Nobel Prize-Winning Mexican Essay ‘Labyrinth of Solitude’ in Spotlight for WT’s Great Books Series

Copy by Chip Chandler, 806-651-2124, cchandler@wtamu.edu

CANYON, Texas — An essay by Mexico’s sole winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature will be the focus of the December edition of West Texas A&M University’s Great Books series.

Dr. Andrew Reynolds, professor of Spanish, will lead the discussion of Octavio Paz’ “Labyrinth of Solitude” at 7 p.m. Dec 13 via Zoom.

The discussion series — sponsored by the Department of English, Philosophy and Modern Languages —is open to those who either have or haven’t read the book, said Dr. Daniel Bloom, Great Books organizer and associate professor of philosophy.

Reynolds said the essay has helped shape Mexican identity since its publication in 1950.

“I thought that this discussion would be a great way to introduce the work on an essential Mexican thinker that is not very well known in the US despite our proximity to Mexico and our large Mexican-American population,” Reynolds said. “‘Labyrinth of Solitude’ is also a problematic work that perpetuates some troubling stereotypes of Mexican people, and I look forward to delving in to the origins of some of these tropes, in particular how they relate to women and indigenous populations in Mexico.”

WT professors and guest lecturers lead the monthly Great Books discussions.

The series began in 2011 and is traditionally held on the second Tuesday of the month; a return to in-person meetings at Burrowing Owl Books, 7406 S.W. 34th Ave., Suite 2B, in Amarillo, is expected to occur in January.

To register for the December discussion, email Dr. Patricia Tyrer at ptyrer@wtamu.edu.

The series is one way in which WT serves the region by offering engagement with a variety of literary and philosophical texts. Being a learner-centered university is a key principle of the University’s long-range plan, WT 125: From the Panhandle to the World.

That plan is fueled by the historic, $125 million One West comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the five-year campaign — which publicly launched Sept. 23 — has raised more than $110 million.

About West Texas A&M University

WT is located in Canyon, Texas, on a 342-acre residential campus. Established in 1910, the University has been part of The Texas A&M University System since 1990. WT, a Hispanic Serving Institution since 2016, boasts an enrollment of about 10,000 and offers 59 undergraduate degree programs and more than 40 graduate degrees, including two doctoral degrees. The University is also home to the Panhandle-Plains Historical Museum, the largest history museum in the state and the home of one of the Southwest’s finest art collections. The Buffaloes are a member of the NCAA Division II Lone Star Conference and offers 14 men’s and women’s athletics programs.

—WT—