The Labyrinth of Memory: Exploring Sergio Pitol's the Art of Flight

This course examines Sergio Pitol’s 'The Art of Flight,' a central work in his 'Trilogy of Memory.' The series explores how Pitol uses a hybrid form to blend autobiography, travelogue, and literary criticism. It traces Pitol's development from his formative years in Veracruz to his diplomatic assignments in Eastern Europe. Key topics include translation as a form of reading and the concept of a 'third space' in global literature. The sessions look at how Pitol treats books and libraries as the foundation of his personal history, suggesting that literary encounters are as significant as physical journeys. It also analyzes the influence of authors like Henry James, Chekhov, and Gombrowicz on his intellectual growth. The curriculum covers Pitol’s use of the carnivalesque and the grotesque to challenge traditional storytelling. It analyzes the role of visual arts, such as cinema and painting, in shaping narrative pace and structure. Specific sections look at his time in Venice and the Eastern Bloc, where he learned to use irony as a tool for political resistance under censorship. The course also addresses his observations of the Zapatista uprising in Chiapas, showing his commitment to history from the ground up. Finally, the series studies the 'Pitolian sentence'—a complex, winding structure that mirrors the movement of human thought. By studying these twelve sessions, participants gain an understanding of how Pitol redefined modern prose through his unique approach to memory and style.