Vow of Darkness

(Trujillo, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, 1937) Sociologist, National University, 1963; MA in Sociology, University of Wisconsin, USA, 1965, Ph.D. in Sociology, University of Wisconsin, USA, 1972.

The core of his literary project is the narrative, through the novel and the short story, of the identity nature and transformations in a Colombian region who is a cultural crossroads (Afro-colombian, several indigenous groups and the settlers coming from the Antioquia colonization), between Popayan, Cali, the Coffee-growing Zone and Buenaventura, during three periods: the pre-modernity, focusing on land values ​​and theological vision of life; the modernity, centered on reason, economic development and the so-called slow technologies; and the crisis of modernity caused by the new technologies, the preponderance of science and globalization.

Among his literary works are: Faraón Angola (2011), which won Honorable Mention awarded by Casa de las Americas in 2012, El don de Juan (2002), which won the National Novel Prize; Tarzán y el filósofo desnudo (1996), selected by Semana magazine as one of the six best Colombian novels of the past 25 years; El álbum secreto del Sagrado Corazón (1978), selected by Luz Mary Giraldo (writer, literary critic and teacher) as one of the thirteen essential literary works of national literature; Trilogía sentimental; Los bolsillos de Herbert Wolff; El extranjero subrayado and Museo de lo inútil.

He has written and been involved in numerous books, articles and publications in sociology, education and literature throughout his career as a sociologist, researcher, ethnographer, writer and teacher. His researcher work with Nacional, Los Andes, Pedagogica and Externado universities, UNESCO and Cepal, has been recognized. He has been awarded with the Interamerican Education Prize of the OAS and with the National Social Science Prize. Colciencias has selected some of his ethnographic works as "essential to the preservation of the memory of school life in Colombia in the twentieth century." Among its educational publications are: Ausencia de futuro: la juventud colombiana, Proyecto Atlántida: los adolescentes colombianos, La escuela violenta, Innovación escolar y cambio social, La vida de los maestros colombianos.

Parra’ literary work has been permeated by his research and his academic projects, in turn, have used literary elements to create a bridge and a dialogue with the actors in the school world: students, parents, teachers, researchers, international staff, public and school entities.