How Mexico’s Juan Villoro chronicles his homeland with an eye on social justice

In Villoro's eyes, Mexico City's history of transformations increases its attractiveness.

"The city has an attractive history."

"First, it was the capital of the Aztec Empire, then came the Spanish city full of architectural masterpieces, and then it was reshaped during the modern and post-modern eras, even becoming a model for future cities, often used as a "natural background for science fiction tales."

Most important novel

In his novel 'The Witness', for which he won several awards, including the Herralde de Novelaprize, Villoro discusses the thorny relationship between politics and the world of organised crime in Mexico.

The author believes this is his most important novel.

Elaborating on the novel, he says:  "I discussed the mysterious life of Ramón López Velarde, the most prominent poet of our literary heritage, as well as the end of a political era, as the party that ruled the country for 71 years was defeated for the first time in 2000."

"I also relayed the experience of coming home after living abroad for more than 20 years. Upon his arrival, the main character finds that he has become a stranger in his own country. He does not feel like other Mexicans, but rather as a strange witness to reality."

"I tried to paint a picture of my country at the end of the century."

The drug underworld

Villoro often combined disparate topics in his writings, establishing links between different fields of knowledge, even in the context of crime and drugs.

"In the past six years, Mexico has been filled with banners hung from bridges or in public places relaying drug messages (known as narcomantas in Spanish), often with horrific misspellings," he says.

"But beyond that, it is still difficult to live or survive in a violent country like Mexico. I am not an expert in security affairs, but I witness a daily reality that has been radically shaped by kidnappings and assassinations. Organised crime runs a large part of our country."

And this is not just a problem for Mexico, according to Villoro.

"We share a long border with the United States and a huge number of crossings, many of which are illegal. Moreover, the United States is the largest drug consumer and the largest seller of arms in the world. Drug smuggling has become a structural problem between the two countries."

"It is also a giant business that has affected many aspects of our society," he adds.

"Even our language has been influenced by slang from the world of organised crime."

This is why Villoro's writings try to "establish links between the violent news that everyone knows and the subtle transformation of our customs, culture, way of life, and continuity."

Identity

Identity is a central theme of his work. How is our identity affected by the cultures and societies in which we live? What role does literature play in shaping our understanding of identity?

For Villoro, Mexico is "a multicultural country," but a lot of people tend to think of themselves as mere outsiders. While the American lifestyle is a model and aspiration for many, he points to his country's unique history:

 "We have deep roots that connect us with our ancient cultures, like Mayans, Aztecs, Olmecs, and many others. Identity is a set of cultural strata that we share for a period of time."

"The Aztecs preserved their culture through poems."

"Mexico was born out of the defeat of the indigenous peoples and their mingling with the Spaniards, and from day one, this social adventure relied on literature."

"The coloniser Hernán Cortés wrote a book explaining his actions to try to obtain recognition. So did the great historian Bernal Diaz del Castillo."

"Independent Mexico arose from the ideas of the intellectuals and writers who fought the battles of making laws and establishing institutions."

"Our history has been shaped on the battlefields and in Congress, but also in speeches and words. The disorder of history is one of the reasons for the confusing narratives surrounding it."

A philosopher's son

Describing his relationship with his father Luis, a famous philosopher, and his memories of him, Villoro told Al Majalla: "He was a prominent public figure, but he was a bit distant to me. He lost his father in Spain when he was young and was raised in a Jesuit boarding school in Belgium, where his brother became a Jesuit priest."

"From childhood, he was accustomed to being alone. He became a philosopher and was more of a teacher than an ordinary father. He was involved in social causes, especially supporting the rights of the indigenous peoples of Mexico."

"He was good at dealing with ideas and social movements, but he had difficulty dealing with people. This complicated history is what prompted me to write a book about him, which is due to be published soon."

"Through it, I do not wish to present his life as I know it, but rather to explore his hidden personality. I'm trying to figure out who he is and to understand myself in the process. Everyone has a secret life, especially if they are a philosopher."

"The philosopher is a double agent who lives a parallel life made of arguments and theories. My father was not a very sociable interlocutor, but thanks to him, I met some important thinkers. My book about him includes a chapter on his relationship with the Nobel laureate politician and poet Octavio Paz."

Role of literature

Villoro's writing often reflects a deep concern for social justice and confronts inequality and injustice. Al Majalla asked him what role he thought literature could play in achieving social change.

He replied: "Mexico is a country filled with injustice. It has too many poor people and a few super-rich millionaires. Being a writer means having a certain privilege. I publish books in a country where there is a lot of illiteracy, and I can earn a living through my writing."

"I feel the need to give something in return for this privilege. Like my father."

"I support social causes as much as possible, and I try to shed light on serious problems through my journalism work. Journalism does not change reality instantly, but exposing corruption is the first step to achieving this goal."

In one of his interviews, Villoro said that it is "not the role of the novelist to address issues as would a journalist, scientist, or historian."

So, what is the role of the novelist?

Villoro believes "a novelist can understand the world differently."

He said: "Imagination gives humans a very special insight into reality because it deals not only with what happens but also with what could happen. This is an important way to study people's public, private and even secret lives."

"Historians and journalists must focus on facts, while writers can also delve into dreams, fantasies, and memories. They can rethink, make wild guesses, and explore the characters' psyches."

Passion for football

Villoro is known for his love of football, to the point that he wrote a book on the world's most popular sport entitled 'God Is Round'.

In this book, he presents the cultural connotations of football and how it is an integral part of Latin American culture.

"Football is the largest event in the world. FIFA has more members than the United Nations: our planet is better at organising sports and money than at organising politics," he said.

"In Latin America, football heroes offer emotional compensation for a grim reality. A taxi driver in Buenos Aires once said to me: 'No one in my life has given me more happiness than Maradona.' A crowd of more than 5 million people welcomed the Argentine national team upon their return to their country after winning the World Cup in 2022."

"The sense of belonging is enormous. Football is just a game, but it helps you forget the hardships of everyday life and gives you the opportunity to share your emotions with others. On the courts, players become more than just paid athletes. They represent us and embody our dreams."

Despite Villoro's constant criticism of Mexican society, he co-wrote the book 'The Sorrows of Mexico' with seven famous journalists, in an effort to change the world's view of his country.

"A few years ago, I attended the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland and shared a panel with Sergio González Rodríguez, a wonderful writer and journalist."

"The future publisher of 'The Sorrows of Mexico' was also in the audience. After the panel, he told us: 'I want to do something for Mexico.'That was the beginning of the project."