José Ramón “Che” Meléndez (1952)

 

José Ramón “Che” Meléndez, born in Puerto Rico in 1952, is a poet, essayist, and editor with a distinguished career in the literary field. He has collaborated with media outlets such as Claridad, Casa de las Américas (Cuba), and Plaza (Harvard), in addition to working as a librettist for theater, radio, and film, a director of shows, and an advisor to international educational projects. His most notable works include Desimos désimas (1976), Poesia oi: Anthology of Suspicion (1978), En Borges (1980), La casa de la forma (1986), Para delfín (1992), Secretum (1993), Postemporáneos (1994), Borges, the Spy (1998), and Elizam's Doubles (2004). Throughout his career, he has been awarded the 2002 National Literature Prize from the PEN Club of Puerto Rico, the 2008 National Poetry Prize from the Institute of Puerto Rican Culture, and the 2009 National Essay and Narrative Prize.

During the 2015 Venezuela International Book Fair (Filven), held in Caracas from March 12 to 22, Meléndez shared his perspective on the importance of this event. He highlighted the educational nature and magnitude of the fair, noting that, although its sheer size can be overwhelming, it also allows for broad cultural dissemination. He underscored the paradox between free access to books and the erroneous perception that free books lack value, emphasizing that the mass distribution of culture must preserve quality without becoming superficial.

Comparing the Venezuelan and Puerto Rican reading public, Meléndez emphasized that in Venezuela there remains a strong interest in physical books, while in Puerto Rico, digitalization has reduced the sale of printed books. He believes that tangible books generate a deeper connection with the reader, while digital texts tend to dampen the reading experience. For him, reading is a somatic process and an intellectual stimulus that fosters neuronal growth, something that is lost with the immediacy of digital technology.

Regarding his contribution to Latin American literature, Meléndez preferred to cite the opinions of critics, who highlight his ability to transgress literary codes and play with genres, blurring the boundaries between prose, verse, and drama. His critical approach to textuality, promoting an intense interaction with the meaning of texts, has also been praised.

Regarding the current challenges facing literature, Meléndez believes that the revolution is a necessity for humanity, as it represents an evolution to a higher level. He asserts that human beings have the capacity to design a social order based on justice, something that distinguishes them from other species. From his Caribbean and Puerto Rican perspective, he analyzes the situation in Venezuela in the context of resistance to the dollarization of South America, pointing out that economic threats respond to foreign powers' fear of losing their financial dominance. Ultimately, he interprets these aggressions as signs of weakness, as great powers react with hostility when they feel their hegemony is at risk.

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References

Prensa Cenal. (2015, abril 18). José Ramón “Che” Meléndez: “La lectura es un masaje a la inteligencia”. Centro Nacional del Libro de Venezuela. Recuperado de Cenal

Poets.org. (n.d.). Joserramón “Che” Melendes. Academy of American Poets. Retrieved March 20, 2025, from https://poets.org/poet/joserramon-che-melendes

Digital Commons @ USF. (n.d.). Joserramón Melendes. University of South Florida. Retrieved March 20, 2025, from https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/surcosur/vol3/iss5/18

Cenal.gob.ve. (n.d.). Joserramón Melendes: Biografía y obra literaria. Centro Nacional del Libro de Venezuela. Retrieved March 20, 2025, from https://cenal.gob.ve/?p=3855