Dear All,
Thank you—colleagues, students et al.—for your academic, creative, administrative and
personal support for our 21st International Cultural Conference on Mexican Literature this
November 2017 at UCSB. Many thanks!
Just as we were in the middle of organizing this colloquium, creatively and excitedly, we
suddenly learned of the devastation in Texas, México (Oaxaca, Chiapas, Morelos), Florida,
Cuba, Puerto Rico. We remained strong through this hardship. On September 19, ironically on
the 32nd anniversary of the tragic 1985 Mexico City earthquake, another earthquake struck again.
And yet, in the midst of crisis, we also witnessed people from all over the world coming
together, saving lives, giving hope: solidarity. Our countries are slowly rising, again, our spirits
can only grow stronger in times of need. Therefore, we dedicate our colloquium to the victims
and the people rebuilding their communities, healing together. Because during times like these,
we must remind ourselves that only united can we endure anything. We salute you all.
The title of this conference is: “Nepantla, Between Comala and California, and Other
Crossroads”
This year we celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Juan Rulfo (1917-2017), author of El
Llano en llamas (The Burning Plains and Other Stories) and Pedro Páramo. We also celebrate
the 50 years of Cien años de soledad (One Hundred Years of Solitude). Gabriel García Márquez
once said his novel was indebted to Pedro Páramo. Could that be? Let’s take a look:
