Carlos Monsivais

Carlos Monsiváis was a Mexican philosopher, writer, critic, political activist, and journalist. He was considered one of the most influential intellectuals of his time, as he documented contemporary Mexican themes, values, class struggles, and social change in his essays, books, and opinion pieces. He also wrote political columns in leading newspapers within the country's progressive sectors. His generation of writers includes Elena Poniatowska, José Emilio Pacheco, and Carlos Fuentes. Monsiváis won more than 33 awards, including the 1986 Jorge Cuesta Prize, the 1989 Mazatlán Prize, and the 1996 Xavier Villaurrutia Award. He was a staunch critic of the long-ruling Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), leaned towards the left-wing, and was ubiquitous in disseminating his views on radio and television. He was also a promoter of the rights of the social minorities, public education, and reading. He supported openly the struggle for sexual diversity and animal rights. He was a firm advocate of the legalization of abortion and fought against bullfighting, which earned him many detractors in the conservative sectors. Another of his interests was the Mexican cinema. He wrote many essays and approaches to the topic and directed for more than ten years the program El cine y la crítica in Radio UNAM. He also participated as an actor in several Mexican movies, such as Un alma pura, Tajimara, En este pueblo no hay ladrones, Los caifanes, Las visitaciones del diablo, Zapata, and La guerrera vengadora 2. He was the founder and director of the Museo del Estanquillo, where he donated part of his personal collection of art and popular culture. He also created the Fundación Monsiváis, dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of his work and legacy. He died on June 19, 2010, at the age of 72, due to respiratory failure caused by a pulmonary fibrosis. He was buried in the Museo del Estanquillo, where his ashes remain.