| dc.description.abstract | This dissertation discusses the psychological implications of the War on Drugs (WoD) and narco culture on Mexico and its people. It looks at it through the lens of collective trauma and compassion fatigue. Moreover, it also delves into the impact that they have had on the cultural and social values in Mexico. The War on Drugs and the culture that is derived from it have transformed hegemonic Mexican culture. WoD has also played a vital role in the redefinition of the female subject in contemporary culture. This study utilizes research done not only on narco culture but also on the women involved in the business of illegal drug trafficking and traces the transformation of Mexican telenovelas (soap operas) into narco telenovelas. The narco telenovelas chosen for this investigation are about Mexican drug lords and ladies, although it mentions some Colombian ones for analysis purposes.
The objective of this research is twofold. One is to show that Mexicans are paying a very high price for the corruption of a government that has allowed narco-traffickers to continue to operate their business freely while both parties get richer. The government’s collusion with Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs) results in favoring one drug cartel over the others. This preference only provokes more clashes among the different organizations and more violence affecting the entire population, just as in narco telenovelas. Secondly, it aims to understand the cultural transformation that Mexican society has undergone, part of which is directly related to the redefinition of the feminine subject not only in narco telenovelas but also in the country’s hegemonic culture.
This work consists of six chapters, including the introduction and the conclusion. The second chapter discusses the transformation that Mexican telenovelas, one of Mexico's most common forms of entertainment, have gone through to become a new genre—the narco telenovelas. The third chapter briefly describes Mexico’s history with war and the current war in Mexico, openly, since 2006—the War on Drugs. Chapter four examines the psychological implications that this war has caused Mexicans. Finally, chapter five addresses the redefinition of the feminine subject in the narco-trafficking culture and narco telenovelas. This dissertation has an open conclusion in which Mexico and Mexicans have undoubtedly been victims of a war that does not end and whose social, cultural, and psychological effects will mark future generations.
The relevance of this dissertation lies in the subject matter, its timeliness, and offers a different analysis of what has happened in Mexico due to the drug trafficking business. It opens a door for further psychological and cultural research into this nonsensical war. | |
