| Description |
This dissertation is a qualitative textual analysis of online memes inspired by a narco-novela fictional character called Mónica Robles, from the teleseries "El Señor de los Cielos" (2013). This is an analysis of memes inspired by this character, not of the character itself within the series, even though at times the series will be used to provide context. What this analysis offers is the classification and development of major themes encountered within a sample of 250 memes that circulated on Twitter and Facebook between the years 2015-2018, that were retrieved using the hashtag #CabronaComoMonicaRobles. This is an interpretive work that seeks to explore dominant themes and patterns encountered within this sample of memes. My goal was to investigate if, and how, memes can serve as communication tools that contain meaningful images, messages, and potentially cultural ideas. This reading will be situated in a very particular context, where multiple forces of oppression, including violence, are in constant operation. Given the violent nature of the character itself, and given current concerns with regards to narcocultura, I wanted to identify, through the lens of decolonial feminism, the kinds of discourses, conversations, and narratives that were being displayed and/or contested through the use of these popular memes. I believe that this work has the potential to contribute to new media studies, popular culture studies, media studies, and feminist studies.g |
