Mythical Reactivation, Performance, and Cultural Agency: Mothers of the False Positives in Colombia, a Case Study

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Published: Apr 26, 2021
Keywords:
myth, performance, cultural agency, ritual, memory

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Ana Cepeda-Jaramillo
Consejo para la Cultura y las Artes de Nuevo León
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4716-9201
Salvador Leetoy
Tecnologico de Monterrey
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1203-0939
Diego Zavala-Scherer
Tecnologico de Monterrey
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7362-4709

Abstract

This research presents an analysis of performative strategies in socio-digital spaces posited by the Mothers of the False Positives in Colombia Foundation (MAFAPO). We argue that this group generates cultural agency in onlife environments by re-appropriating mythical narratives. First, we discuss the concept of myth as a counter-narrative for hegemonic struggle. Then, we analyze MAFAPO’s actions, including performance staging and photographic exhibits shared on their social media sites. We conclude by emphasizing the group’s transition from the protest to project, based on the strategic use of myth as a platform to raise awareness and confront memory monopolization.

 

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 57 (2021)
Section
Articles
Author Biographies

Ana Cepeda-Jaramillo, Consejo para la Cultura y las Artes de Nuevo León

Ana Cepeda holds a BA in Anthropology from the Externado de Colombia University, a MSc in Social Sciences with an emphasis on communication and culture from the University of Guadalajara, and a PhD in Social Sciences from Tecnologico de Monterrey. Her research interests are about cultural productions in socio-digital spaces, socio-digital movements, connective actions, digital memory, and agency creation of victims of enforced disappearance.

Salvador Leetoy, Tecnologico de Monterrey

Professor of Media and Digital Culture at the Tecnologico de Monterrey, Guadalajara Campus. He is a member of the Mexican Researchers System (SNI, Tier I). He holds a PhD in Cultural Studies from the University of Alberta (2008). He was a Fulbright Scholar in Residence at Drake University. He is director of Virtualis, Journal of Digital Culture. He is Latin American regional re´´presentative of the Association for Cultural Studies. His research focuses on subaltern studies, politics of representation, and social movements.

Diego Zavala-Scherer, Tecnologico de Monterrey

Research Professor in the Media and Digital Culture Department at Tecnológico de Monterrey (Guadalajara, Mexico) where he has been a faculty member since 2009. He completed his Ph.D. at Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona, Spain). He is a member of the Mexican Researchers System (SNI Tier I). He is a fellow member of Transmedia Narratives Research Group in the Universidad de Rosario (Argentina), and pat of the I+D+C Museum Group of the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (España). He is co-director of Virtualis, the digital culture journal of Tecnologico de Monterrey, and co-editor of the book Cine político en México (1968-2017).