La serie fantástica como medio de expresión

La serie fantástica como medio de expresión

🎙 Sergio Javier Roda 👥 2K 📅 October 15, 2025 ⏱ 79 min 👁 223 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-08-16
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

fantasticBorgesCortázarliterary theoryexpression

Summary

Sergio Javier Roda, an Argentine writer and visual artist, presents a lecture on the fantastic series as a means of expression. He begins by tracing the theoretical evolution of the fantastic genre, from the Russian formalists to Todorov’s concept of genre, and then to Ana María Barrenechea’s notion of it as a mode of representation. He introduces the term ‘series’ from his professor Enriqueta Morillas Ventura, and proposes to go further by considering the fantastic as a language in itself, capable of expressing what cannot be said directly. He analyzes works by Borges and Cortázar, such as ‘Las ruinas circulares’, ‘Continuidad de los parques’, ‘Ómnibus’, and ‘Pesadilla’, to illustrate how the fantastic uses silences, pauses, and non-verbal communication to convey meaning. He discusses the concept of the ‘ominous’ (das Unheimliche) from Freud, and how it relates to the communicative function of the fantastic. He also explores the role of details as ‘ballast’ that anchor the reader between reality and fiction, and the use of oral traditions and mythical creatures. The lecture concludes that the fantastic series is not merely a genre but a powerful language for expressing the ineffable.

189 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The value of the information lies in its original synthesis of existing literary theories and its application to specific texts. Roda argues convincingly that the fantastic should be viewed as a language, not just a genre, and supports this with close readings of Borges and Cortázar. He effectively uses theoretical frameworks from Todorov, Barrenechea, and Freud to build his argument. The argumentation is coherent and well-structured, though it relies heavily on personal interpretation and lacks rigorous citation of sources.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The presentation demonstrates a good command of literary theory, referencing key scholars such as Todorov, Barrenechea, and Freud. However, the sources are not systematically cited, and some claims are made without clear references. The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on the fantastic series as a means of expression. The lecture is well-organized and the argument is developed logically, but the lack of formal citations reduces its scientific rigor.

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Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which explores the fantastic genre as a means of expression.

Quality & Reliability

7/10

The presentation is based on established literary theory (Todorov, Barrenechea, Freud) and offers original insights, but relies heavily on personal interpretation and lacks systematic citation of sources.

Key Moments

Cited Sources

  • Introducción a la literatura fantástica — Referenced as Todorov's work on the theory of the fantastic.
  • La expresión de la irrealidad en la obra de Borges — Referenced as Barrenechea's book on Borges and the fantastic.
  • Das Unheimliche — Freud's essay on the concept of the uncanny, discussed in the lecture.

Concurring Sources

  • Introducción a la literatura fantástica — Todorov's theory aligns with the lecture's discussion of the fantastic as a genre.
  • La expresión de la irrealidad en la obra de Borges — Barrenechea's work supports the idea of the fantastic as a mode of representation.

Dissenting Sources

  • — No discordant sources were mentioned in the lecture.

Contribution & Novelties

The lecture offers a novel perspective by proposing that the fantastic series should be considered a language in itself, capable of expressing the ineffable. This goes beyond previous theories that viewed it as a genre or a mode of representation. The analysis of specific details in Borges and Cortázar’s works as ‘ballast’ between reality and fiction is an original contribution.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Tzvetan Todorov - The Fantastic — Provides an overview of Todorov’s structuralist approach to the fantastic.
  • Ana María Barrenechea — Information on the Argentine literary critic who studied Borges.
  • The Uncanny - Freud — Overview of Freud’s essay on the uncanny, relevant to the concept of the ominous.

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Radar Profile

The radar profile shows a balanced score across all dimensions, with slightly higher scores in quantity and quality of information, indicating a well-rounded presentation. The technical level is moderate, suggesting the content is accessible to a general audience with some background in literature.

Reliability 7/10