Biography:
Giannina Braschi, born on February 5, 1953, is a Puerto Rican poet, novelist, dramatist, and scholar. Known for her unique and innovative writing style, she has made significant contributions to literature and political philosophy. Braschi’s notable works include Empire of Dreams (1988), Yo-Yo Boing! (1998), and United States of Banana (2011). She writes in a combination of Spanish, Spanglish, and English, creating a hybrid form of literature that incorporates poetry, metafiction, postdramatic theatre, memoir, manifesto, and political philosophy.
Born into an upper-class family of Italian ancestry in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Braschi had a privileged upbringing. In her teenage years, she excelled in various fields and activities. She was a founding member of the San Juan Children’s Choir, demonstrating her early passion for music. Additionally, she pursued a career in fashion modeling and showcased her talent as a remarkable tennis player, just like her father, Euripides Braschi, who was also a tennis champion.
Braschi’s journey in literature and philosophy began in the 1970s when she studied in Madrid, Rome, Rouen, and London. It was during her time in Madrid that she received guidance and mentorship from established Spanish poets such as Claudio Rodríguez, Carlos Bousoño, Vicente Aleixandre, and Blas de Otero. These influential figures played a crucial role in shaping Braschi’s early poetic voice.
With a PhD in Hispanic Literatures from State University of New York, Stony Brook, Braschi embarked on an academic career. She held teaching positions at prestigious institutions such as Rutgers University, City University of New York, and Colgate University. Throughout her career, Braschi has received numerous awards and fellowships, including recognition from the Ford Foundation, Danforth Scholarship, National Endowment for the Arts, New York Foundation for the Arts, Rutgers University, and PEN.
Braschi’s literary work is considered part of the Latino avant-garde movement, which explores innovative forms of artistic expression. Positioned within the fields of Postcolonial, Postmodern, and Nuyorican literatures, her writing also delves into Latino political philosophy. Her unique perspective and revolutionary voice make her a significant figure in contemporary Latin American literature.
One of Braschi’s notable works, El Imperio de los sueños (Empire of Dreams), showcases her talent for dramatic poetry in Spanish prose. Written in New York City, the poem was published in Barcelona, Spain. It is in this work and others that the city serves as both the setting and subject of her poetry. For instance, in the climactic episode of Empire of Dreams titled Pastoral or the Inquisition of Memories, shepherds invade 5th Avenue during the Puerto Rican