José Agustín Ramírez Gómezwas born on August 19, 1944 in Acapulco Guerrero. He had a multifaceted career as a journalist, essayist, narrator, translator, playwright, film director and screenwriter. His impact on Mexican culture and literature has been important, as he is considered one of the most influential and prolific Mexican writers of the second half of the 20th century..
The man from Guerré studied classical literature in the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM)and continued his training in film direction in the University Center for Cinematographic Studies (CUEC/UNAM)of dramatic composition in the National Institute of Fine Arts (INBA) and the National Association of Actors (ANDA). Just to measure the cultural background of the writer of deserted cities (1982).
The essayist never stopped learning and was in continuous academic and cultural preparation, as he also participated in Juan José Arreola’s literary workshop from 1962 to 1965, where he wrote his first novel, Tomb, at 19 years of age. In 1966, she published the novel Profile. Both works represented the inauguration of “wave literature,” a current that brought together several Mexican writers in the search to renew Mexican literature.
The main contributions of “cool literature” were to incorporate elements of pop culture and portray current events among young people of the time.
His career in academia continued as a teacher, both in Mexico and abroad, especially in countries such as the United States and France. He was at universities such as: the University of Denver, California-Irvine, New Mexico and the University of Iowa.
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His work as a journalist and in cultural promotion was also outstanding, he collaborated in publications and hosted cultural programs on radio and television. Not to mention that he has written a dozen film scripts and directed two productions, the film I know who you are, I’ve been watching you from 1971 and the medium-length film Lux Alterma from 1973
Literary works and writings of José Agustín
- It’s Getting Late (1973)
- Deserted Cities (1982)
- Close to the Fire (1986)
- The belly of Tepozteco (1992)
- Two Hours of Sunshine (1994)
- Good love, games of points of view (1987)
- There is no censorship (1988)
- The New Classical Music (1969)
- The counterculture in Mexico (1996)
- Against the Current (1991)
In addition, he wrote for theater The Privileged Sunsets of Prepa 6 (1970), Abolition of Property (1969) and Círculo Vicious (1974). On television, he directed and hosted the program “Letras vivas” (1985-1988).
Recognitions to José Agustín
- “Juan Ruiz de Alarcón” National Literature Prize 1993
- “Two Oceans” Award, awarded by the Biarritz International Festival
- Cinema and Culture of Latin America, in 1995 for his work Two Hours of Sunshine
- The “Juan R. Escudero” medal from the Port of Acapulco, 2005.
- The Fine Arts medal, in 2011.
It is worth mentioning that, in his honor, the “José Agustín” short story prize is awarded, from Acapulco, Guerrero, starting in 1996.
|| With information from National Institute of Fine Arts (INBA) ||