The Mestizo Self. A History of Autobiographical Writing in Peru, 16th - 21st Century

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Ulrich Mücke
• Subject Area: Modern and Contemporary History
• Term: from 2019 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 431427713

The project analyzes ideas about the self in autobiographical texts written in Peru between the 16th and the 21st centuries. It aims at showing the crucial factor colonial rule has been for self-descriptions in Peru since the very beginning of Spanish government until today. Therefore the self of Peruvian autobiographical texts has been located between a modern European world and a non-European space that is supposed to belong to the past. The project denominates this location between cultures mestizo and examines in depth the mestizo character of Peruvian self-descriptions. Following this approach, the project will provide a history of autobiographical writing in Peru and a contribution to the debate about coloniality. It will become clear that not only colonial power is crucial for understanding ideas of the self but also that Peruvians have been able to criticize colonial rule and colonial traditions in their autobiographical texts.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants