The new mission of Hugo Chávez

Shampooing soap operas with socialism

Latin American soap operas, which have been ruling our TV screens for three decades, world phenomenon and an anti-depressive in these times we live in, have become the subject of interest for Hugo Chávez, the president of Venezuela. Conducting his ideas in a radical manner, he is trying to satisfy his revolutionary drought by introducing socialism into soap operas. Therefore, the title he gained in the media suits him perfectly - "TV soap opera fanatic"


By IVANA JOVANOVIĆ
Cooperation with the magazine of Association of Hispanists "REFLEJO"
Translation: SUNČICA JOVANOVIĆ


Hugo Chávez criticises the soap operas which currently rule the screen promoting, according to his words, capitalistic anti-values. He stresses that this capitalistic feature should be destroyed in these TV shows - the aspiration for personal bless and confort. Instead, the characteristics of a modern socialistic movement should be promoted: modesty and equality among people.

Statements like this have been provoking fierce discussions in public life. Writers like Mónica Montańez, Leonardo Padrón and Doris Seguí have commented that the president has forgotten the fact that the only goal of soap operas is to entertain and maybe indicate some examples of negative behavior, such as family violence.

- Soap operas should not be the mean for political manipulations - stated Mónica Montańez as a response to the statements Chávez gave. She defends the posture that soap opera should show us something up-to-date that will draw the public's attention and entertain. - Shampooing soap operas with values of any political ideology and any kind of political propaganda would not be consistent with their function and the rating would go down - she claims.

- I never had the intention to write a socialistic or capitalistic novel. What should be written is a love story - explains Doris Seguí, referring to her soap opera "Tomasa, I love you" ("Tomasa, Tequiero"). During the filming of this show, there were problems because the soap opera promotes capitalistic values: money in abundance, gambling, poor maid who, thanks to the circumstances, becomes rich over night, etc.

There is one positive thing the mentioned writers see in this story. Actually, on his speedy way towards socialism in the XXI century, by discussing about this topic, the president of Venezuela Hugo Chávez discredits the myth about soap operas being entertainment exclusively for women. Not only he became the symbol and synonym for socialism, fight against the American imperialistic policy and large capital, but also he established censorship in this genre, which he also admits watching breathlessly.

We are talking about a controversial politician, who often achieves his goals in a scandalous manner. Considering the fact that he managed to pull down diet Coke, forbid golf courses, take away estates from landowners, confiscate American hotels and much more, the question stays open whether the Latin American soap operas we today know will comply before the revolutionary ideas of this eccentric politician.


(Published: 09.02.2010.)