Racial Ideology of Mestizaje and its Whitening Discourse in Memín Pinguín
In this essay I will analyze how the comic strip Memín Pinguín, applying Vasconcelos’ The Cosmic Race framework of mestizaje, presents an apparent harmonious yet deceitful image of racial democracy which ultimately reveals a whitening discourse. Though different races are given a space in this comic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Universidad de Costa Rica
2015-12-01
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| Series: | Revista de Lenguas Modernas |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rlm/article/view/22205 |
| _version_ | 1818823855409463296 |
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| author | Paloma Fernández Sánchez |
| author_facet | Paloma Fernández Sánchez |
| author_sort | Paloma Fernández Sánchez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this essay I will analyze how the comic strip Memín Pinguín, applying Vasconcelos’ The Cosmic Race framework of mestizaje, presents an apparent harmonious yet deceitful image of racial democracy which ultimately reveals a whitening discourse. Though different races are given a space in this comic strip, their representation is far from even and the white character(s) are clearly privileged. The black characters—exclusively represented by Memín and his mother Eufrosina—are portrayed as physically and intellectually inferior and with no agency. Their actions are measured and directed by authority figures—which are racially white. Those authority figures judge Memín and his mother ́s actions as mostly illogical or incorrect. All in all, these opinions reduce blackness to a minimal presence which has no reper- cussion on the others’ lives, in addition to presenting blackness as a recessive trait that will eventually disappear. The (mis)representation of the black presence and contribution to the Mexican society in the comic strip follows the same standards which are applied on a daily basis in Mexico. While the visual elements of the comic strip provide the reader with an apparent in- clusive image parallel to the one proclaimed by mestizaje, the discourse and character interactions incorporate other less all-encompassing dynamics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T23:46:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-75b722e8d712441184959ebb55a7303f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1659-1933 2215-5643 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T23:46:36Z |
| publishDate | 2015-12-01 |
| publisher | Universidad de Costa Rica |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Revista de Lenguas Modernas |
| spelling | doaj.art-75b722e8d712441184959ebb55a7303f2022-12-21T20:47:11ZengUniversidad de Costa RicaRevista de Lenguas Modernas1659-19332215-56432015-12-012310.15517/rlm.v0i23.22205Racial Ideology of Mestizaje and its Whitening Discourse in Memín PinguínPaloma Fernández SánchezIn this essay I will analyze how the comic strip Memín Pinguín, applying Vasconcelos’ The Cosmic Race framework of mestizaje, presents an apparent harmonious yet deceitful image of racial democracy which ultimately reveals a whitening discourse. Though different races are given a space in this comic strip, their representation is far from even and the white character(s) are clearly privileged. The black characters—exclusively represented by Memín and his mother Eufrosina—are portrayed as physically and intellectually inferior and with no agency. Their actions are measured and directed by authority figures—which are racially white. Those authority figures judge Memín and his mother ́s actions as mostly illogical or incorrect. All in all, these opinions reduce blackness to a minimal presence which has no reper- cussion on the others’ lives, in addition to presenting blackness as a recessive trait that will eventually disappear. The (mis)representation of the black presence and contribution to the Mexican society in the comic strip follows the same standards which are applied on a daily basis in Mexico. While the visual elements of the comic strip provide the reader with an apparent in- clusive image parallel to the one proclaimed by mestizaje, the discourse and character interactions incorporate other less all-encompassing dynamics.https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rlm/article/view/22205mestizajewhitening discourseideologyMéxicoracial identity |
| spellingShingle | Paloma Fernández Sánchez Racial Ideology of Mestizaje and its Whitening Discourse in Memín Pinguín Revista de Lenguas Modernas mestizaje whitening discourse ideology México racial identity |
| title | Racial Ideology of Mestizaje and its Whitening Discourse in Memín Pinguín |
| title_full | Racial Ideology of Mestizaje and its Whitening Discourse in Memín Pinguín |
| title_fullStr | Racial Ideology of Mestizaje and its Whitening Discourse in Memín Pinguín |
| title_full_unstemmed | Racial Ideology of Mestizaje and its Whitening Discourse in Memín Pinguín |
| title_short | Racial Ideology of Mestizaje and its Whitening Discourse in Memín Pinguín |
| title_sort | racial ideology of mestizaje and its whitening discourse in memin pinguin |
| topic | mestizaje whitening discourse ideology México racial identity |
| url | https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/rlm/article/view/22205 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT palomafernandezsanchez racialideologyofmestizajeanditswhiteningdiscourseinmeminpinguin |