HOW DOES MAFALDA DENOUNCE THE POLITICAL, CULTURAL, BUSINESS, AND ECONOMIC STRUGGLES OF ARGENTINE PEOPLE DURING THE 1960’S AND 1970’S?

open_access
Open Access
Author:
Haverly, Alexa A
Area of Honors:
Spanish
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Soledad Traverso, Thesis Supervisor
Dr. Michael Edward Brown, Thesis Honors Advisor
Patrick Hayes Cosby, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
Mafalda
Argentina
Buenos Aires
Comic strip
Quino
Joaquín Salvador Lavado
Spanish
Abstract:
Sixty-five years ago, Mafalda, and inspirational and revolutionary comic strip was first published in Argentina. This famous comic strip portrayed the suppressed opinions of the Argentinean citizens through a six-year old girl. Timeless subjects and concerns such as freedom, happiness, fairness, democracy, justice, ethics, and time are issues that still affect the Argentineans and are critically discussed. Each character in Mafalda represents the fresh look, and at the same time, the very critical view of society. By analyzing three powerful themes: culture, politics, and business, I will be able to further understand the Argentinean society. Throughout this, I will assess the impact that businesses and the economy have had on the Argentinean people to understand if there is a correlation between the economic performance and the criticism in Mafalda. Since the economic performance during the various dictatorships in the 1960’s and 1970’s have had a negative correlation, the dictatorship had a negative response with the Argentinean citizens while they suppressed and eliminated basic human rights. Mafalda, one of the most successful comic strips has gained a following that has lasted for over sixty years. Argentineans are proud of Quino and his work. Since the Argentineans were fearful to speak their mind, Mafalda, was their voice to the public, the government, and to other countries. Mafalda is one topic that most Argentineans could relate with which helped unite and strengthen Argentina. Without Mafalda, Argentina would not be where and how it is to this day.