Center for Basque Studies Newsletter ISSN: 1537-2464 Center for Basque Studies N E W S L E T T E R An Interview with 2009-2010 Douglass Scholar Santiago de Pablo Fall Vitoria, October 6, 2010. University of the Basque Country 2010 By Oscar Álvarez Gila. Oscar: Let’s start by getting to know you. NUMBER 78 photo: L. Corcostegui Could you give us a brief summary of your life experience and your career as a In this issue: historian? (Earth Without Peace. Civil War, Film and Propaganda in the Basque Country, Madrid, Santi: I was born in 1959 in Tabuenca, Biblioteca Nueva, 2006) in which I explore Santi de Pablo Interview 1 a small town in Aragon, near southern the use of film for the dissemination of propaganda during the Civil War in Euskadi. Oscar Álvarez 3 Navarra, where my father worked as a doctor. When I was seven years old my I have also organized an annual conference, Co-Directors’ Message 3 family moved to Vitoria-Gasteiz and, except History through Cinema, since 1998 in Vitoria, and I am a member of the Academy of Publications Coordinator for three years in which I studied at the 4 University of Navarra, my career has always Motion Picture Arts and Sciences of Spain. Lehendakari Visit 4 been linked to the capital of Alava and Euskadi. With regard to Basque contemporary history, I Current Research 5 would mention my books Los problemas de la 2010 Conference 6 In 1987 I obtained a Ph.D. in History from autonomía vasca en el siglo XX (Problems of the University of the Basque Country, Basque Autonomy in the Twentieth Century) Highlights 7 where I’ve been employed since then: (Oñate, MVI, 1991), Trabajo, diversión y vida Bieter Grant 8 first in the School of Social Sciences and cotidiana. El País Vasco en los años treinta (Work,Fun and Everyday Life: The Basque Study Abroad in Communication in Leioa (Bizkaia) and then at the School of Arts, Vitoria-Gasteiz where Country in the Thirties) (Vitoria-Gasteiz, the Basque Country 10 I am now a professor of Contemporary Zabalanda Papers, 1995) and En tierra de History. nadie:Los nacionalistas vascos en Alava (In No Man’s Land: Basque nationalists in Álava) My research interests have focused mainly (Vitoria-Gasteiz, Ikusager, 2008). on two areas: the history of Basque nationalism and Euskadi in the twentieth Oscar: These are all interesting and well- century, and the history of Basque cinema known works, but the work that immediately and the relationship between history and comes to mind when the name Santiago film. de Pablo is mentioned is undoubtedly your famous Péndulo Patriótico (The Patriotic University of Nevada, Reno Oscar: These two topics seem rather Pendulum), the first all-encompassing history divergent, but I recall that you recently of the Basque Nationalist Party. combined these two research interests. Santi: Yes, I agree that perhaps my most A semi-annual publication of the Santi: Indeed. In the latter field I would important milestone in this regard was the Center for Basque Studies highlight my book Tierra sin paz: Guerra publication of El péndulo patriótico. Historia University of Nevada, Reno civil, cine y propaganda en el País Vasco del Partido Nacionalista Vasco (The Patriotic Reno, NV 89557-2322 Pendulum: History of the Basque Nationalist 1 Center for Basque Studies Newsletter (continued from page 1) Party ) (Barcelona, Crítica, 1999, 2001 specifically terrorism and ETA-related and 2005), written in collaboration with issues have been reflected in a number of Ludger Mees and José Antonio Rodríguez films, both documentary and fiction. Ranz. This book was described by noted historians as the best history of Basque Oscar: Are there sufficient numbers of nationalism published to date. In addition, films that deal with the issue of ETA to be the title itself has become a common able to carry out research of this caliber? reference among politicians and journalists, when describing the history of the PNV, Santi: Yes. In fact, the purpose of this book swinging like a pendulum between is to analyze more than forty feature films photo: L. Corcostegui moderation and radicalism, between about ETA: their plots, scripts, production Iker Arranz, Tania Arriaga, and Iban the mere pursuit of autonomy and the conditions, their relationship to political Galletebeitia, CBS Tutorial Ph.D. achievement of independence. or ideological groups, their commercial students, began their programs at success or failure, etc. Moreover, each UNR Fall semsester 2010. Oscar: I wanted to ask you about that. film, or group of films, is placed in the There may not be any other book in recent context in which it was produced, defining Basque historiography that has enjoyed the issues and aspects of the history greater success than Péndulo Patriótico. of ETA that appear more frequently in Today it has become a commonplace term these films and the changes that have The Center for Basque Studies among lay people, political pundits and occurred over time since the transition Newsletter is a semi-annual in the media, used to refer to the political to the present. I will demonstrate how publication sent free of charge changes of Basque nationalism using the Basque society and politics have changed to any interested readers. If metaphor of the pendulum. By the way, during these decades, and how films about you would like to receive the what is the inside story of this title? Did political violence have changed as well. newsletter in paper format, you and your co- In short, the book addresses please send your name and authors borrow it how the history of ETA, the postal address to: from somewhere “the friendship and constant most important and tragic else, or did you support that I found among the aspect of the recent history Center for Basque Studies / 2322 coin it in a in a individuals at the Center was in the Basque Country, fortuitous moment has been reflected on the University of Nevada, Reno the highlight of my time as the Reno, NV 89557-2322 of inspiration? silver screen and how these William Douglass Distinguished films have influenced the Or e-mail us at: [email protected] Santi: It was an Scholar.” perception of political Or phone: 775.784.4854 idea we thought violence in Basque society. Or fax: 775.784.1355 of ourselves. We were looking for a Oscar: On a different note, The newsletter is also available catchy title, but at the same time, one that among other activities, you were also electronically, in a printable reflected the story of a century of Basque in charge of co-organizing a conference format. If you would like to nationalism. Based on how it has spread, it during your stay in Reno. receive the newsletter in was really a good choice. electronic format, thus saving Santi: In April 2010, I worked with printing and postage costs, Oscar: Let’s talk about your experience at Sandra Ott to organize the annual CBS please specify this option and let the Center for Basque Studies. You came to conference, entitled “War, Exile, Justice us know your e-mail address. conduct a research project. Could you talk and Everyday Life 1936-1946.” It was about it? a very interesting experience, involving faculty and researchers from the Basque Please visit our web site: Santi: The main thrust of my work during Country, the United States and several the 2009-2010 academic year in Reno was European countries. The conference basque.unr.edu research for the development of a book was focused not only on war and exile about the portrayal of ETA in film. The in the Basque country, but extended tentative title is ETA on Screen: Basque into comparative analysis with other Political Violence and Cinema. With recent geographic areas. The aim was to analyze Produced by the Center for historiography on the relationship between the experience of war, exile, justice and Basque Studies, University of cinema and history as a starting point, I everyday life in the Basque Country, Nevada, Reno. Lisa Corcostegui, studied the major works published in the France, the United Kingdom, Spain and Ph.D., editor. United States and other countries in recent Germany between 1936 and 1946. The decades. This theoretical framework and specific issues addressed were varied: print and broadcast materials from the propaganda, the impact of bombing on The University of Nevada, Reno is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action, ADA institu- Basque Library have led me to address the civilians, exile and displacement in time of tion. 4/09, 8,300. central question of the project: how the war, trials during and after armed conflicts, recent history of the Basque Country, and literary and cinematic memory wars, etc. 2 Center for Basque Studies Newsletter (continued from page 2) In short, a very beneficial scientific gathering that will soon be completed upon the A Letter from the Co-Directors: publication of conference proceedings in a book. Dear Readers, Oscar: Would you emphasize anything else As co-directors of the CBS about your experience in Reno? since the fall of 2009, we take great pleasure in bringing you Santi: My stay in Reno was very fruitful in up to date with the activities other ways, from a personal perspective in and accomplishments of the addition to the professional. I was able to Center for Basque Studies attend several conferences, give a seminar at the University of Nevada, at the University of Connecticut and give Reno. Those of you who a paper at the Basque Cultural Center’s try to stay in touch through Film Series in South San Francisco.