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

Authors

Keywords:

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

Abstract

Argos. Revista de Estudios literarios, Lingüística y Creación Literaria. 2026 e0175

 

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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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, R., & Ramírez, 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

2026-04-20

How to Cite

Aguirre Nogueda, E. (2026). The Presence and Transformation of the Ten Essay Modalities in José Luis Martínez’s El ensayo mexicano moderno. Argos Journal, 13(31), 1–12. Retrieved from https://revistaargos.cucsh.udg.mx/index.php/argos/article/view/231

Issue

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

Section

Literary discussion

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Copyright (c) 2026 Eduardo Aguirre Nogueda

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