In the name of the islands: confluences between literature, technoscience and history in Tania Hermida's The Invention of theSpecies (2024)

Abstract

The article examines Tania Hermida’s film La invención de las especies (2024), exploring its interplay with literature, science, technology, and history within the context of the Galápagos Islands. The central aim is to analyse how the filmmaker reinterprets the archipelago through an audiovisual narrative that blends fiction, autobiography, and intertextual references, crafting a fresh discourse on identity and cultural memory. The film is presented as a sort of “encyclomedia” that weaves together diverse knowledge, from evolutionary theory to Ecuadorian poetry, employing a playful yet documentary-like approach. The reuse of historical and literary materials is highlighted, alongside the role of technology and science in the storyline. The conclusion underscores Hermida’s reinvention of the Galápagos as an audiovisual space, contributing to Ecuadorian cinematic tradition and offering a foundational vision of the archipelago in film.