The Tacna-Arica Plebiscitary Commission Through The Caricatures Of The Magazine Sucesos (1925- 1926)

Abstract

The article addresses a series of cartoons that appeared in the magazine Sucesos between March 1925 and December 1926, referring to the failed plebiscite process that was to resolve the conflict between Chile and Peru over the sovereign possession of the cities of Arica and Tacna, derived from the Pacific War. It is suggested that, through these caricatured images, characterized by their ability to synthesize ideas and convey collective imaginaries through simple and easy-to-read drawings, the magazine disseminated an account of the plebiscite process in which a strong defense of the national interests, influencing through this visual discourse, in the perceptions of its reading public, located preferably in the main cities of the center of the country. Special attention is placed on the magazine format, characterized as a complex cultural artifact characteristic of the mass culture that emerged in Chile at the dawn of the 20th century, as well as its significant role in the diffusion and complexity of collective imaginaries. through visual images.