I was at MOMA last week, and this was on view: http://www.moma.org/collection/object.php?object_id=94491 The artist’s empty speech balloons – that weird space where language and culture are left empty – made me think of you, those twisty/sinister ways that U.S.-based pop culture left imprints on Latin America.

This is a really interesting artist. Thank you for sharing because I wasn’t familiar with these works.

And yes, US pop culture is pervasive for us. People always laugh when they expect me to dance salsa or tango and instead, I explain I grew up listening to Joy Division. Actually, I only learned to appreciate many aspects of my culture once I realized what this business of pop culture colonialism (we call it “imperialism” back home when referring to the US) was all about. And that’s why Neuenschwande’s work is so poignant.

Incidentally, just like Brazilians are (very justifiably) peeved about Disney’s Ze Carioca, our personal affront were the movies of Rodolfo Valentino. I have yet to meet an Argentinian who will not roll their eyes at the mere mention of those films (and laugh because the portrayal of our national traits couldn’t be more stereotypical and sort of offensive).

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