Ricardo Piglia, la máquina de invención política y la civilibarbarie

Resumen

The antinomy of Civilization and Barbarism (Civilización-Barbarie) has been part of Argentine literature ever since its origin. A critical reading of post-dictatorship fiction shows that a radical change has occurred. Both concepts have become inextricably linked, thus resulting in Civilibarbarie. A thorough reading of Ricardo Piglia’s ideas, as developed in his most important literary work, helps to understand that his critical approach, though still in terms of antinomy, allows to face the subsequent transformation. This article examines the history of the antinomy in Argentine and the political struggles it involves. The opposition civilización-barbarie becomes a residual component during the post-dictatorship era. Piglia’s original reading of twentieth century works begins at the end of the military dictatorship, but reformulates the antinomy in such terms as to allow for a better understanding of the later Argentine narrative. All of this turns Piglia into the earlier period critic who is key to understanding nowadays Argentina.