[Aztlan] Lecture by Gaspar Pedro González

[Elaine Day Schele]

See below for the lecture time and place.

 

Gaspar’s latest book is called “El 13 B'aktun: La nueva era 2012 (El fin del
ciclo desde la óptica maya contemporánea). The Yax Te’ books website
(http://www.yaxtebooks.com/about/mission.htm) summarizes the book:

  

“Cast in the form of an extended dialogue, this new work by the
distinguished Q'anjob'al novelist, poet, and scholar explains the Mayan
B'aktun calendar cycle that will conclude its round in the Gregorian
calendar year 2012. Ranging across topics in Mayan cosmovision and cultural
values, the work begins with a recapitulation of Mayan creation accounts. It
touches on comparative prophecy and ceremonial observance, all the while
disputing the erroneous interpretations given to Mayan calendric cycles by
non-Mayas for their own purposes (e.g., recent film versions!). This is an
essential work for all those seeking a Mayan perspective on this popular
topic. In Spanish. (An English edition is expected in 2008.)

 

The lecture:

Tuesday, April 8
Title: Historia de la literatura maya

Time and Location: University of Texas at Austin 4:00 p.m., Benson Library
2.104

 

Description: Maya novelist Gaspar Pedro González was for many years an
official in the Ministry of Culture of Guatemala, and teaches Mayan
languages and literature at Mariano Gálvez University.  His novel “La otra
cara”, originally published in Spanish and Q'anjobal, then released in
English as “A Mayan Life”, is the first novel by a native Maya author
writing in his own language. His second novel, “El retorno de los mayas”,
has also been released in English as “The Return of the Maya”. Mr. González
has also published several books of poetry, including “Palabras Mayas”,
which is a bilingual collection in Q'anjob'al and Spanish. The English
translation was released by the CSU Poetry Center as “Dry Season: Q'anjob'al
Maya Poems”. 

 

Elaine Day Schele

Maya Meetings Volunteer Coordinator

PhD Student

University of Texas 

Latin American Studies

eschele at austin.rr.com

http://www.utmaya.org/

 <http://www.myspace.com/hixwitzutmayameeting>
http://www.myspace.com/hixwitzutmayameeting