María Odette Canivell Arzú explora las intrincadas conexiones entre literatura, política y narrativas culturales. Su trabajo investiga cómo los símbolos nacionales y las nociones de heroísmo se construyen y difunden a través de procesos intelectuales y literarios. La autora profundiza en las repercusiones históricas y sociales del pensamiento, examinando, por ejemplo, el impacto de Freud en el mundo moderno. Su escritura investiga la compleja interacción entre las artes creativas, las estructuras de poder y la formación de la identidad colectiva.
Literary Narratives and the Cultural Imagination analyzes the cultural imaginaries of the United Kingdom and Spain through their national heroes, King Arthur and Don Quijote, and compares the ways in which they have been constructed as marketing tools.
National heroes are a staple of practically every culture in the world. Through the analysis of the traits, values and personality of heroes it is possible to get a glimpse into the psyche of a given culture. By examining the figures of Don Quijote de La Mancha and King Arthur, a comparison of the world view, of the mores, and of the ideal characteristics that made Spain and Great Britain choose these exceptional representatives can be attained, highlighting the similarities and differences between both cultures.