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

peso from 12.50 pesos to the dollar to 23 pesos. 85 These problems led to a severe and
lasting economic crisis which was very difficult to overcome during the next few
years. 86 The impact of the economic crisis became an important issue in the comics and
films studied for this research, as we will see later. In El Águila Descalza we see the
struggles of the working class with poverty and the difficulties of life in a big city; in
Mecánica Nacional the characters argue about how they should cheat in their jobs to
make more money; La Familia Burrón constantly discusses the rising cost of living,
meaning that Regino must work harder and Borola must set up her own business in the
vecindad; the characters in Hermelinda Linda live in a poor neighbourhood and also
find it hard to afford everyday expenses. The women are forced to ask Hermelinda’s
help with birth control since their families cannot afford more children; on many
occasions in Los Agachados the characters discuss poverty, and some issues are solely
dedicated to explaining the economic crisis and the cost of living. 87
Violence
In spite of these apparent left wing tendencies and social policies, many things remained
unchanged from previous administrations. One of them, as mentioned above, was the
use of repression as a means of social control. In 1971, groups of students throughout
the country carried out demonstrations, criticising the education reform plans and
demanding the release of those political prisoners who were still in jail. They called for
a demonstration on 10 June in Mexico City. Since the demonstration was not authorised
by the government, the police asked the students to leave the streets, but instead they
continued with their march. Suddenly, from one of the main streets, dozens of young
85 José Agustín, Tragicomedia mexicana 2… pp. 114-115.
86 More detailed information about the reasons for 1976 crisis and how it affected the Mexican economy
can be consulted in Miguel Basañez, El pulso de los sexenios… pp. 48-60.
87 For example, issues 30, 51, 100, 277.
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