Sergio Román Armendáriz (Riobamba, Ecuador, February 12, 1934) is an Ecuadorian poet, playwright, screenwriter, and professor. A member of the avant-garde poetry group “Club 7” (1951-1962), he has contributed significantly to Latin American literature through works such as Cuaderno de canciones (1959) and the experimental play Función para butacas (1972). After political exile in the 1960s, he settled in Costa Rica, where he became a distinguished professor at the University of Costa Rica, specializing in literature, drama, and communication. His career also spans film, most notably co-writing Nuestro Juramento (1981), a film about singer Julio Jaramillo.
Early Life and Education
Sergio Román Armendáriz was born on February 12, 1934, in Riobamba, Ecuador, to Nazario Román Krelowa and Alejandrina Armendáriz Carranza. He grew up as the eldest of three brothers in a culturally active household. Román completed his early education in Guayaquil, first attending the Salesian College Cristóbal Colón (1940-1950) and later graduating from the Colegio Nacional Vicente Rocafuerte in 1951. He continued his academic pursuits at the Faculty of Jurisprudence and Social Sciences at the University of Guayaquil, where he earned a degree in Social Sciences in 1959.
Literary Career
Armendáriz’s literary career began in the 1950s when he became involved in the avant-garde poetry scene in Ecuador. He was a founding member of the influential “Club 7” (1951-1962), a collective of young poets that included renowned figures such as Ileana Espinel and David Ledesma Vásquez. His early work is marked by contributions to poetry anthologies, including Club 7 Poesía (1954) and Triángulo (1960).
Throughout his career, Armendáriz wrote in various forms, including poetry, theater, and journalism. His most notable works include the poetry collection Cuaderno de canciones (1959), and his experimental play Función para butacas (1972), which was performed in multiple cities across Latin America, including at the prestigious Festival de Manizales in Colombia.
Armendáriz also ventured into screenwriting, co-writing the film Nuestro Juramento (1981), a biographical drama about the life of famed Ecuadorian singer Julio Jaramillo.
Club 7 and Sergio Román Armendáriz’s Role
Club 7 was an avant-garde poetry collective formed in Guayaquil, Ecuador, in the early 1950s. Founded by a group of young poets, including Sergio Román Armendáriz, the group sought to revolutionize Ecuadorian poetry by embracing modernist and symbolist influences, breaking away from traditional poetic forms. The group, which also included Ileana Espinel, David Ledesma Vásquez, Carlos Benavides Vega, and Gastón Hidalgo Ortega, made significant contributions to the literary scene through poetry recitations, radio broadcasts, and published anthologies.
Armendáriz played a central role in the group, bringing his intellectual depth and political engagement to the collective. His poetry reflected both personal introspection and broader social concerns, blending existential themes with symbolist aesthetics. In 1954, the group published its first anthology, Club 7 Poesía, with Armendáriz contributing several key works. He and fellow poet David Ledesma strengthened their literary partnership while working on the youth newspaper Nosotros, further cementing the foundations of the group.
Though Club 7 dissolved by the early 1960s, its influence on Ecuadorian poetry remained significant. Armendáriz continued to honor the group’s legacy throughout his life, often referring to himself as “Uno del Club 7” in his later works, highlighting the profound impact this period had on his literary and personal development.
Political Activism and Exile
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Román was politically active in Ecuador, becoming a member of the Unión Revolucionaria de la Juventud Ecuatoriana (URJE). He was involved in the political unrest during the Toachi events of 1962 in Santo Domingo de los Colorados. His activism led to his exile, and he moved to Costa Rica, where he would reside and work for much of his life.
Career in Costa Rica
In Costa Rica, Armendáriz established himself as an academic and cultural figure. He worked as a professor at several institutions, including the University of Costa Rica (UCR), where he taught literature and drama at the School of General Studies and the School of Dramatic Arts. He also directed the Theatre of General Studies, playing a key role in fostering the dramatic arts in the country. In 1975, he received a scholarship to study at the prestigious Centro Universitario de Estudios Cinematográficos (CUEC) and the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where he honed his skills in screenwriting and dramatic literature.
Pedagogical Contributions
Armendáriz’s teaching philosophy emphasized creativity and critical thinking. He proposed practical techniques to stimulate intelligence through storytelling, rhetoric, and visual media. His 1999 presentation at the 2nd International Congress on Education in Guanajuato, Mexico, encapsulated his educational vision in a paper titled De la impresión a la expresión, opción para la creatividad.
He became a widely respected academic in Costa Rica, and in 2008, he was named Professor Emeritus of the School of Communication at UCR.
Later Work and Legacy
In addition to his academic and literary contributions, Armendáriz published numerous articles in Costa Rican newspapers, particularly in La Nación (1985-1995), where he experimented with combining journalism and literature. His work in media extended to consulting on projects like Cultura de Paz and providing communication strategies for UNESCO and the UNFPA.
Armendáriz has been a significant contributor to Latin American culture through his poetry, theater, and film work. His writings continue to be influential, and his contributions to the arts and education have left a lasting impact on both Ecuador and Costa Rica.
He remains an active figure in literary and academic circles, sharing his experiences and reflections through his website and publications, with his later work focusing on prose and reflective writings, such as Vejez, último mar (2019).
References
- SergioRomán.com, “Algunos datos del autor.” Retrieved on October 17, 2024. Click to view.
- Wikipedia, “Sergio Román Armendáriz.” Retrieved on October 17, 2024. Click to view.
- Letralia, “Sergio Román Armendáriz.” Retrieved on October 17, 2024. Click to view.
- Wikiwand, “Sergio Román Armendáriz.” Retrieved on October 17, 2024. Click to view.
- Efecto Alquimia, “Sergio Román Armendáriz.” Retrieved on October 17, 2024. Click to view.
- Biblioteca Cultura y Patrimonio, “Poemas de Sergio Román Armendáriz. sel.Ileana Espinel.” Retrieved on October 17, 2024. Click to view.
- Cinelatinoamericano.org, “Sergio Román Armendáriz.” Retrieved on October 17, 2024. Click to view.