Humor and National Catharsis in Roberto Cossa's El saludador

Document Type

Article

Date

Fall 2002

Keywords

Specific Literature: Argentinian literature; Time Period: 1900-1999; Subject Author: Cossa, Roberto M. (1934- ); Subject Work: El saludador (1999); Literary Genre: drama; Literary Technique: humor; Literary Theme: (treatment of) protagonist; (as) surrogat

Disciplines

Latin American Languages and Societies

Description/Abstract

This article examines humor in Roberto Cossa’s El saludador and proposes that, through his unique blend of comic forms, the playwright manipulates audience reaction and provokes catharsis in his spectators. Cossa creates a comic protagonist who is a surrogate for the Argentine nation. Through their identification with the humorous protagonist/nation, spectators can consider their own reaction to the abuses the nation has suffered or self-imposed. Unlike earlier Cossa plays, which may have impeded audience catharsis, the spectator/protagonist/nation identification in El saludador promotes catharsis through audience laughter and allows spectators to purge themselves of economic and political fears in the aftermath of recent events in Argentina’s history. (GB)

Additional Information

Copyright Spring 2004 Latin American Theatre Review. This article may be downloaded for personal use only. Any other use requires prior permission of the author and Latin American Theatre Review.

The article may be found at: https://journals.ku.edu/index.php/latr/article/view/1391

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

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