Alberto Masferrer
Encyclopedia
Vicente Alberto Masferrer Mónico, known as Alberto Masferrer, was a Salvadoran essayist, fiction
writer, and journalist
, best known for the development of the philosophy
of vitalismo. He was born in Alegría
(formerly Tecape), Usulután
on July 24, 1868. He did not receive a formal education
, instead claiming to have been educated by "the university of life," but he did travel widely, having lived in several Central American countries, as well as in Chile
, New York
, and several Europe
an nations. During his public career, he served as an ambassador
of El Salvador
in Argentina
, Chile
, Costa Rica
, and Belgium
, and served as a professor
in Guatemala
, El Salvador
, Honduras
, Costa Rica
, Chile
, and Argentina
. Having served in the government of Arturo Araujo
, he was sent into exile
in Honduras
by the dictatorship
of Maximiliano Hernández Martínez
following the uprising of 1932 known as the Matanza
, dying that same year on September 8 in the city of Tegucigalpa
. (There are some uncertainties regarding his death, with some sources claiming that he died in El Salvador
, though these claims are in the minority.) He was well respected during his life, having earned the praise of such major Salvadoran figures as Arturo Ambrogi
, Miguel Ángel Espino
, Claudia Lars
, and Salarrué
.
He began his political career as consul of El Salvador in Argentina (1901), Chile (1902), Costa Rica (1907) and Belgium (1910),
and in the International Court of Justice in 1912 [also served as Archivist of nation's largest auditing office], editor and director of the Official Journal (1892), Secretary of the National Institute (1890) and Advisor to the Ministry of Education (1916). Under the basic premise of the peaceful struggle for the rights of each individual, became the ideologue and political campaign manager for the future president, the engineer Arturo Arajo in 1930. That same year he was elected as national deputy president separating himself politically from the president and their positions.
Despite his opposition to the arrival to the presidency of General Maximiliano Hernández Martínez, the military takeover was inevitable. Since then, Masferrer tried to contain the violence unleashed months later, in the 1932 Salvadoran peasant uprising
, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of natives and Masferrer's exile to Honduras. His relationship with the Salvadoran Communist Party is unclear, although there are references about the pacifistic influence that he as a writer, tried, although it failed.
As a writer, his work was characterized primarily by social themes, requiring a minimum of rights for each person, dignifying the human being through the use of words mainly hard, causing conflict on socially acceptable behavior. Occasionally used the pseudonym "Lutrin
developed by Masferrer in several of his essay
s, particularly "El mínimum vital." This philosophy espouses the idea that all individuals, regardless of gender
or race, have the right to a basic standard of life, through equal access to education
, work
, food
, and shelter. Through this philosophy, Masferrer also argued for pacifism
, influenced by the efforts of Mahatma Gandhi
. Vitalismo can be seen in many of Masferrer's essays, as well as in his novella
Una vida en el cine.
The most complete selection of Masferrer's works is the 3 volume collection Obras de Alberto Masferrer. San Salvador: Universidad Autónoma de El Salvador, 1951.
Fiction
Fiction is the form of any narrative or informative work that deals, in part or in whole, with information or events that are not factual, but rather, imaginary—that is, invented by the author. Although fiction describes a major branch of literary work, it may also refer to theatrical,...
writer, and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, best known for the development of the philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
of vitalismo. He was born in Alegría
Alegría, Usulután
Alegría is a municipality in the Usulután department of El Salvador.-Overview:Located at approximately 1,200 meters above sea level, the municipality's cool climate lends itself to many thriving local plant nurseries, some of which specialize in tropical flowers such as birds of paradise,...
(formerly Tecape), Usulután
Usulután
Usulután is the 5th largest city in El Salvador, and capital of the Department of Usulutan in the south-east of El Salvador. As of 2006, it is estimated to have population of 71,636 people.Usulutan rests in a rich agricultural valley....
on July 24, 1868. He did not receive a formal education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, instead claiming to have been educated by "the university of life," but he did travel widely, having lived in several Central American countries, as well as in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and several Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an nations. During his public career, he served as an ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
of El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, and served as a professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
in Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
, El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
, Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, and Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. Having served in the government of Arturo Araujo
Arturo Araujo
Arturo Araujo was the president of El Salvador from March 1, 1931 to December 2, 1931. He was overthrown in a military coup led by junior officers, and was forced to flee the country for Guatemala...
, he was sent into exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
in Honduras
Honduras
Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...
by the dictatorship
Dictatorship
A dictatorship is defined as an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by an individual, the dictator. It has three possible meanings:...
of Maximiliano Hernández Martínez
Maximiliano Hernández Martínez
Maximiliano Hernández Martínez was the President of El Salvador from 1931 to 1944...
following the uprising of 1932 known as the Matanza
Matanza
Matanza may refer to Brazilian Matanza -a country/hardcore band from Rio de Janeiro- or to any of the following places:*Argentina**Matanza River, Buenos Aires Province...
, dying that same year on September 8 in the city of Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa
Tegucigalpa , and commonly referred as Tegus , is the capital of Honduras and seat of government of the Republic, along with its twin sister Comayagüela. Founded on September 29, 1578 by the Spanish, it became the country's capital on October 30, 1880 under President Marco Aurelio Soto...
. (There are some uncertainties regarding his death, with some sources claiming that he died in El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, though these claims are in the minority.) He was well respected during his life, having earned the praise of such major Salvadoran figures as Arturo Ambrogi
Arturo Ambrogi
Arturo Ambrogi was a writer and journalist, considered one of the pioneers of Salvadoran literature, along with Francisco Gavidia and Alberto Masferrer...
, Miguel Ángel Espino
Miguel Ángel Espino
Miguel Angel Espino was an El Salvadoran writer, journalist and lawyer.- Life :Born into a literary family, Espino was the younger brother of the lyric poet Alfredo Espino...
, Claudia Lars
Claudia Lars
Claudia Lars, born in Armenia, El Salvador on December 20, 1899 as Margarita del Carmen Brannon Vega, was a Salvadoran poet. She died in San Salvador in 1974...
, and Salarrué
Salarrué
Salvador Efraín Salazar Arrué , known as Salarrué , was a Salvadoran writer, poet and painter...
.
Beginnings
Alberto Masferrer was born in a town in eastern El Salvador, pipil home and subsequently dominated by the Lenca. His education was self-education in combination with formal education. His love of reading led him to choose teaching as a career. In this regard, Arturo Ambrogi stated that "I have rarely seen a lecturer as tremendous as Alberto."As a Politician
Between 1928 and 1930 he founded and directed the newspaper Patria, which was social criticism and called for justice for those most in need in the context of widespread poverty in the country. He worked day and national and international journals, was editor of the newspaper El Chileno and El Mercurio, Santiago de Chile, the weekly La Reforma newspaper The workers united, in the magazines The Republic of Central America, News, Scientific Bibliographic Literature, The Seed and others.He began his political career as consul of El Salvador in Argentina (1901), Chile (1902), Costa Rica (1907) and Belgium (1910),
and in the International Court of Justice in 1912 [also served as Archivist of nation's largest auditing office], editor and director of the Official Journal (1892), Secretary of the National Institute (1890) and Advisor to the Ministry of Education (1916). Under the basic premise of the peaceful struggle for the rights of each individual, became the ideologue and political campaign manager for the future president, the engineer Arturo Arajo in 1930. That same year he was elected as national deputy president separating himself politically from the president and their positions.
Despite his opposition to the arrival to the presidency of General Maximiliano Hernández Martínez, the military takeover was inevitable. Since then, Masferrer tried to contain the violence unleashed months later, in the 1932 Salvadoran peasant uprising
1932 Salvadoran peasant uprising
The peasant uprising of 1932, also known as La matanza , was a brief, peasant-led rebellion that occurred on January 22 of that year in the western departments of El Salvador...
, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of natives and Masferrer's exile to Honduras. His relationship with the Salvadoran Communist Party is unclear, although there are references about the pacifistic influence that he as a writer, tried, although it failed.
As teacher and writer
He taught in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Chile and Argentina and is named "teacher and director of Crowds" by Claudia Lars.As a writer, his work was characterized primarily by social themes, requiring a minimum of rights for each person, dignifying the human being through the use of words mainly hard, causing conflict on socially acceptable behavior. Occasionally used the pseudonym "Lutrin
Vitalismo
Vitalismo was a philosophical doctrineDoctrine
Doctrine is a codification of beliefs or a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system...
developed by Masferrer in several of his essay
Essay
An essay is a piece of writing which is often written from an author's personal point of view. Essays can consist of a number of elements, including: literary criticism, political manifestos, learned arguments, observations of daily life, recollections, and reflections of the author. The definition...
s, particularly "El mínimum vital." This philosophy espouses the idea that all individuals, regardless of gender
Gender
Gender is a range of characteristics used to distinguish between males and females, particularly in the cases of men and women and the masculine and feminine attributes assigned to them. Depending on the context, the discriminating characteristics vary from sex to social role to gender identity...
or race, have the right to a basic standard of life, through equal access to education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, work
Employment
Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as:- Employee :...
, food
Food
Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for the body. It is usually of plant or animal origin, and contains essential nutrients, such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals...
, and shelter. Through this philosophy, Masferrer also argued for pacifism
Pacifism
Pacifism is the opposition to war and violence. The term "pacifism" was coined by the French peace campaignerÉmile Arnaud and adopted by other peace activists at the tenth Universal Peace Congress inGlasgow in 1901.- Definition :...
, influenced by the efforts of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi , pronounced . 2 October 1869 – 30 January 1948) was the pre-eminent political and ideological leader of India during the Indian independence movement...
. Vitalismo can be seen in many of Masferrer's essays, as well as in his novella
Novella
A novella is a written, fictional, prose narrative usually longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America Nebula Awards for science fiction define the novella as having a word count between 17,500 and 40,000...
Una vida en el cine.
Partial bibliography
- ¿Qué debemos saber? (essay, 1913)
- Leer y escribir (essay, 1915)
- Una vida en el cine (novella, 1922)
- Ensayo sobre el destino (essay, 1925)
- Las siete cuerdas de la lira (essay, 1926)
- El dinero maldito (essay, 1927)
- Helios (essay, 1928)
- La religión universal (essay, 1928)
- El minimum vital (essay, 1929)
- Estudios y figuraciones de la vida de Jesús (essay, 1930)
The most complete selection of Masferrer's works is the 3 volume collection Obras de Alberto Masferrer. San Salvador: Universidad Autónoma de El Salvador, 1951.