ARGENTINA ARDE: ART AS A TOOL FOR SOCIAL STRUGGLE Veronika Miralles B.A., Simon Fraser University, 2001 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in the Latin American Studies Program of the Department of Sociology and Anthropology O Veronika Miralles 2005 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Summer 2005 All rights reserved. This work may not be reproduced in whole or in part, by photocopy or other means, without permission of the author. Approval Name: Verdnika Miralles Degree: Master of Arts Title of Thesis: Argentina Arde: Art as a Tool for Social Struggle Examining Committee: Chair: Dr. Alexander Dawson Dr. Mdnica Escudero Senior Supervisor Senior Lecturer Latin American Studies Program Department of Sociology and Anthropology Simon Fraser University Dr. Rita De Grandis Member Associate Professor French, Hispanic and Italian Studies Program The University of British Columbia Dr. Jerald Zaslove External Examiner Emeritus Professor Departments of English and Humanities Simon Fraser University Date Approved: 20 May 2005 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY PARTIAL COPYRIGHT LICENCE The author, whose copyright is declared on the title page of this work, has granted to Simon Fraser University the right to lend this thesis, project or extended essay to users of the Simon Fraser University Library, and to make partial or single copies only for such users or in response to a request from the library of any other university, or other educational institution, on its own behalf or for one of its users. 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Bennett Library Simon Fraser University Burnaby, BC, Canada This study focuses on artistic representations of the Argentine crisis of 2002, as produced by the art collective Argentina Arde. The photographic, documentary video, performance works and texts produced by Argentine Arde give an indication of the ways in which the 'nation' is being envisioned by new social movements in Argentina. This study provides insight into their strategic use of nationalist discourse in organizing and mobilizing various sectors of the population. I look into the role played by Argentina Arde within the resistance movements that surfaced as a result of the national crisis, and by extension, the role played by the artists' politico-cultural production itself in counteracting hegemonic discourses of the state and the mass media channels it controls. Through this study I argue that groups of this kind may have great significance for the expression and proposal of alternative solutions to national problems in Argentina and Latin America. iii A mi madre, a mi padre y a mi tia-abuela Hilda quienes me ensefiaron el gran valor de la educacidn. A Emilio, Melissa, Jorge, Eva, Angela y a mis demas amigos y amigas, quienes me aguantamn y me apoyaron durante todo este proceso. A Bob Euerton, quien por su interminable amor, energia y sabiduria, ha sido mi mas grande inspiracidn. To my mother, myfather, and mygreat-aunt Hilda who taught me the great value of education. To Emilio, Melissa, Jorge, Eva, Angela and the other friends who put up with me and who supported me during this ulhole process. To Bob Everton, whose boundless love, energy and wisdom, has been mygreatest inspiration. I would like to thank Monica Escudero for her constant support and mentorship as my senior supervisor, as a professor, as a colleague and as a friend. As well, I want to thank Rita de Grandis for her detailed and inspired supervision. I am also indebted to Bob Everton, Juanita Sundberg and Pilar Riaiio who have been great role models for me as academics and who have shown me that it is possible to work within the academy without losing your creativity and political commitment. Sebastian Touza and Cecilia Pereyra have been an inspiration for me in their commitment to working in solidarity with Argentine social movements, and they constantly amaze me with their boundless energy and optimism. I want to also acknowledge the incredible work of the Argentina Arde collective, which proves to us all, that hitting bottom means that the only way out is up. TABLE OF CONTENTS Approval ........................................................................................................................ ii ... Abstract ........................................................................................................................ 111 Dedication............................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... v Table of Contents ......................................................................................................... vi .. List of Figures ............................................................................................................. VII Introduction: Art that Walks the Talk .......................................................................... 1 Chapter 1 Theoretical Approach ............................................................................ 4 Chapter 2 A Political-Economy Analysis of the Argentine Crisis ...................... 10 Chapter 3 Social Movements. the Left and Militarism in Argentina ................... 21 3.1 The Piquetero Movement ........................................................................ 34 3.2 The Argentinazo Uprising ...................................................................... 38 Chapter 4 Art and Cultural-Political Expression in Argentina ............................ 40 4.1 The Tucuman arde Exhibit ..................................................................... 52 Chapter 5 A History of the Argentina Arde Collective ........................................ 62 5.1 The Photography Committee................................................................... 74 5.2 The Video Committee............................................................................. 77 Chapter 6 Argentina Arde Analysis ...................................................................... 84 6.1 The Methodology of Argentina Arde ....................................................... 84 6.2 The Argentina Arde logo ........................................................................ 89 6.3 The "LaBala Bandera" Street Performance ............................................ 92 6.4 Nationalism. National Identity and New Social Movements in Argentina ................................................................................................ 96 Chapter 7 Conclusion: Old Symbols in a New Context .................................... 102 Bibliography ........................................................................................................ 114 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 Map of the provinces of Argentina. Based on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces~of~Argentina(June 11 , 2005).... .. ..3 vii INTRODUCTION: ART THAT WALKS THE TALK The recent collapse of the Argentine economy in December 2001, and the socio- political crisis it unleashed on the country are the inevitable result of decades of mismanagement of the national economy, corruption of its political leaders, and orthodox stabilization plans which have effectively dismantled the social welfare system and sent unemployment on a spiraling upswing. The extent of poverty and indigence is now worse than it has ever been in Argentine history. In the near absence of state-sponsored aid and development programs, people have had to group together to try to create local and self-sustainable solutions to their problems. They have had to work collectively to find strategies of resistance and techniques for influencing state policy. New social movements in Argentina have started using a myriad of tools and techniques to educate and raise consciousness, to document the struggles of people living in the margins, to counteract the government propaganda and the lies spread by the communications media monopoly, to inspire organized and mass mobilization, and to create small, local and sustainable development projects. These social movements threaten to redirect the future of the nation-state. This research project focuses on one particular group, which uses fine arts and multi-media as their method of participation in the social struggles of the nation. The group is called Argentina Arde. It takes its name from a political art exhibit from 1968, named Tucuman arde. An analysis of the links between the past and present, as well as a structuralist analysis of two of the group's artworks will help to uncover their specific objectives and discourses