The Presence and Transformation of the Ten Essay Modalities in José Luis Martínez’s El ensayo mexicano moderno

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32870/revistaargos.v13.n31.e0175

Keywords:

Essay anthologies, 20th and 21st-century Ibero-American essay, Critical theory of the essay

Abstract

The year 1958 marked a milestone in Mexican literature with the release of José Luis Martínez's anthology El ensayo mexicano moderno. This two-volume work established itself as a foundational text in the country's essayistic tradition. In his well-known «Introduction» Martínez identified ten key modalities of Mexican essay writing, ranging from literary creation to fantasy essays to journalistic chronicles. The objective of this article is to trace the evolution of these modalities by examining three pivotal moments in their development. Rather than perceiving these modalities as static prescriptions, the study aspires to delve into their genesis and evolution over time. Additionally, by examining their impact on essayistic discourse and their role in shaping the voices of new writers, the article reflects on their current relevance in both education and essayistic production.

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Author Biography

Jesús Eduardo Aguirre Nogueda, Universidad de Guadalajara

Investigador, docente y ensayista. Es doctor en Humanidades y maestro en Literatura Mexicana por la Universidad de Guadalajara. Su oficio, teórico y práctico, es el ensayo literario, cuyo ejercicio ha dado lugar a artículos, ensayos, becas, ponencias nacionales e internaciones, estancias de investigación en el extranjero y un par de libros de próxima aparición. Actualmente realiza actividades posdoctorales dentro del Departamento de Estudios Literarios de la Universidad de Guadalajara. Es miembro del Sistema Nacional de Investigadoras e Investigadores.

References

Del Río, A., & Benardete, M. J. (1946). El concepto contemporáneo de España: Antología de ensayos (1895-1931). Editorial Losada

Martínez, J.L. (2001). “El ensayo y la crítica en México. 1940-1946”, en Literatura mexicana siglo XX, 1910-1949, Conaculta

Martínez, J.L. (1958). El ensayo mexicano moderno (selección, introducción y notas de José Luis Martínez), vol. 1, Fondo de Cultura Económica

Martínez, J.L. (1958). El ensayo mexicano moderno (selección, introducción y notas de José Luis Martínez), vol. 2, Fondo de Cultura Económica

Martínez, J.L. “La obra de Alfonso Reyes”, en Cuadernos Americanos (la revista del nuevo mundo), XI, 1, enero-febrero 1952

Martínez Baracs, R., & Ramírez Delira, M. (Eds.). (2018). Una amistad literaria: Alfonso Reyes y José Luis Martínez. Correspondencia 1942-1959. Fondo de Cultura Económica

Mata, Ó. (2005). “El ensayo mexicano moderno”. Tema y variaciones de literatura (24), 81-90. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana http://zaloamati.azc.uam.mx/handle/11191/595

Souto, A. (1973). El ensayo. Complejo Editorial Latinoamericano

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Published

2025-12-27

How to Cite

Aguirre Nogueda, J. E. (2025). The Presence and Transformation of the Ten Essay Modalities in José Luis Martínez’s El ensayo mexicano moderno. Argos Journal, 13(31), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.32870/revistaargos.v13.n31.e0175

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 31 (2026): January-June

Section

Literary discussion

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Jesús Eduardo Aguirre Nogueda

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