Leticia Neria PhD thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText ...

those in power for citizens in trouble. Other members of the community, even the
private sector –Borola is actually charging for the service- had to respond instead.
The abandonment of the authorities is also represented in Los Agachados. The
Mayor of Chayotitlán, Licenciado Trastupijes, wants money for a business deal with
China. The idea is illogical from the beginning, since the town is very poor and has few
inhabitants or products. The image of the Licenciado is exaggerated. He is represented
wearing a loose-fitting shirt (known as guayabera) and sunglasses, in the style of the
Mexican President Luis Echeverría at the time.
When Trastupijes’ secretary advises him to visit a locality belonging to his district
where the inhabitants are very poor in order to collect taxes, the Licenciado rejects the
idea. He states: ‘…capaz que si voy, se ponen a pedirme escuela, carretera, hospital, no,
no..’. 58 In this case it is a representative of the authorities who are portrayed. However,
the message is the same: those in government neglect the needs of the population.
Through comedy, a truth that should be corrected is revealed.
There are more examples that could be cited, and they will be presented later in
this chapter because they include other elements from the universe of humour which
58 Los Agachados, 77, p. 3.
Image
unavailable due
to copyright
restrictions
Image 3.5. ‘Licenciado Trastupijes’. Eduardo del Río ‘Rius’,
Los Agachados (6 January 1969) (in colour)
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