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

‘Tenemos que darle al pueblo la nueva imagen del gobierno: que ya no odien a la
policía..’. 206
The performance of the army is also strongly criticized in Los Agachados. When
Rius is wondering what exactly Echeverría’s Apertura Democrática is, he discusses the
role of the army, and how it abuses citizens. A caption reads: ‘Y prosiguen las
detenciones arbitrarias, las golpizas, torturas y amenazas a miembros de la
oposición...’. 207 The frame is illustrated with a soldier who looks like Adolph Hitler,
with the same moustache and hair. In this case, the incongruity is that something
unexpected is inserted in the narrative : the image. By recognising the element that does
not correspond, we understand the joke. However, in this case, the element that distorts
the image has political implications, and by recognising Hitler, we understand that the
author considers Mexican soldiers to have behaved in similar ways, such as violating
human rights. The caption makes this plain. The violence of the soldiers is confirmed in
a previous issue when Professor Hans explains that the government has not found a way
of conducting a dialogue with the students - only violence – and the frame shows a
soldier wearing a gas mask beating a student. 208 The pleasure and relief are similar to
what was previously described, such as discussing army violence through an act of
humour: since it is a taboo topic, the enjoyment from insulting them will be greater. It is
a safe way to discuss the issue, and perhaps the only harmless way, to take revenge on
this wrongdoing.
Even though Hermelinda Linda and La Familia Burrón do not speak about
paramilitary groups and secret police, in Los Agachados the reference is
straightforward. In the issue in which the 1971 attack against students is discussed, Rius
206 Los Agachados, 71, p. 4.
207 Los Agachados, 115, p. 12.
208 Los Agachados, 77, p. 20.
150