Experts gathered at the literary cycle “Generación Mediodía, semilla del 27” (Mediodía Generation, Seed of the '27), organized by Metrosoneto and held at the Cajasol Foundation, concluded that the magazine Mediodía was fundamental to the development of one of the most brilliant literary periods of the 20th century in Spain.
Over two days of debate, specialists agreed on the avant-garde nature of the Sevillian publication. Mediodía managed to bring together in its pages writers, illustrators, and artists of the highest caliber not only from Spain but from all of Europe, while also establishing connections with other cultural magazines on the continent.
It was recalled that almost all the authors who would later form the Generation of '27 published in Mediodía, with the notable exception of Dámaso Alonso. The magazine served as a launchpad for young creators in literature, illustration, and painting, who would later achieve international recognition.
Speakers emphasized the great effort by the authors to keep the publication afloat. With a print run of around 500 copies and barely fifty sold, the magazine's survival, which published 19 issues, largely depended on the financial contributions of the collaborators themselves, who were committed to a cultural project that transcended commercial interests.
The event also addressed the need for continued research into the history and influence of Mediodía. It was highlighted how this generation decisively contributed to positioning Seville at the forefront of Spanish culture, making the city the epicenter where the Generation of '27 would crystallize months later.
The limited female presence in the so-called Generación Mediodía was raised, contrasting with the active participation of women in literary forums in Madrid. This notable reduction opens new avenues for study on the cultural dynamics of the era.
Experts agreed on the importance of reissuing and recovering materials from Mediodía and its main authors. They consider this task fundamental to preserving the legacy of a publication that played a key role in Spanish cultural history, despite its current lack of recognition.
The cycle's director, Francisco Robles, and coordinator, Lola Chaves, thanked the Cajasol Foundation for its support and the invited specialists for their valuable contributions.
A notable element was the dialogue between literature and music, facilitated by cellist Beatriz González Calderón, director of AlmaClara. Her performances of period pieces helped recreate the cultural atmosphere and creative context of the Generación Mediodía.
Experts participating in the cycle included José María Barrera, Juan Lamillar, José María Rondón León, David González Romero, Gonzalo Gragera, Yolanda Morató, Eva Díaz Pérez, Rocío Plaza, Julio Mayo, Eduardo Pastor, Ricardo Suárez, and Manuel Jesús Roldán, who offered new perspectives on the publication.
The event served to advocate for Mediodía's legacy as the intellectual seed of the Generation of '27 and as one of the most innovative cultural projects of Seville in the first third of the 20th century.
