The Paradox of Drug Lords (Grace Gerely Response 3)
Recently I watched a documentary series on Netflix which reveals the true story behind Kate Del Castillo-- the actress who plays Teresa Mendoza in La Reina Del Sur-- and Sean Penn's secret meeting with the drug kingpin "El Chapo" Guzman while he was on the run after his second escape from prison in Mexico. Through this documentary I was able to catch a glimpse of the corrupt politics in Mexico and the complex power held in the hands of drug lords like "El Chapo." I became acutely aware of how malignant the Mexican government is and how, oftentimes, drug lords are held in higher regard than the men and women elected to serve the people. As I've watched La Reina Del Sur, I've often asked myself why this life of drug dealing and violence is so glorified by the audience, and this new discovery clears the air a bit. Teresa Mendoza, at first, is quite opposed to the idea of being involved in the drug business after Guero, the love of her life and a once quite ambitious drug dealer, dies as a result of his ambition; however, soon enough, she finds herself involved with yet another man infatuated with the large sums of money earned from transporting drugs, and, this time, she decides to join in. She becomes a hero of sorts, a woman who builds herself up from the ashes of a life destroyed by people not unlike the ones she befriends in Spain. Teresa Mendoza becomes powerful and just as strong as any male drug kingpin, and the audience worships her for it. This worship is not unlike that of the real drug lords in Mexico, the men who seem to do more to protect the people than the government does, and now I see that. Now I see that this glorification of such a violent and-- what some would call corrupt-- life is perfectly valid for a people who only ever truly get help from people like Epifanio Vargas (the drug kingpin who lets Teresa escape in the show). I'm constantly surprised by how much I learn from this telenovela, especially with regards to Latin American culture.
I think you have a very good point about how more and more in the show, narcotraffic becomes increasingly normalized. However, this isn't to say it is no longer presented as dangerous. While it is very much glorified, it also shows the bad side of drug trafficking; the countless bodies, the constant fear of getting caught, and the betrayals and lies are all very much represented in the show. This is, partly, because it is a telenovela and does need drama, but I don't think it is wholly a cause for problems and drama. All of this is also included because in the end, this is partly the reality of the drug world.
ReplyDeleteI also think Teresa is glorified and idolized because when it comes down to the point, she is a trafficker, but she also came from nothing and worked hard and survived so many scarring experiences and is now a hardened, calculated, strong, successful woman. Even if she weren't a drug lord, I personally believe her character would still be looked up to just because she did defy all odds and her hard work paid off.
Before watching La Reina Del Sur, I had not truly been exposed to the narco-world that many Latin American societies revolve around either. There is definitely a different reaction to narco trafficking or drugs in Mexico versus other countries such as the United States and Spain. Narconovelas like La Reina Del Sur do make it seem like people worship these drug lords and their cartels. It is ironic because these drug cartels seem to be what is ruining many Latin American countries today, such as Mexico. It is well known that the Mexican government is very corrupt and often drug cartels or rebel groups are able to work the system and override the government. La Reina Del Sur exemplifies this with the character of Epifanio Vargas because not only did he have Guero killed in order to be the next major drug lord, but he was also elected as mayor of his city. Thus, he was a very well-respected man in Mexico but secretly he was also in on the drug business and adding to the corruption of the country. This makes you think about whether or not the producers are trying to reflect the corruption of Mexico’s government and their officials within their telenovela. Moreover, I also understand and agree with how you think that many people glorify these drug lords because they have more power to help the regular citizens compared to the actual officials in the government. However, I think this aids in the corruption of the government and society. Many citizens admire and glorify the drug lords or dealers because they are so powerful, successful, and wealthy. As a result, they try to become involved in the narco-world too as they believe it is their only chance to overcome poverty. For example, if you remember near the beginning of the telenovela when Santiago was introduced, he hated his job because he knew it was wrong and dangerous. However, he had to deal the drugs because it was the only way he could make a lot of money. I feel like many other telenovelas display similar ideals, such as Sin Tetas No Hay Paraíso.
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