The Female Comic Books Industry

From the very appealing book title to an eye-catching cover, you know this book is bound to keep your attention induced. It gives you a window into the cultural and political impact of comic books in the new worlds of ‘Modern Mexico’. Her examination of these cultural artifacts gives us an insight into Mexico’s take on modernization. Rubenstein uses comic books or "historietas" and other kinds of popular literature as a means to inspect the networks of mediation between and within a "civil society". An ideal civil society where the narratives of the 'chica modernas' held a lot of distinct chapters. Examples such as “Real life chicas modernas, who wore suits to their offices, competed with men, and sometimes even went on working after marriage” and “We modern girls first we learn to dance, flirt and smoke and then to cook, to sew and to embroider” depicts how one concept, of la chica moderna, touched upon various viewpoints of the society.

La chica moderna not only fascinated readers but also threatened traditional Catholic values. According to the author’s view, these Catholic values were part of the larger cultural struggle. Women were portrayed as “faithful” and “innocent” but at the same time, the historietas showcased the idea of how a modern woman should behave. And throughout the modernization process, the ‘traditions’ were still a big part of the comic construction. The comic books were complex products and were always open to broad assumptions. There was also a rise in independent female comic writers which quickly became an authentic source of female representation. This along with increasing readership pushed the female comic industry.

Literacy rate also went from “33% in 1930 to 76% in 1970” and this was mainly due to the mass availability of public schools. And with comic books being a cheap source of entertainment, reading became a getaway to modern life. The creators of these comics “understood an exploited these powerful associations between patriotism, modernity, and reading”. Though softcore pornography was a part of comic books, women played a vital role in empowering each other. Mexican history’s change from the 1880s to the 1940s projected Mexico’s political and cultural stability within the global capitalist framework. As “Tradition did not precede modernity any more than modernity displaced tradition” explains, Rubenstein made sure to not lose track of the balance. Her point of view gives a fresh perspective into the lives of revolutionary Mexicans.

Comic books helped Mexico find an outlet to express dissent through the heights of its revolution. Constant interactions between different social, economic and cultural tiers produced historieatas that brought upon a movement in the ‘modernization’ process. Anne Rubenstein gives an all-round take on the narratives surrounding comic books in Mexico. She is candid about the concepts of nudity surrounding women, but also at the same time keeps the dialogue balanced. Through comic books, the public got what they sought, which was a variety of things ranging from entertainment to a sense of reliability. Publishers and media profited and Mexico discovered its own identity.