THE SEMIANNUAL NEWSLETTER OF THE ROBERT PENN WARREN CENTER FOR THE HUMANITIES VOL. 9, NO. 2 • SPRING 2001 • VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY Creating the Spanish American Literary Boom: The View from the U.S. By Deborah N. Cohn

n the 1960s and 1970s, authors project, that they were working terized by a dramatic increase in and the journals such as Casa de such as Julio Cortázar, Carlos together as a group to assert the publication, distribution, and las Américas (Cuba) and Mundo IFuentes, Gabriel García Spanish America’s cultural auton- translation of Spanish American Nuevo (Paris) that disseminated Márquez, and Mario Vargas Llosa omy—a project that also entailed works; it was also a critical con- new works—less attention has rose to prominence on an inter- surmounting the cultural nation- struct rooted in the authors’ con- been paid to the promotion of national stage and drew attention alism of the recent past and creat- ception of themselves as a group the Boom in the U.S. The pro- to the burgeoning field of Span- ing a pan-Spanish American and the concomitant promotion ject that I am undertaking this ish American letters. Until that cultural identity. García Márquez of their work in popular and aca- year as the William S. Vaughn point, Spanish American litera- neatly summed this up in 1967 demic media. Authors and critics Visiting Fellow at the Robert ture had not really existed as when he declared that “The alike engaged in the invention of Penn Warren Center for the Hu- such, for there was no conscious- group is writing one great novel. their own tradition, working to- manities explores the role of ness shared by the different na- We’re writing the first great novel scholars at U.S. universi- tions of any overriding construct of Latin American man. Fuentes ties, critical trends perme- such as “Spanish America.” Au- is showing one side of the new ating the North American thors reproduced this atomiza- Mexican bourgeoisie; Vargas academy as a whole, and tion in their works by writing in Llosa, social aspects of Peru; the U.S. publishing in- regionalist styles that focused on Cortázar likewise, and so on. dustry in the construction what was—in the words of What’s interesting to me is that of the Boom’s image, rep- Chilean author José Donoso— we’re writing several novels, but utation, and literary his- “unmistakably ours . . . all that the outcome, I hope, will be a to- tory. In particular, I focus which specifically makes us dif- tal vision of Latin America…. It’s on: 1) the infrastructure ferent [from] other countries of the first attempt to integrate this through which the Boom the continent.” world.” was promoted in the U.S. In the 1950s, however, and es- The group further sought to (such as presses, journals, pecially after the Cuban Revolu- become part of “world” literature such philanthropic orga- tion of 1959, the Spanish and gain a Western audience. In nizations as the Ford and American nations came to see Luis Harss’s words, they both Rockefeller Foundations, themselves as having a shared composed a “cultural unit” work- literary prizes, cultural history of colonialism and ex- ing towards “the true birth of a centers, and the critical ploitation, and facing similar Latin American novel” and con- apparatus that grew up in postcolonial legacies of underde- sidered themselves to be “part of the academy around the velopment, as well as the com- the universe,” with Spanish movement); and 2) the mon threat of the U.S. Gradually America itself representing “ the Deborah N. Cohn role of Cold War cultural a collective consciousness began point of fusion where all trends to emerge. The Cuban Revolu- meet.” Out of this confluence of gether to promote the movement Inside tion sparked the hope of change interests and aspirations arose the in the critical and popular so-called “Boom,” in which spheres, essentially consolidating William Styron’s Lecture and self-determination through- Rescheduled ...... 2 out the region and ushered in a Spanish es- its canonical status. While much Interview with Lucius Outlaw period of cultural effervescence. sentially hit the international work has been done on the His- and Arnold Rampersad ...... 3 Authors who had already been “mainstream,” reaching interna- panic infrastructure supporting Breakfast with experimenting with Euro-Ameri- tional and non-Spanish speaking the Boom—for example, the José Ramos-Horta ...... 5 can modernism as part of an ef- audiences throughout the West Catalan publishers who pub- John Clarke to Present fort to break free of the realism and beyond. lished many works, the high-visi- Inaugural Goldberg Lecture . .6 that still dominated the region’s The Boom was as much a bility Spanish and Spanish Religion and Public Life: literary production now felt that literary movement as it was a American prizes that brought the Is America God’s Country? . .7 their goals formed part of a larger marketing phenomenon charac- movement tremendous prestige,

Letters • Spring 2001 • 1 Letters • Spring 2001 • 2

COHN: Out of this confluence of interests and aspirations arose the so-called “Boom.”

politics in shaping the Boom in this period, organizations such as Ibero-American Novel Award were activities were devoted to the cre- the U.S. the Inter-American Foundation for similarly designed to encourage the ation of an international intellec- The first part of my project en- the Arts ([IAFA] founded in 1962, production, translation, and visi- tual community dedicated to the tails elucidating the mechanisms which later became the Center for bility of Spanish American fiction preservation of liberal democratic by which the Boom secured its Inter-American Relations [CIAR] in the U.S. values. One of my goals, then, is own place in literary history in and, more recently, the Americas The interest of philanthropic to contextualize the Boom within the U.S., focusing on how the Society) proliferated. Such organi- foundations and other organiza- these Cold War cultural politics academy, authors, and publishers zations opened doors for Spanish tions was not, however, selfless in and synthesize information on the coordinated efforts in order to American literature in the U.S. by many cases: the Boom coincided efforts of the various U.S. govern- bring knowledge of the move- publishing journals on the subject, with the height of the Cold War, ment and philanthropic agencies ment to an English-speaking, subsidizing translations so that when U.S. interest in Spanish in waging their battles. U.S.–based reading public. While publishers would be more willing America was heightened by the The focus on cultural politics, conversations with and between to risk publishing these lesser- Cuban Revolution and Fidel Cas- however, should not be allowed to the authors were published in known authors, placing works with tro’s increasing rapprochement detract from the Boom’s literary Spanish America, and authors presses, and introducing Spanish with the former Soviet Union. and cultural significance through- such as Donoso and Fuentes American authors to one another The anti-communism that domi- out Spanish America and the wrote personal and literary histo- and to U.S. writers, publishers, nated the international political West. While it is important for ries of the period (all of which and agents through informal net- scene gave rise to a Cold War cul- me to elucidate to what extent—if were quickly translated into Eng- working—as well as sponsoring tural politics that promoted the any—these politics influenced de- lish), in 1972, for example, Rita conferences at which many of value(s) of Western civilization. bates on Spanish American iden- Guibert published a collection of these activities were carried out. While the Fulbright Act (1946) tity, such discussions are only interviews with prominent au- The Rockefeller Foundation and and the U.S. Information Agency meaningful within the broader thors in English, in order “to give family alike were actively involved (created in 1953) played a general context of constructions of Span- the American people a broader in this process: family members role in disseminating U.S. culture ish American identity within the and deeper view of what’s going founded and directed the IAFA abroad, philanthropic agencies (in- U.S. literary infrastructure in gen- on in Latin America.” In other and CIAR, while the Foundation cluding but not limited to the eral, which must themselves be words, her work was designed to also provided translation subsidies Ford and Rockefeller Foundations, compared to those presented further promote knowledge of the and other grants. The Ford Foun- whose vigilant anti-communism within the Spanish American me- Boom on the U.S. stage. Emir dation likewise was instrumental in and ties to the cultural Cold War dia. Hence the question of iden- Rodríguez Monegal, a professor promoting Spanish American liter- machinery in the U.S. and abroad tity politics—of self-assertion and at Yale and one of the most ature in the U.S. (as well as abroad: have been documented by self-determination—is at the heart prominent critics and Boom-sup- it was one of the later sponsors of Lawrence Schwartz and Francis of my study. In keeping with the porters of this period, wrote the Mundo Nuevo, the Paris-based Saunders, among others) and the theme of this year’s seminar at the introduction to Guibert’s work; journal edited by Rodríguez newly-founded Central Intelli- Warren Center, I hope that, this collaboration serves as a rep- Monegal that was critical in dis- gence Agency (1947) were ex- through my research, I will be resentative example of the joint seminating Boom works and criti- tremely active in their overt and able to delineate new “lines of efforts involved in crafting the cism from 1966 to 1968). It covert sponsorship of entities such contact among the Americas and Boom’s reputation. patronized journals, launched an as the Congress for Cultural Free- within the United States.” I further contextualize these Intercultural Publications Program, dom, which funded and founded strategies within the burgeoning and funded professorships at pres- the aforementioned Mundo Nuevo Deborah N. Cohn is the William S. institutional framework of jour- tigious universities. Literary com- (and numerous other journals Vaughn Visiting Fellow at the Warren nals, cultural centers, and funding petitions of the early 1960s such as worldwide, including its flagship, Center and visiting assistant professor of programs through which the self- the Premio Life en español and the Encounter) and had chapters Spanish. She is assistant professor of His- promotion was channeled. During William Faulkner Foundation’s throughout Latin America whose panic Studies at McGill University.

William Styron’s Robert Penn Warren Lecture on Southern Letters Rescheduled

he renowned Southern novel- Festival of Books, has been National Book Award. Styron also to provide a public forum for the Tist William Styron will de- rescheduled due to illness. received the National Medal of exploration of topics related to liver the third annual Robert Penn Styron is best known for a se- Arts. His most recent work is A Southern writing. Previous lec- Warren Lecture on Southern Let- ries of novels that includes Lie Tidewater Morning (1993). turers have included Elizabeth ters on April 5, following a dinner Down in Darkness, which won the The Robert Penn Warren Lec- Spencer and Reynolds Price. For at the Sheraton Nashville, 623 American Academy of Arts and ture on Southern Letters was tickets and further information Union Street. His talk, which was Letters’ Prix de Rome; The Confes- founded in 1998 as a collabora- regarding the lecture, please con- originally scheduled to take place sions of Nat Turner, which won tive project between the Warren tact the Tennessee Humanities in October during the Tennessee the Pulitzer Prize; and Sophie’s Center and the Tennessee Hu- Council at (615) 320-7001 or Humanities Council’s Southern Choice, which was awarded the manities Council. It is intended www.tn-humanities.org. Letters • Spring 2001 • 3

An Interview with Lucius Outlaw and Arnold Rampersad

n October 19, 2000, WRVU’s program “InterVU” on ographers do is highly journalis- plary lives. Even so, I think that Arnold Rampersad, Sara October 21, 2000. “InterVU,” a tic. So I find it a tremendous there is a real revival of interest in OHart Kimball Professor of weekly hour-long program, pre- compliment that my work can be biography today. Biographies do the Humanities at Stanford Uni- sents conversations with Vander- of use to a philosopher. Even not sell enormous quantities com- versity, delivered the fourth annual bilt faculty members and visiting though we biographers some- pared to novels or self-help books, Harry C. Howard Jr. Lecture, “Bi- scholars. times fall down on the job and re- but they sell respectably. And there ography and African American OWENS: Would you say that sort to too much gossip, we do is even a biography channel on ca- Lives,” at Vanderbilt. The author reading each other’s work has have something to offer because ble television that has become propelled some of your we make human beings come popular. ideas and interests? alive—we put them in a broader OWENS: Would it be fair to OUTLAW: Yes. The social context. say that your experience growing crossing of paths hap- OWENS: Professor Rampersad, up in the United States as an pened for me when I what motivated you to begin African American has contributed read one of Arnold’s ear- writing biographies? to the direction you have taken in lier works, The Art and RAMPERSAD: As a student, I your books? Imagination of W.E.B. was always interested in literature, RAMPERSAD: Actually, I grew Du Bois. As a philoso- but I was also interested in his- up in Trinidad—but I came here pher, I have come to tory and in fiction writing. I dis- many years ago, in 1965. We had have tremendous respect covered that the one field that a not entirely dissimilar social and for biographers because combined all these interests— political situation in Trinidad, they help to overcome a English, history, a little bit of psy- and I became interested in writ- deformation that profes- chology, and the business of ing books about groups of people sional philosophers often constructing a narrative—was bi- who had not been adequately rep- suffer from—namely, ography. My first study was intel- resented or understood. I decided the tendency to concen- lectual biography. I remembered that the best contribution that I trate wholly on ideas being deeply, deeply moved by could make to the movement for and to consider most W.E.B. Du Bois’s The Souls of social change was to be a histo- other aspects of a Black Folk, which was published rian and biographer of African philosopher’s life as ex- in 1903 and probably had more American life. Although I also Lucius T. Outlaw, Jr. traneous. Arnold’s work of an impact on African Ameri- teach American literature more of critically admired biographies of on Du Bois allowed me can intellectual life than any generally, I have always main- W.E.B. Du Bois, , to gain a perspective that I other single book. Then when I tained my interest in what I see as and , Rampersad lacked. As a result, I found that I looked at what other people had a neglected area, African Ameri- is also a respected critic of African had to rethink how I should sit- written about Du Bois, I came to can culture. American literature. uate myself professionally in suspect that he was not being OWENS: Professor Outlaw, has While in Nashville, Rampersad conversations regarding Du Bois. properly understood. How did there been something similar in was interviewed by Anne Marie I might add that during a con- this rather severely trained histo- your past experience that com- Deer Owens of Vanderbilt’s ference, Arnold confronted me rian and sociologist come to write pelled you to study race and phi- WRVU radio. Joining him in the with an important critique of my these fantastically artistic and hu- losophy? interview was Lucius T. Outlaw, work, and I had to contend with man essays about black life? It OUTLAW: Yes. Growing up in Jr., professor of philosophy and it. He sets high standards, both was my search for answers to this Mississippi and coming to Fisk director of the African American in scholarship and in personal question that launched me into University as an undergraduate in Studies program at Vanderbilt. integrity. biography. the 1960s played tremendous Outlaw, who attended Fisk Uni- RAMPERSAD: I have great re- OWENS: Does it seem that roles in my intellectual develop- versity as an undergraduate and spect for the investigations of Americans have become more in- ment. I was utterly perplexed by received his Ph.D. from Boston philosophers, and I think that terested in biography recently? the racial ordering of the society College, recently came to Vander- Lucius takes on extremely impor- RAMPERSAD: Americans have that I knew, and I set about try- bilt from Haverford College. His tant questions about the relation- always been interested in biogra- ing to find a particular set of rea- primary interests are in African ship between Western philosophy phy, from the eighteenth century sons for it—first as a philosophy philosophy, African American and African American philoso- to the present. Plutarch’s Lives of and religion major, and then later philosophy, and the history of phers—the significance of such the Noble Greeks and Romans, for as a philosophy major (forsaking philosophy in the West. His cur- figures as Alain Locke, for in- instance, was a major text in the study of religion) when I real- rent research project, a book with stance. I learn a great deal from America during the revolutionary ized that I preferred, so to speak, the working title Race, Reason, his work. era, and subsequent generations, the broad and crooked to the and Order, explores the concep- Of course, philosophy is much having an undecided sense of who straight and narrow. I find what tions of race that several major more honored as a field and has a they were and how they consti- Arnold just offered to be very mov- Western philosophers held. much more ancient intellectual tuted a nation, also looked back to ing, because I came to almost ex- What follows is a transcript of heritage than does biography. In this and other classical texts to see actly the same conclusion about the radio interview that aired on some sense, what I and other bi- how men and women led exem- what my contribution to the Letters • Spring 2001• 4

RAMPERSAD: OUTLAW: I decided that the best contribution I believe strongly that all I could make . . . was to be a historian and in the University must appreciate fully biographer of African American life. the value of African American Studies. movement, to the struggle, should money that comes with can Studies is the white student. be. My teaching and scholarship that fame—and yet not One has to see African American have revolved around exploring be distracted from much Studies as a field no different questions that were not being ex- more profound human from English or biology—as plored, making room for people concerns. He was strongly something of value for all the un- who had not been included—or opposed to those in the dergraduates who wish to become were even explicitly excluded— 1960s who urged racial involved in the process. before. I try to keep faith with this separation—he rejected OUTLAW: I would agree. Hav- commitment even today. violence and threats of vi- ing begun my career in histori- RAMPERSAD: I find it won- olent revolution com- cally black institutions, I found derful that someone could con- pletely. the decision to make the move nect the political struggles of the OWENS: So he would into historically and predomi- 1960s to philosophy. It is impor- have been opposed to nantly white institutions difficult. tant, I think, for those of us who what Malcolm X, for in- But I believe strongly that every- believe in universities and believe stance, was espousing. one must come to realize the in education to assert that we, as RAMPERSAD: Jackie re- value of African American Stud- teachers, play an important role spected Malcolm X’s in- ies—the learning must be there in social change in our lives—an telligence, as we all for all to pursue. The most funda- honorable and efficacious role. should, but he did not mental need is to have an impact OWENS: Professor Rampersad, subscribe either to his be- Arnold Rampersad upon the production, the media- how did you come to write your lief in racial separation or tion, and the validation of knowl- biography of Jackie Robinson? to the slogan “by any means nec- tions of African American litera- edge itself. What passes for RAMPERSAD: Mrs. Robinson, essary.” ture, art, and music, as well as knowledge? On what terms do we Rachel Robinson, asked me to OWENS: Professor Outlaw, traditions of scholarship regard- settle whether something is ap- do it. At first I thought that can you talk a little about what ing these forms of endeavor, but propriately “knowledge”? Who someone else should write it, your vision will be for the there has been less attention to are appropriate figures to be stud- someone who had grown up African American Studies pro- African American contributions ied? These questions need to be playing baseball. But she empha- gram at Vanderbilt? in fields such as philosophy. addressed. sized that she wanted it to be OUTLAW: In general terms, Moreover, we need to recognize RAMPERSAD: And when you about more than baseball— yes. I have a vision, but I want to that institutions that have been attempt to answer these questions about her husband’s life before proceed carefully, as I think it predominantly white sometimes honestly, you ensure that African baseball and the fifteen years af- would be presumptuous, prob- have tremendous inertia. Van- American Studies will not become ter baseball, until he died in lematic, and disrespectful to ar- derbilt’s association with the a propaganda program. Students 1972. So I tried to write a com- rive with a fully articulated vision conservative Agrarian tradition, do not want to be converted; they prehensive biography. I took him to be imposed upon an institu- for example, suggests that devel- can smell attempts to convert as seriously as I would any other tion at which I have spent only a oping a program in African them a mile off and they do not subject, and that is how he de- few months. I need to come to American Studies with a national come to college for that. What served to be approached. an understanding with all the rel- and international profile will re- they want is for information and OWENS: What was your final evant persons about what might quire reworking Vanderbilt’s knowledge to be brought to them conclusion about him? be the best possible venture in identity in some ways. That will by highly disciplined instructors RAMPERSAD: I ended up with African American Studies here at take courage and will as well as and in innovative ways so that a great deal of esteem for him. Vanderbilt. It is an extremely substantial resources. they too can enter into the discus- Branch Rickey, the general man- challenging venture, this business OWENS: Professor Ramper- sion with an open spirit and take ager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, called African American Studies, sad, you also served as the head away what they deem valuable. chose Jackie Robinson very care- because it focuses upon a compli- of an African American Studies OUTLAW: Indeed. These are fully—he chose someone who cated set of people whose points program. Do you have any the ongoing challenges—and re- was well educated, morally up- of cultural reference include the thoughts? sponsibilities—to be met in de- right, and religious. Even more African continent, the Carib- RAMPERSAD: Yes, I served for veloping and maintaining a truly remarkably, he chose someone bean, and the Americas. To study three years as the head of an first-class program of studies—of who had a record of standing up these people requires the services African American Studies pro- teaching, research, and scholar- to racism. And Jackie continued and expertise of scholars from gram. I would say that even ship; creative production and per- to be true to his standards, every possible discipline devoted though you, as a director, have formance—devoted to studies of throughout his career and after- to the production of human multiple obligations, the bottom African and African-descended wards. I think that he is one of knowledge. How to pursue these line is to teach students as much peoples. These studies must play our sporting figures to whom we studies in a coherent and com- as possible about your subject. a substantial role in educating can turn for an example of how prehensive fashion is for me an Many people do not realize that Vanderbilt students for an in- one can live in the spotlight of extremely challenging question. in many universities, the primary creasingly racially and ethnically athletic fame—and with the For instance, there are long tradi- constituency for African Ameri- complex and just society. Letters • Spring 2001• 5

Breakfast with José Ramos-Horta By Brent V. Savoie

On October 4, 2000, the College awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. I arrived early for breakfast. struggle for an independent East of Arts and Sciences hosted José Four years later, East Timor Across the small room, José Ramos- Timor. From indifferent bureau- Ramos-Horta, 1996 Nobel Peace achieved its independence. Horta stood in a black suit, his seri- crats who avoided him in the corri- Laureate. After addressing the Van- The recognition of East Timor’s ous, dark eyes peering out from dors of the United Nations to the derbilt community on the subject of independence has not stopped José behind a pair of circular lenses. His hostility of Indonesian security “Peacemaking: The Power of Nonvio- Ramos-Horta’s efforts to promote stern visage and thin-rimmed agents, a host of adversaries con- lence,” Ramos-Horta was invited to the interests of his people. Recog- glasses were familiar from photos in fronted him in New York. More- the Warren Center the following day nizing the intimate link between newspapers and web pages. As I over, he faced the opposition of the to have breakfast with a group of development and stability, Ramos- paused in the doorway, the statistics most formidable of adversaries: the Vanderbilt undergraduates and to dis- Horta continues to press for the from the articles that accompanied American government. cuss the role that nonviolent strategies global community’s assistance in his photos sped through my mind: America endorsed Indonesia’s play in the protection and advance- East Timor’s economic and political twenty four years of exile, 200,000 genocidal acts not only through its ment of human rights. The following development. Vanderbilt University countrymen killed in civil war, four silence, but also through direct mil- essay, written by Brent V. Savoie, pre- was honored to take part in Ramos- siblings killed by Indonesian mili- itary support of the Suharto dicta- sents one undergraduate’s response to Horta’s efforts to promote East tary forces. These numbers took torship. Despite the Carter the experience. Mr. Savoie is a senior Timor’s development to the Ameri- form in the set of serious eyes that administration’s public claims that in the College of Arts and Sciences. can people. After speaking to a large stared at me. human rights were “the soul of our audience at Langford Auditorium, I entered the room, grabbed my foreign policy,” it arranged an im- n December 7, 1975, In- the Nobel Laureate chose to speak nametag, and introduced myself to mediate, large-scale arms package donesia invaded East to a small group of Vanderbilt stu- José Ramos-Horta with a trembling for Indonesia in the wake of its OTimor, initiating a mass dents over breakfast the following handshake. I stood humbled and invasion of East Timor. Eleven killing that would claim the lives of day. awestruck in front of the small man OV-10 “Bronco” counter-insur- over 200,000 East Timorese by When I received the invitation to in a black suit. Suddenly, all the gency aircraft, built by American 1979. As Indonesian troops spilled attend the Warren Center’s break- questions I had wanted to ask van- hands, arrived in Jakarta within into East Timor, José Ramos-Horta fast with José Ramos-Horta, I ex- ished. Faced with the vacancy of eight months of the Indonesian in- was on a plane bound for New pected to learn more about his life my mind, I asked him how he liked vasion. They expedited Indonesia’s York, where he was to plead East and East Timor’s struggle for inde- Nashville. He made a few jokes genocidal task, bombing the rural Timor’s case before the United Na- pendence. I did not expect to about Elvis Presley and we laughed. East Timorese strongholds. One of tions Security Council. He would change my definition of a hero— In his chuckle I saw the humanity these pro-independence strongholds remain in exile for the next twenty- nor did I expect a personal chal- of a hero, and the wall I had built was Lakubar, José Ramos-Horta’s four years struggling to gain sup- lenge to lead a heroic life. Over between heroes and humans began hometown. In 1978, an American- port for the independence of East coffee and bagels, José Ramos- to crumble. made “Bronco” fired a salvo of Timor. In 1996, in recognition of Horta not only personalized East As we continued our conversa- rockets into a Lakubar neighbor- tion, other stu- hood, killing José Ramos-Horta’s dents began to sister, Mariazinha. She was the first file into a confer- of four of Jose Ramos-Horta’s sib- ence room for lings killed by Indonesian military breakfast. At forces. breakfast, the During his twenty years of lob- small group of bying for East Timor in the United students listened States, Indonesian security agents intently while attempted to silence him through Ramos-Horta intimidation and bribes. He with- spoke about his stood the economic and psychologi- twenty-four cal pressures to submit to their years in exile. At demands, even during the darkest nine in the times of East Timor’s struggle for morning his independence. His unwavering re- words captured sistance to their temptations reveals the full attention the depth of his selflessness. Even of the small when his cause seemed destined to group of tired failure, he resisted the promise of an José Ramos-Horta (at right, foreground) and Earl E. Fitz, professor of Portuguese and Spanish college students. easy life. (second from left, background) discuss heroism with students from Vanderbilt’s College Scholars Bagels and cups Loyalty to the people of East program (Brent V. Savoie is fifth from left, background). of coffee lay un- Timor served as the foundation to touched. his selfless devotion to his nation’s his efforts to achieve a just and Timor’s struggle, but also changed Without a hint of self-pity he struggle for independence. When a peaceful resolution to the crisis in my understanding of heroism and described the daunting obstacles student asked if he ever considered East Timor, José Ramos-Horta was its relevance to my life. that had faced him in his efforts to giving up, he replied: “Never.” He Letters • Spring 2001 • 6

SAVOIE: He invited those gathered . . . to leave the comfortable confines of their lives.

believed that giving up would have Horta repeatedly denied his status As I silently criticized the United He invited those gathered over been equivalent to taking a bribe as such. Rather, he pointed to the Nations bureaucrats who failed to bagels and coffee to leave the com- from the Indonesian government. poor of East Timor as the true he- recognize Ramos-Horta’s heroism, I fortable confines of their lives and Either way he would have be- roes of the nation’s struggle for in- came to question my own notion join him in his struggle to build a trayed the trust of the people of dependence. He confronted those of heroism. Would I have consid- new, dramatic nation. Several stu- East Timor. Furthermore, he gathered for breakfast with his def- ered him a hero had East Timor dents approached him afterwards would have disgraced the memo- inition of heroism, based on char- not achieved independence in his to get more information on how to ries of his brothers and sisters who acter, not on accomplishments. lifetime? Did I, like José Ramos- help the development effort in East died in their nation’s struggle for For him the poor of East Timor Horta, recognize the heroism of Timor. The sight of privileged col- independence. embodied the defining characteris- those who struggled without recog- lege students contemplating volun- Despite his international recog- tics of a hero: selflessness, sacrifice, nition or reward? Reflecting on the teering in a war-torn land inspired nition as a hero, José Ramos- loyalty, and humility. He simply words of Ramos-Horta, I began to me to approach him as well. He strove to emulate their heroic see that heroism is an attitude, not scribbled his e-mail address on the stance in recognition of the an accomplishment. back of a business card and told me tremendous sacrifices they All are called to this heroic atti- that if I wanted to teach English in had made for their nation. tude. While we cannot all win No- East Timor I should write him. I In recognizing the poor as bel Peace Prizes or assist nations in slipped the thin card into my back the true heroes of East their quest for independence, we pocket and shook his hand. Timor’s struggle for indepen- can all chose to lead lives as ordi- In my black wallet, a battered dence, Ramos-Horta called nary heroes. José Ramos-Horta’s business card with José Ramos- the students gathered for definition of heroism gives us this Horta’s e-mail address lies wedged breakfast to a radical redefini- choice and this challenge. We can between my driver’s license and my tion of heroism. His defini- all integrate loyalty, honesty, self- credit card. The thin card weighs tion, based on virtue rather lessness, and humility into our heavy in my wallet. The call to than achievement, forces one lives. We can all struggle against the heroism lies there, pressed between to took for the unrecognized impossible instead of living within my license to drink and my ticket heroes. Ramos-Horta’s under- the narrow confines of practicality. to the garden of consumerism. At standing of a hero demands Ramos-Horta did not leave the least once a week it falls out, re- that we support those who students assembled for breakfast minding me of the choice that lies struggle nobly against the im- without means to reply to their re- before me, the only choice that José Ramos-Horta possible in their daily lives. vised understanding of heroism. matters: the choice to be a hero.

John Clarke to Present Inaugural Goldberg Lecture

he inaugural Norman L. and White Figural Mosaics, appeared houses to gain an understanding strata of Roman society encodes TRoselea J. Goldberg Annual in 1979. In 1980, he began of the owners’ tastes and beliefs. individuals’ identity and accultur- Lecture in Fine Arts will be pre- teaching at the University of Looking at Lovemaking: Construc- ation. sented on Thursday, March 15, Texas at Austin, where his teach- tions of Sexuality in Roman Art, Clarke serves on the Board of 2001 at 4:10 p.m (campus loca- ing, research, and publications fo- 100 B.C–A.D. 250, a study of Directors of the College Art Associ- tion to be announced). The cus on ancient Roman art, how erotic art can reveal ancient ation (1991–2001), and was Presi- speaker will be John Clarke, art-historical methodology, and Roman attitudes toward love, dent from 1998–2000. He was Annie Laurie Howard Regents contemporary art. In 1991, The gender, and race, followed in recently elected to serve on the Professor of Fine Arts at the Uni- Houses of Roman Italy, 100 1998. He recently completed the Board of Directors of the American versity of Texas at Austin. Profes- B.C–A.D. 250: Ritual, Space, and manuscript for his latest book, Council of Learned Societies sor Clarke’s lecture is entitled Decoration was published by the Art in the Lives of Ordinary Ro- (2000–2004). He served as a con- “Visual Representation, Sexual University of California Press. mans: Visual Representation and sultant to the television documen- Cultures, and Viewers in Ancient The fruit of ten years of on-site Non-Elite Viewers in Italy, 100 tary Pornography: The Secret History Rome.” research at Pompeii, Hercula- B.C.-A.D. 315, to be published of Civilization, produced by World Professor Clarke received his neum, and Ostia Antica, the by the University of California of Wonder (London) for Britain’s Ph.D. from Yale University. His book analyzes the imagery of wall Press. In it, Clarke investigates Channel 4. This six-part series first first book, Roman Black-and- painting and mosaics in seventeen how art made by or for the lower aired in September 1999. Letters • Spring 2001 • 7

Religion and Public Life: Is America God’s Country?

he Robert Penn Warren guished speakers who will appeal the Board of Trustees of the Insti- Raboteau is a specialist in Ameri- Center for the Humani- to a large academic and public tute for Advanced Study at can religious history. His research Tties, in conjunction with audience. and the Na- and teaching have focused on the Vanderbilt University Divin- Invited participants for the tional Humanities Center. American Catholic history and ity School and the Freedom Fo- program include: Floyd Flake, Senior Pastor of African American religious move- rum First Amendment Center, is Jean Bethke Elshtain, Laura the 10,000 member Allen African ments. He has written Slave Reli- hosting a panel discussion enti- Spelman Rockefeller Professor of Methodist Episcopal Church in gion: The ‘Invisible Institution’ tled “Religion and Public Life: Is Social and Political Ethics, The Jamaica, Queens, and former U.S. in the Antebellum South and A America God’s Country?” on Fri- Divinity School, the Department Representative. In the U.S. Con- Fire in the Bones: Reflections on day afternoon, April 6, 2001 at of Political Science, and the gress, Reverend Flake established African-American Religious His- the First Amendment Center, Committee on International Re- a reputation for bipartisan, innov- tory; he has also co-edited 1207 18th Avenue South. The lations at the University of ative initiatives to revitalize urban African-American Religion: Inter- panel will involve a variety of Chicago. Elshtain is a political commercial and residential com- pretive Essays in History and Cul- speakers representing diverse aca- philosopher whose task has been munities. In addition to sponsor- ture. He is currently co-director demic disciplines and professional to show the connections between ing the Community Development of a documentary history of backgrounds and will be open to our political and ethical convic- Financial Institutions Act of African American religion and the general public. The discus- tions. Her books include Public 1993, Reverend Flake became one was a coordinator of the former sion will also be videotaped for Man, Private Woman: of the strongest Democ- Center for the Study of American broadcast on eighty community Women in ratic con- Religion. He has been at Prince- access stations in thirty states. ton since 1982; prior to that The dialogue will offer an time, he held faculty posts at the opportunity to cultivate University of California at greater public awareness Berkeley, Harvard Uni- of the influence of versity, and Yale Uni- theology and reli- versity. He is a gious history on member of the American po- American Acad- litical and emy of civic life. On Religion, the Saturday, American His- April 7, the torical Associa- Warren Cen- tion and the ter will host American Studies smaller seminar Association. sessions with the Peggy visiting speakers, Wehmeyer, ABC involving faculty News correspondent. members and graduate When Peggy Wehmeyer students with research inter- joined ABC News in January ests in these areas. 1994, she became the first corre- This program grows out of a So- spondent to report for a network belief on the part of the Warren cial Thought; gressional voices for on religious and spiritual issues. Center’s Executive Committee The Family in Political Thought; parental choice in education. As a Based in the Dallas bureau, that a discussion of the influence Meditations on Modern Political pastor, he has used his commit- Wehmeyer reports for World of various religious beliefs on Thought; Women and War; ment for free-market principles to News Tonight with Peter Jennings, U.S. history will appeal to a Democracy on Trial; Augustine and under take expansive commer- 20/20, and Prime Time Thursday. broad constituency. The program the Limits of Politics; Real Politics: cial and residential development Before joining ABC News, she will be a catalyst for bringing to- At the Center of Everyday Life; and to create a 500-student pri- had for more than ten years cov- gether faculty and graduate stu- New Wine in Old Bottles: Politics vate school. With an annual bud- ered religious and social issues for dents representing multiple and Ethical Discourse; and Who get of nearly $24 million, the ABC affiliate in Dallas. Previ- disciplines in the College of Arts Are We?: Critical Reflections, Hope- Reverend Flake's church has be- ously, she served as Director of and Science, as well as from the ful Possibilities. Professor Elshtain come one of the nation's most Public Information for Dallas Divinity School, the Law School, writes widely for journals of civic productive religious and urban Theological Seminar, where she the First Amendment Center, and opinion and lectures, both in the development organizations. Pas- also studied. Wehmeyer has re- the Nashville community. It is United States and abroad, on tor Flake is the author of The Way ceived numerous awards for her the hope of the Executive Com- whether democracy will prove of the Bootstrapper: Nine Action work, most recently two Cine mittee that the program will serve sufficiently robust and resilient to Steps for Achieving Your Dreams, Golden Eagle Awards, an Interna- as a model for annual programs survive. She is a Fellow of the with an introduction by William tional Film and Video Festival on broad topics involving numer- American Academy of Arts and J. Bennett. Award, a Covenant Award from ous schools in the University that Sciences; Chair of the Council on Albert J. Raboteau, Professor the Southern Baptist Radio and will bring to campus distin- Civil Society; and a member of of Religion, Princeton University. Televison Commission, and a Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities Non-Profit Org. Box 1534 Station B U.S. Postage Vanderbilt University Paid Nashville, Tennessee 37235 Nashville, TN Permit No. 1460

The Warren Center is located in the Vaughn Home, pictured above.

THE ROBERT PENN WARREN CENTER FOR THE HUMANITIES Warren Center Staff Letters is the semiannual newsletter of Statement of Purpose programs, which are designed to inten- the Robert Penn Warren Center for Established under the sponsorship of sify and increase interdisciplinary dis- cussion of academic, social, and cultural Mona C. Frederick, the Humanities at Vanderbilt Univer- the College of Arts and Science in 1987 sity, Box 1534 Station B, Nashville, issues. Executive Director and renamed the Robert Penn Warren Tennessee 37235. (615) 343-6060 Center for the Humanities in 1989, the Vanderbilt University is committed to principles Thomas Haddox, Editor Fax (615) 343-2248. Center promotes interdisciplinary re- of equal opportunity and affirmative action. Paul W. Burch, Jr., search and study in the humanities, so- Published by University Publications & Design For more information concerning the Office Assistant cial sciences, and natural sciences. Photographs by Neil Brake, except photo of Center or its programs, please contact Members of the Vanderbilt community Deborah Cohn, used courtesy of Professor Cohn; the above address or visit our web site photo of Arnold Rampersad, used courtesy of representing wide variety of specializa- ; and photo of José Ramos- at www.vanderbilt.edu/rpw_center. tions take part in the Warren Center’s Horta, by Humberto Salgado.

Letters • Spring 2001 • 8