Bad Language, Naked Ladies, and Other Threats to the Nation: A Political History of Comic Books in Mexico

By Anne Rubenstein

Book Overview

In Bad Language, Naked Ladies, and Other Threats to the Nation, Anne Rubenstein examines how comic books-which were overwhelmingly popular but extremely controversial in post-revolutionary Mexico-played an important role in the development of a stable, legitimate state. Studying the relationship of the Mexican state to its civil society from the 1930s to the 1970s through comic books and their producers, readers, and censors, Rubenstein shows how these thrilling tales of adventure-and the debates over them-reveal much about Mexico's cultural nationalism and government attempts to direct, if not control, social change.
Since their first appearance in 1934, comic books enjoyed wide readership, often serving as a practical guide to life in booming new cities. Conservative protest against the so-called immorality of these publications, of mass media generally, and of Mexican modernity itself, however, led the Mexican government to establish a censorship office that, while having little impact on the content of comic books, succeeded in directing conservative ire away from government policies and toward the Mexican media. Bad Language, Naked Ladies, and Other Threats to the Nation examines the complex dynamics of the politics of censorship occasioned by Mexican comic books, including the conservative political campaigns against them, government and industrial responses to such campaigns, and the publishers' championing of Mexican nationalism and their efforts to preserve their publishing empires through informal influence over government policies. Rubenstein's analysis suggests a new Mexican history after the revolution, one in which negotiation over cultural questions replaced open conflict and mass-media narrative helped ensure political stability.
This book will engage readers with an interest in Mexican history, Latin American studies, cultural studies, and popular culture.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0822321416
• ISBN13: 9780822321415
• Release Date: October 1998
• Publisher: Duke University Press
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.2" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

What exactly is so Good about this book?

This book comes heavily blurbed and much recommended above. But why? Basically Rubenstein has covered all the bases both giving a brief overview Mexican comics and also showing how they were part of an ongoing debate about the nature of Mexican society and culture.

Understanding our neighbours South of the border

Cultural studies have opened new horizons to researchers in the Humanities, but not every person working the field has offered a more comprehensive, transcultural, multidisciplinary and worthwhile contribution to knowledge. Prof. Anne Rubenstein has. Her latest eye opener (Bad language, naked ladies and other threats to the Nation...) achieves the double goal of making a reasonable point and supporting it with sound, real information, obtained from actual sources --it is easy to tell that she has lived in Mexico, and actually read hundreds of illustrated magazines, before writing her book. I may not agree with her conclusions totally, but I wholeheartedly support every page of evidence she presents. My warmest regards to her --¡Felicitaciones por su trabajo!--, and to every reader who shares in her joyful and amazing quest for truth: The making and remaking of PostRevolutionary Mexico through media, are well worth the reading!

Humorous, cultural insights from the world of academia!

Prof. Rubenstein is one to watch! This book is interesting on a number of levels and should be required reading for students and professors in the area of political science, multiculturalism, and anyone interested in the recent or historical blending of pop culture and politics.