Representations of andean cultural identity in contemporary ecuadorian literature

Abstract

The representation of Andean cultural identity in 21st-century Ecuadorian literature is a topic of growing academic interest, due to its connection to collective memory, oral tradition, language, and ways of understanding the world from historically marginalized perspectives. In this context, the study analyzes how Andean cultural identity is shaped in contemporary Ecuadorian literature, identifying the main symbolic and cultural resources involved in its representation. The research was conducted using a qualitative approach, through a descriptive literature review with a narrative design, based on scientific articles, books, book chapters, theses, and other specialized documents, as well as on the analysis of selected works by Ariruma Kowii, Yana Lucila Lema, and Mónica Ojeda. The results show that Andean identity is represented through orality, ancestral memory, language, territory, spirituality, and the contemporary reinterpretation of previously subordinated cultural elements. Likewise, a transition was observed from indigenist and social critique approaches toward more complex forms of self-representation and aesthetic reworking. It is concluded that contemporary Ecuadorian literature contributes to making Andean cultural identity visible, preserving it, and reinterpreting it within the national literary landscape.