Publisher:
The European Journal of Humour Research
Issued date:
2022
Citation:
Eiroa, M. (2022). The humour factor: social media reactions to Franco’s exhumation from the Valley of the Fallen. The European Journal of Humour Research, 10(3), 54–77
Sponsor:
This article is part of the project results RTI2018-093599-B-I00 supported by MCIN/AEI
/10.13039/501100011033/ FEDER “A way to make Europe” and by the Madrid Government
(Comunidad de Madrid-Spain) under the Multiannual Agreement with UC3M in the line of
Excellence of University Professors (EPUC3M24), and in the context of the V PRICIT
(Regional Programme of Research and Technological Innovation).
Keywords:
Social Media
,
Memes
,
Humour
,
Valley of The Fallen
,
Francisco Franco's exhumation
,
Spain
,
Redes sociales
,
Humor
,
Valle de Los Caídos
,
Exhumación
,
Francisco Franco
,
España
Rights:
Atribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 3.0 España
Abstract:
This article analyses the social reaction to Francisco Francos exhumation from his burial place in the Valley of the Fallen at the end of 2019. This decision was taken by virtue of compliance with the so-called Historical Memory Law approved in 2007 aThis article analyses the social reaction to Francisco Francos exhumation from his burial place in the Valley of the Fallen at the end of 2019. This decision was taken by virtue of compliance with the so-called Historical Memory Law approved in 2007 and generated a great social
debate. A part from opinions in favour and against that decision coming from the political spectrum of the left and right, respectively, we observed a new attitude, that of humour, present in tweets and memes. By analyzing a collection of memes that circulated in Twitter and WhatsApp groups, our research shows that the new media have brought in content and symbolism that ridicule the late dictator, trivialise the treatment given to the Caudillo [Leader] of Spain for nearly four decades and contribute to an uninhibited interpretation of memory policies.[+][-]