The Malvinas/Falklands War in Transatlantic Narratives: Exploring Collective Memory and Negotiating Self/Other Identity

In her article "The Malvinas/Falklands War in Transatlantic Narratives: Exploring Collective Memory and Negotiating Self/Other Identity", Andrea R. Bellot examines the remembrance of the Malvinas/Falklands War (1982) through cultural texts for children, presenting a comparative analysis of post-war narratives from both the United Kingdom and Argentina. Through a detailed exploration of "The Tin-Pot Foreign General and the Old Iron Woman" by British author and illustrator Raymond Briggs (1984), and the Argentine TV cartoon show "La Asombrosa Excursión de Zamba en las Islas Malvinas" (2012), broadcasted on Paka Paka, Bellot discusses how collective memory and national identity are crafted and contested in these representations. While both works aim to critique the absurdity of war, they diverge in their political undertones, engaging with themes of patriotism, collective memory, and political satire. Bellot's analysis employs a comparative literature framework to illuminate the role these narratives play in shaping remembrance and contributing to the ongoing construction of national identities and collective memories in the post-war era. Her findings underscore the significant influence of children's cultural texts in negotiating memory and identity, enriching our understanding of the complex dynamics between narrative, memory, and identity in the context of conflict.