Premium Episode 70 - Bolaño’s Distant Star, or, It Takes a Poet to Catch a Poet, feat. Dani and Rodolfo
May 29, 2024
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In this podcast, Dani and Rodolfo explore Bolaño's 'Distant Star,' discussing themes of fascism, death squads, and New Chilean poetry. They also touch on the intriguing connections within the novel, exploring cowardice, tragedy, and the complexities of the characters. The discussion delves into the enigmatic figures in Bolaño's work, like Juan Stein, and speculates on their uncertain fates. They also analyze the intricate layers of guilt, poetry workshops, and dark obsessions in Bolaño's texts, offering controversial opinions on Philip K. Dick along the way.
Bolaño explores fascist mindset in Chilean context post-coup through poetry and political backdrop.
Vida's enigmatic persona as a poet and potential serial killer impacts literary circles.
Vida's artistry intertwined with fascist ideologies showcases convergence of creativity and violence in post-coup setting.
Deep dives
Carlos Vida's Identity and Background
Carlos Vida, originally known as Alberto Ruiz Togley, features in the novel 'Distant Star' set in post-coup Chile. As Arturo Belano narrates the story, Vida, a poet, forms the core character. Vida's complex portrayal as a poet and potential serial killer unfolds through his interactions with literary circles and his skywriting projects conveying cryptic and unsettling messages. The merging of poetic pursuits with dark undertones underscores Vida's enigmatic and dangerous persona.
Destructive Relationships and Obsessions
The narrative explores Vida's fixation on poet Alberto Ruiz Togley, revealing intertwined emotions within a love parallelogram involving the Garmentia sisters. This intricate web of unrequited affections and hidden identities deepens as Vida's sinister actions towards these women unfold. Vida's manipulation within poetry workshops, paired with his deadly motives, highlights the lethal impact of his obsessions on unsuspecting poets, emphasizing the danger within artistic circles.
Political Intrigue and Artistic Manifestation
The podcast delves into Vida's chilling exhibition, where he presents his morbid poetry artwork to military officials, blending politics and artistry in a macabre display. Vida's surreal and symbolic skywriting, coupled with his eventual exposure of past murders through exhibition photos, marks a dramatic turn towards fascist undertones. The narrative's exploration of Vida's artistry intertwined with fascist ideologies showcases the disturbing convergence of creativity and violence in a post-coup setting.
Vida's Dark Past Unveiled
Carlos Vida's dark and twisted past is revealed as Romero tracks him down. Vida's involvement in an independent operational group linked to student deaths is exposed, shedding light on his sinister actions. The chilling details of Vida's murders and disappearances paint a haunting picture of his past, leaving a trail of terror and injustice that connects to the Chilean nation.
Bologna's Quest for Justice
Bologna's pursuit of justice reaches a critical point as Romero enlists his help to locate Vida. The unexpected alliance between a poet and a detective unfolds, leading to a gripping search for the elusive Vida. An act of potential heroism emerges as Bologna is tasked with identifying Vida, culminating in a suspenseful climax that questions the boundaries between poetry and crime-solving.
Today I'm joined by Dani and Rodolfo to discuss three Bolaño novels: the Third Reich, Distant Star, and By Night in Chile. In this episode, we discuss Distant Star. In this novel, Bolaño examines the fascist mindset via the specifically Chilean context of the 1973 coup, Pinochet's Chile, death squads, and the New Chilean poetry.
Note: although this may just be Bolaño's literary invention, there was a skywriter present during the PBSUCCESS invasion in Guatemala, though he was not a poet (or serial killer) but a used car salesman from the US.
episode art by Robert Voyvodich @r.voy__
Songs:
Luchar y Vencer - FSLN Song
Alerta Antifascista by Sin Dios
Manifiesto by Victor Jara
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