Carlos Monsiváis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carlos Monsiváis
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Carlos Monsivais
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| Born | Carlos Monsiváis Aceves May 4, 1938 Mexico City, Mexico |
| Died | June 19, 2010 (aged 72) Mexico City, Mexico |
| Occupation | Writer and journalist |
| Nationality | Mexican |
| Genre | Chronicle, Essay |
| Literary movement | Generación del '68 (1968 Generation) |
| Notable works | Días de guardar (1971) |
| Notable awards | 1977 "Premio Nacional de Periodismo" Award (1977 "National Journalism Prize Award") 1998 "Prince Claus Award" 2006 "Premio Anagrama de Ensayo" (2006 "Anagram of Essay Prize") |
Carlos Monsiváis Aceves (born May 4, 1938 – died June 19, 2010) was a very important Mexican writer, journalist, and thinker. He wrote many books and articles about Mexican life, culture, and politics. He was known for his sharp observations and his support for social justice.
Monsiváis won over 33 awards for his work, showing how much he was respected. He was also famous for his love of cats, even setting up a special fund for "forgotten cats."
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Carlos Monsiváis Aceves was born in Mexico City on May 4, 1938. He went to the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). There, he studied economics and philosophy.
As a young student, Carlos was involved in protests. These protests helped bring back democracy to Mexico. He also worked for magazines like Medio Siglo and Estaciones.
Carlos loved movies and was a great movie critic. He especially enjoyed watching and writing about films from the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. He also wrote about art and sports like soccer. His writings helped people understand Mexican popular culture better.
Writing Career
Carlos Monsiváis was a talented writer from a young age. In 1965, he even studied at Harvard University.
In 1969, he published his first two essays. These essays showed his deep interest in Mexican politics and culture. In 1971, he wrote a book called Días de guardar. This book was a collection of his writings about daily life.
Later, in 1976, he wrote Amor perdido. This book explored popular film characters and how they related to society.
During the 1980s, Monsiváis wrote many of his most famous works. These included De qué se ríe el licenciado (1984) and Escenas de pudor y liviandad (1988). He also wrote about Mexico's native people in Nuevo catecismo para indios remisos (1982).
After the big 1985 Mexico City earthquake, he wrote "Historias para temblar" (Stories to tremble). This piece shared stories about the earthquake and its impact.
In 1992, he wrote a biography about the famous artist Frida Kahlo. He also put together several collections of other writers' works. Even in his later years, he continued to write, like his essay about Amado Nervo in 2002.
Involvement in Social Causes
Carlos Monsiváis was well-known for supporting social causes. He believed in fairness and equality for everyone.
A big event that affected him was the Tlatelolco massacre in 1968. This was a sad event where many students were hurt or killed during a protest. Monsiváis wrote a lot about this time.
He was also an early supporter of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation. This group worked to help native communities in Mexico. In 1994, he visited their camps in Chiapas to show his support.
Monsiváis also worked with Nancy Cárdenas to support the rights of LGBT people in Mexico. He helped publish a manifesto in 1975 that defended homosexuals. He also directed a play in 1974 that was one of the first openly gay dramas in a major theater.
In 2006, he signed a petition to support Puerto Rico's independence from the United States of America.
Later Life and Passing
In his later years, Carlos Monsiváis had health problems, especially with his lungs. He often needed an oxygen tank.
In 2007, he opened the Museo del Estanquillo in Mexico City. This museum shows many of his collected items. It has about 12,000 pieces that he gathered over 30 years. He opened it to honor artists like Gabriel Vargas and Eduardo del Río.
Monsiváis loved cats very much. In 2008, he decided to leave money to an animal shelter called "Gatos Olvidados" (Forgotten Cats). He wanted to make sure that stray cats, including his own, would be cared for after he was gone. He even helped a young girl get land for 50 homeless cats.
Carlos Monsiváis passed away on June 19, 2010, due to breathing problems. He was buried with a gay pride flag on his coffin, showing his support for the LGBT community.
Tributes and Legacy
Many people admired Carlos Monsiváis. Subcomandante Marcos, a Zapatista leader, said Monsiváis was an important influence.
Other famous Mexican writers also spoke highly of him. José Emilio Pacheco said Monsiváis was "the only writer people knew on the street." Elena Poniatowska called him "one of the great minds of Mexico." Carlos Fuentes said he was a "great writer who renewed the essay genre in Mexico." Even Mexican President Felipe Calderón shared his sadness at Monsiváis's death.
Monsiváis himself once joked about his autobiography, saying he wanted to look like a mix of Albert Camus and Ringo Starr.
Personal Life
Carlos Monsiváis never married and did not have children. He lived in a small house in Mexico City. Instead of children, he had many cats, and he often gave interviews with a cat on his lap.
He enjoyed reading and cinematography in his free time. He was a strong supporter of LGBT rights in Mexico.
Awards and Honors
Carlos Monsiváis received many awards throughout his life.
- In 1977, he won the "Premio Nacional de Periodismo" (National Journalism Prize). This award recognized his unique style of writing chronicles.
- He received the Prince Claus Award in 1998 from an organization in Amsterdam.
- In 2000, he won the "Premio Anagrama de Ensayo" (Anagram of Essay Prize).
- At the Guadalajara International Book Fair in 2006, he received the Juan Rulfo Prize, which came with $100,000.
- He also received honorary doctorates from several universities in Peru, Arizona, and Mexico.
- He won more than 33 awards in total. He also received The Medalla 1808 from the government of Mexico City.
See also
In Spanish: Carlos Monsiváis para niños
