Nostalgia by an Unfinished Idea of Chile. The Case Study of “Ramona”

Abstract

Relying on a qualitative methodology combining narrative and visual analysis, this article discusses the Chilean television series Ramona (Wood Producciones, 2017-2018). Collecting data through a reception diary, a close viewing of the twelve episodes of the show, and highlighting key features of its conditions of production, we argue that Ramona contributes to better understand Wood’s work and characterize its authorship (regarding issues, aesthetics, and narrative). Wood’s authorship has been studied by analyzing his films but not his television’s productions. The analysis also demonstrates that Ramona inserts History (and it is embedded on it) through its visual grammar and by using references operating as nostalgic clues. Within such paths of reading, Ramona contributes to Chilean memory and identity and to better comprehend nostalgia’s role in contemporary television fiction. Finally, despite its very local remarks, Ramona also evokes larger processes common to Latin American’s contemporary history, such as rural-to-urban migration, the lack of housing, the urban poverty, the emergence of masses (sujeto popular), and grassroots political movements.

Keywords

• tv series
• history
• authorship
• chile
• fiction