interested in learning about them. Now, I have not given up. "
And have you thought about migrating?
Well I thought hard about going to Argentina, first because there is free university and second because I think maybe there could find what I want in terms of literature, but in the end I'm still here. I suppose it would first have to see how is feasible and how comfortable I feel in another place that is not Lima to make an important decision.
Jen is not the only young person who has been disappointed by the academic approach to literature. "Maybe it is so long," he says. "The theory, canon, books you used to make acceptable, maybe good, but not beyond ... then to write everything is relative. Should seek to innovate, reinvent. I think writing is a constant search for funds and shapes. "
So you devote just to write?
I only wish I only write, must be the dream of every writer, but unfortunately, unless you're a best seller , you can not live on it. I studied advertising design and say that's what feeds me. The truth is that right now I'm going through a time in my life where I feel I have to make many decisions and things I have not yet very clear. So I'm not working (in a permanent job, but as a freelance ) and I also research to write my second book, for wanting to write is all I have clear ... and want to write something that exceeds what I have written before.
***
By the way, you name from where it originally?
My name is English, is up there, but we are here in Peru for many years, so many that no one alive has seen a relative English.
England and Peru, two poles at coexistence, as the personality of Jennifer. Photographs and videos the show as a child between shy and cheeky, expectant and dynamic, one observer noted. Itself is a character and as close to what in this homogenized world could be called authentic.
The young writer is able to combine activism with a decided taste for individual action, the social challenge with the intimacy of writing, to mechanisms with Marguerite Duras, which he constantly refers.
His hobbies point in different directions: the Beatles, Chavela Vargas, Pedro Almodovar, Lila Downs, Quentin Tarantino, José Saramago, Lewis Carroll, David Trueba, Joaquin Sabina, Alex de la Iglesia, Joan Manuel Serrat, film, photography, anime, Japanese culture and design.
His readings are also polyphonic: Steppenwolf, Hundred Years of Solitude, Alice in Wonderland , Memoirs insantas , Essay on blindness, exaggerated Life of Martin Romana . Luisa Valenzuela, Anne Rice, Yasunari Kawabata, César Vallejo, Blanca Varela.
readings Are you fed as a writer?
Maybe. When you're writing something, it becomes much more responsive, the entire environment can influirte. From a way to write to an abandoned house that you saw while traveling by bus. Now the thing is to find their own voice, style, and it is very difficult. In other words, you do not copy anyone, but I think this requires a process of learning and experimentation. Alice in Wonderland is one of my favorite books, great Lewis Carroll, the nonsense is a stream that I love, very difficult to play with quality. Saramago, as the Blindness was a novel that made me wonder what I would do in that situation. Hesse accompanied me throughout my teenage years. Steppenwolf is a book with which I identify a lot. Almodóvar is a master, but I prefer the casual Almodóvar, but all his films fascinate me Minus Two: Labyrinth of Passion and Flesh. I admire you seen Carmen Maura and for example, in "Volver", his performance greatly affects the plot. That makes the film becomes more interesting and have more nuanced, although I think it is best made by the director.
***
Internet is a field of activity relevant to Jennifer. In this space and overflowing publishes stories, newspaper articles, interviews, lectures, reviews. It also broadcasts critical analysis of his work and videos of presentations of their books or arts events in which he has participated.
His blog Z chromosome ( cromzzz.blogspot.com / ) is a window into his work and scholarship. "The name started as a symbolic, non-differential, but another representative and reference of my sexual orientation. Then I received that name also my first book, "says the website.
***
And how's your writing process and propitiation of ideas?
The ideas are everywhere. Sometimes things that look at things that happen, things that you have. I happened to have been a bus or walking and I have an idea or see something that I can use and feel that will serve me for what I write. They call it the "germ", sometimes there are ideas that you think are very good at first, but then take shape and others that do not convince you much, but that suddenly fit into a text. The writing process for me goes like this: I write when I feel the pressing need to do is wrong may not have a methodology, but I think that there is no perfect formula for this, each writer has his own way and as he or she work, it's fine.
How your identity coexist and sexual activity with your writing?
Actually there are always issues that appear when you write, some has to do with my activism or my sexual identity, others not. I displayed on as needed for what you write. In fact, the issue of stereotyping is always a problem, do not want you to think that the only thing I can write is sexual identity, because that would put a limit on myself and my lyrics. Z chromosome was necessary to continue with that line, but I do not know if that also shows in my next book.
And for a young writer, bisexual activist, how complicated is the publishing function in your country?
editorial Now there are more open about the issues, more open also to publish new people, do not close as the major publishers, other writers bet and other audiences. I believe that for a novel is always the first step is difficult, regardless of being female, bisexual, and so on. One has to avoid prejudice, negative, among other things. The economic issues also play an important role, since most work with independent publishers co-publications. It is a hard work, but I think as you find someone who really is willing to bet your job and your work is good, things start to fall under its own weight.
How would you describe, then the current Peruvian literary environment?
There are many independent publishers supporting new writers or writers, that's good for us and for the readers, who are all entitled to have more options to choose from. As for the criticism, the press, is somewhat difficult to penetrate, but I've worked hard to meet people, to find people who can support me, people who believed in my work and that has helped me to continue. A novel writer has to move to become known. If not do yourself, no one moves for you.
***
Jennifer Thorndike's work is peopled with characters afflicted by frustration. The voices are anti-heroes, evil beings affected by love, impossible, subversive. Their habitats are often enclosed spaces in which secrets are as acids that eat away at the wilderness that dwell there, these marginal subjectivities conviction own or as a result of unavoidable and exciting events.
external contexts are usually turbulent. The violence is strong and comprehensive. Filters in the finest tears, lives with unorthodox sensuality and speeches related to feminism and sexual diversity, with young people and the seizure of a city, Lima, in constant motion.
Intertextuality is recurrent. An obvious case is "Alice in the newspaper," a reference to "Alice in Wonderland." The girl tells the story with misspellings and baby talk in love he feels for a fellow pretty and popular school bustles around her implacable reality, as the hooded men who kidnap Alice, his platonic love.
In "Porcelain" raises the fetishistic relationship between a teenager and her wrist. Wounds that indicate a masochistic pleasure, the body as a tool / field of transgression, the dichotomy voice (teenager) and silence (wrist), the confinement: one-way lectures. The human and inanimate intermingled. The doll also ties these to the text with Surrealism.
"Dust", meanwhile, is a vehement fiction exploitation, dependence, submission, stalking. Here's a sample of the magma that has fueled the contemporary Lima literature. And if they break off and delves into the stories, you will find the motivations of an author in the process of finding your narrative style, and determined to get it.
***
insist on your youth and concern, because apparently if something can characterize the new generation is, indeed, their alienation, their passivity, their conformity.
thing is that I think there is a lack of desire and much disappointment at what they have done generations before us. And the eternal question: Where to go? "Individually or collectively? Another of my contradictions is that I tend towards individualism, that is why we do not participate in any group despite having ideas "collectivist" such as feminism and the struggle for lesbian rights Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT). Do you understand why these groups always tend to the radical left? Here was the Summit European Union and, in parallel, we conducted a People's Summit. How is it that these groups can invite Hugo Chavez or Evo Morales to go to do the closing? What will they see feminism and the struggle for LGBT equality with them? This was one of the guidelines of the summit. So, to quote these characters do not think that's the way to reach these goals.
***
Jennifer explored the poetry, but left to devote himself to prose. Now, among these decisions to make, is that of following or not topics so far have captured the and, in turn, have projected as a representative of the new Peruvian literature, a rebellious and uninhibited, one that comes from less central substrates, one that begins to demand space writers such as Jaime Bayly (Lima, 1965).
"I'm almost convinced that my second book does not discuss what I've written so far. I was listening to an elderly Peruvian writer who said something I thought was very consistent: to be a freelance writer you have to get rid of the isms. Which, to me, does not mean that I will put aside what I believe, but it my literature is not necessarily so. I seem, for example, completely boring to create characters were women and all feminists because I am. "
***
Jen says goodbye to the warmth that always showed in the constant e-mail conversations between her and the interviewer. So close, so far, a small exploration of the work of a young committed to his writing, a budding author and enthusiastic. Yes, the "bad girl" say goodbye to all composure, but certainly one of those sideways glances incisive, playful, ironic, that have become a peculiar subversive, postmodern, bisexual and activist.
