The Book Fair as today’s Aleph
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Loading... - Mateo Santino
- 10 May 2023
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There is a case for saying that the Buenos Aires International Book Fair itself is an Aleph of Argentine today.
The 47th installment of the International Book Fair, presently unfolding in Palermo, represents not only the centenary of Jorge Luis Borges' initial publication but also, his widely-recognized work, El Aleph. In this, a basement within the Constitución district is perceived as a universe that encompasses all time and space. Everything Everywhere All At Once, this year's Oscar-winning film, may be seen as an incoherent tribute to Borges' masterpiece. One could argue that the Book Fair, in itself, is the Aleph of contemporary Argentine. One might contemplate that Borges' Aleph also anticipates modern technology, where millions or even billions of individuals are condensed into a solitary device, a smartphone. The Book Fair adds a more conventional view to this reality, exhibiting literature as the latest form of escapism from Argentina's persistent socio-economic issues, with full restaurants and tourism thriving alongside it.
Despite the notion that the universe can be summarized into a single point, the situation in Argentina cannot be described by the term "escapism." The reality is too complex for any simplistic interpretation, as demonstrated by the influence of Santiago Maratea, who has easily raised millions for the football club Independiente's salvage fund. While a strong demand for such escapist literary forms as science fiction and poetry has been recognized, an analysis of Greater Buenos Aires, the heart of this year's general elections, remains the best seller thus far. The two previous provincial elections have witnessed a decrease in voter turnout but not significantly so. Although there is widespread political disillusionment and polarization among a fully-saturated public, a sophisticated understanding of exchange rates or knowledge of the names of the top brass of the International Monetary Fund and professional economic consultants extends well beyond the elites. There is also a lack of awe for politicians elsewhere in the world.
There are those who might argue that the massive disenchantment with politics would run much deeper if it were not for the Javier Milei phenomenon, which boils down to another form of escapism as a leap into the unknown with his dollarisation a supreme flight from reality. It certainly suits the two main coalitions to demonise the libertarian as a far-right populist demagogue and Milei’s cynically extravagant showmanship certainly contributes to that image, but again reality might not be so simple. Behind his television antics the man is a serious student of economics which he has studied for decades. He might well have a far more structured plan than he presents – like Carlos Menem (whose 1989 campaign was based on “blood” to regain the Malvinas and a “massive wage hike,” but who ended up pioneering privatisation and deregulation) his presidency might drastically differ from his campaign or reality might end up imposing pragmatism as so often. But nor should we rule out with Milei that what you see is what you get and that he is indeed a threat to democratic culture – the only conclusion at this stage should be that nothing is simple. Lastly, the ultimate form of escapism is to move elsewhere – a desire expressed by an absolute majority of 54 percent of the population, according to at least one opinion poll. Yet the reality is that while millions want to leave, only thousands actually depart because this is also a leap into the unknown – other countries are also beset with crises and uncertainty while in much of the world a far more rapid technological progress is imposing far severer adjustments than one of the planet’s most protected economies. So reality points to staying put and working to improve things here, confining escapism to the Book Fair.
