University training
LITERATURE, THEATER and LANGUAGES
1989 PhD in Letters and Social Sciences magna cum laude
Thesis, publicaly presented and attended on the october 30th 1989 at the University of Montpellier
Titled :
« Research on the spectacle and the theater in the works of Vicente Aleixandre , owner of the Nobel Literature Prize in 1977 »
Under Miss Lucie Personneaux and Miss Huguette Lauranti’s management
Assisted by Mr. Henri Salles, stage manager at the French National Theater
PhD examining board :
Mrs Huguette Laurenti, emeritus professor (University of Montpellier)
Mrs Lucie Personneaux, professor (University of Avignon) vice-chancellor
Mr. Claude Poullain, professor (University of Nice) reporter
Mrs Marie-Claude Hubert, (University of Marseille), lecturer
A thesis divided into two volumes, with a model, stage design (scenery, costumes, directing) with
scenography references :
- handmade sketches
- blueprints draught on normal and tracong paper (detailed blueprints, frontpage and lateral section)
This model had been moved to the University of Montpellier during the viva :
This model, representing the Aleixandrin Theater, is a piece of art made of wood, steel, glass and plastic.
Thanks to transparencies, the audience had been able to see the wole model. I received a special award.
Summary :
From « Ambito » (first collction of poems) to « Dialogos del conocimiento » (last work, a play) Vicente Aleixandre created a universe that combines poetry and theater. There are two steps in my investigations ; my aim was to find the theatrical and spectacular caracteristics ; first by studying the scenography and then by studying the characters’ dialogues and knowledge dialogues, with a suggestion for a stagecraft for « Dialogos del conocimiento ». This anthology sums up the theatrical techniques and represents the climax of the trajectory of the poet who moves from the spectacular to the theatrical in his works.
The first part of the PhD shows a system of representation with infinite combinations whose space-time brightly reveals the theatricality.
The second part illustrates the observations by the embodiment of the caracters and their manner of playing.
Poetical space corresponds to a theatrical structure and Aleinxandre’s poetry globaly appears like a theatrical show. The great theater of the world.
The PhD, printed at the Presses Universitaires of Lille, incarnates the achievement of my studies and of my investigations, which were a combination of two complementary disciplines : Language and Letters.
This PhD is also a proof of my interest for the application (concrete and shared) of the Ideas and of their transmition via writing and arts.
1981 PhD in Letters magna cum laude
Late vulgar latine and Latin-american studies, University Paul Valery, Montpellier
Titled :
« Boroque in the first poetical period of Vicente Aleixandre’s works »
PhD examining board :
Under Mrs Lucie Personneaux ‘s management
Assisted by : Mr. Jean-Louis FLECNIAKOSCA, professor (University of Montpellier) vice chancellor
Mrs Lucie Personneaux professor (University of Montpellier), reporter
Mr. Claude Poullain, professor (University of Montpellier)
Mr. Jean Tena (University of Montpellier)
Summary :
This PhD, close to surrealism (there are drawn parallelisms between baroque and surrealism) is not similar to surrealism and confers Aleixandre the nickname « baroque » and even « barroco » for it’s connotation (authentic phenomenon and undeniable depth) ) whereas the French word contains some bad connotation. Quoting Eugenio d’Ors: « Every baroque character is vitalist and thus libertine produces an abandonment and veneration status in front of strength. » The chosen notion is large and wide open, not historically placed.
The architecture of Aleixandre appears to be authentically baroque, with mass effects, huge dimensions, depth, a preference for curves and slender shapes, vanishing points and variety of the plans, infinity of the openings, theme of the veil that hides and suggests, that hides to expose better, picturesque that represents the diversity of life, light and shade, shapes that, into the space, create a real ballet, a trompe-l’oeil.
Actually, it seems that this architecture realizes a real paradox: a shape and an absence of shape. This architecture of Io barroco is proud to be extrovert, exhibitionist, and representative. With this requirement for large and heavy masses, it shows itself, it appears. And this appearance is certainly too obvious not to reveal the being. Illusion and Reality in the same time, the architecture of Aleixandre is Theatrical.
This architecture is thus the creator of disequilibrium, dis-quietude of movements. In Aleixandre’s world, everything refers to energetic and kinematics. Action is an option, and one can notice that the poet touches the limits of strength and movement, which means that this « kinematics » and this « energetic » bear a spirit, a soul.
One cannot deny that Aleixandre’s work is a world of matter, the materiality of this world corresponds to a way of thinking and to the Spirit. This oxymoron underlines the fact that if everything had the same value, no duality would be possible. The world is considered as a whole, in which everything refers to an other thing, just like an infinity of mirrors. The architecture of Aleixandre is unity and contrast in the same time just like Salamanca’s « ayuntamiento »; heavy and massive, it is also light, full of « caladas » shapes, just like the famous frontage of the Astorga Cathedral, with a lot of hanging pictures, « balustradas » that create an impression of abeyance and suspense. There is profusion in this poetry, which is calculated, measured, and harmonious just like baroque profusion.
Just like in every authentic peace of art, the shape reveals the meaning. And this meaning shape leans to « Lo barroco ».
PhDs develop a personal thought and discourse about theatre in which Investigation and Creation are systematically linked, in which the arts are all gathered in order to participate to a concrete dimension of the matter. The intimate link between conception and realisation is verified.
1982 DEA Paris Sorbonne
Directed by Bernard DORT et Michel BERNARD
198O DEA Espagnol
post-graduate diploma before PhD) Spanish magna cum laude
University of Montpellier
Directed by Mr. Jean Tena « Les Villancios »
Master’s thesis that dealt with Spanish poetry
Directed by Edmond Cros « Etudes socio critiques »
1980 master’s degree in French department magna cum laude
University Paul Valéry of Montpellier Master’s thesis that dealt with « relics of the 17 century and of the Romantic age in Gerard de Nerval’s works”.
Study of a stagecraft of “Rhinocéros” by Ionesco. Creation of a model (that had been kept by the University)
Directed by Judith Robinson
1979 master’s degree Spanish magna cum laude
University Paul Valéry Montpellier
Master’s thesis that dealt with Alejandro Casona « Life and death in A. Casona’s works »
Directed by Mr. Recoules
1978 Spanish degree
(University Paul Valéry Montpellier)
1975-1977 class which prepares students for the entry exams to the Grandes Ecoles
Hypokhâgne and khâgne
High school Joffre Montpellier
1975 baccalauréat philo letters B+
(Latin, Greek, English, Spanish)
Lycée Jean Moulin Béziers
High school Jean Moulin Béziers