Speaking of Spain
  • Home
  • Civil War & Volunteers
  • Anarchism in the Spanish Civil War
  • Forgotten Stories From Spain
  • Radical Recipes
  • Library

The Legacy of Lorca: Laying Claim to the Genius of Lorca

8/19/2014

0 Comments

 
Garcia LorcaClick to Grab The Free Poster Here
On this anniversary of his death, the Gazpachomonk investigates the Legacy of Lorca, offering this small insight, a free Poster to download, an Ode to the Poet, and links to the comprehensive Lorca Podcast by Pilar Orti. 

When Freddy Lorca wrote that "In Spain the dead were more alive than in any other country" - was he perhaps foreseeing his own legacy - a magical legacy of mystery, mysticism and controversy?

Having studied Lorca at University 25 years ago I had always wondered how he could be embraced as a national hero by both those that had applauded him, and those that had assassinated him. 

Indisputably Lorca was a supporter of the 2nd Republic. And indisputably he was killed by the fascists at the outbreak of the civil war. But other than that, what did we really know?

Was Lorca the darling of the arty left  - or -  was Ex-Prime Minister and Evil Goblin Aznar correct when he said of Lorca: "Poetry has no ideology, it is but spirit and beauty."
 

To claim Lorca as theirs, the Political Right must sanitise him, cleanse him and deny his sexuality turning him into a romantic Iberian, a "true" Spaniard. Whilst the Political Left embraces his internationality, his agenda for a better world - but  overlook his close friendship with certain members of the 'falange'. 

So what did Lorca himself say?

"The artist and in particular the poet, is always an anarchist in the best sense of the word."

Was Lorca secretly a member of Anonymous?  What did he mean by the "best sense of the word"?

For the answer we must look at the Spain of the 1930s'
The Anarchists in Catalonia opened free schools which prohibited political doctrine, emphasising individual artistic and creative development. Anarchism represented the highest ideals in the arts - equality of opportunity, equality of the sexes,  - a freedom of education and freedom of expression unparalleled in any other political movement of the time. 

Perhaps this is what Lorca meant  - perhaps this is his legacy to Spain - or to what many still describe as the two Spains'. Whatever the conclusion, his revolutionary poetry will continue to inspire others  - such as this little known and recently discovered treasure:

ODE TO LORCA by a relatively unknown poet: G. P. Monk. 

Ode to Memory of Lorca

Picture

(Recently Discovered)

Freddy Lorca Not...
from Mallorca,
lyrical maker
Poetical Creator Not
to be confused 
With Skytrain maker,
Freddy Laker

Freddy Lorca Not...
a New Yorker.
Romancero Gitano,
Granadino,
Pre Obama
his Barraca.
Next to the anarchist
Torero,
everyones hero
Shot cold.
Still being sold

 
Freddie Lorca You...
Anarchic Andaloo 
Of the 27 Crew.
True but to
You,
Walker
Talker
Freddy Lorca


Ideas to celebrate Lorca Day: 
1: Listen to the complete Lorca podcast here. 
2: Grab the poster above and cut out Lorca's face and wear it as a mask. Then, with copy of Romancero Gitano in hand, stroll into your nearest bar - one arm held aloof -  and treat the punters to a random poem.  
Picture
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    BOOKS

    1984 and Spanish Civil War
    Available Now
     Why Orwell is essential to understanding Spain today. More here - Forgotten Stories From Spain
    Follow @GazpachoMonk

    Norman Bethune and the Spanish Civil war
    The Ambulance Man and the Spanish Civil War (2nd Ed)
    Find out More about the ebook and audio
    Forgotten Stories From Spain Book HERE
    AND WATCH THE TORTILLA VIDEO HERE
    Inside the tortilla book cover
    Listen to an audio sample here

    POSTS

    CNT newspaper
    Spain 1936: The Silenced Revolution
    Did Laurie Lee Lie - a 2 part investigation
    Did Laurie Lee Lie? Listen to the two part investigation.


    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2019
    June 2016
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012

Store

Books
Videos
Audio

Free PDFs to Download

Anarchist Car Designs from Civil War
​Anarchism & the Death of an Idea


Free Stories

The Bullfight
The early Morning Hours
​Laurie Lee

Contact

Contact

The gazpachomonk
© COPYRIGHT 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Civil War & Volunteers
  • Anarchism in the Spanish Civil War
  • Forgotten Stories From Spain
  • Radical Recipes
  • Library