On February 11, 2019, the Department of English and the Department of World Languages & Cultures jointly put together an event titled “Contested Sites.” It was focused on the exploration and discussion of a book by the Argentinian poet Néstor Ponce titled Disappearance without absence (Desapariencia no engaña). The book is dedicated to the individuals who were kidnapped, tortured and murdered by the military dictatorship in Argentina (1976 -1983).

On February 11, 2019, the Department of English and the Department of World Languages & Cultures jointly put together an event titled “Contested Sites.” It was focused on the exploration and discussion of a book by the Argentinian poet Néstor Ponce titled Disappearance without absence (Desapariencia no engaña). The book is dedicated to the individuals who were kidnapped, tortured and murdered by the military dictatorship in Argentina (1976 -1983).

After Assistant Teaching Professor in Latin American Studies Max Ubelaker Andrade (Néstor Ponce’s English translator) opened the session with a description of the book and presented some of its underlying tensions, Assistant Professor of English Maia Gil’Adí and Associate Professor of English Keith Mitchell offered their interpretations of selected poems. This was followed by a discussion that included the panelists and the audience members.

At the close of the event, participants were given the opportunity to submit a few questions to the poet. These questions were subsequently translated and presented to Néstor Ponce, whose responses are presented below in both English and Spanish. (All translations are by Max Ubelaker Andrade.)

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I want to thank Max and all of the students. Their questions are pertinent, interesting, and helpful to me as I reflect on my own writing. Thank you for having read my work.

Quiero agradecer a Max y a todos los estudiantes. Las preguntas son pertinentes, interesantes y me ayudan en mi reflexión sobre mi propia escritura. Gracias por haberme leído.
Néstor Ponce