La arpillera chilena como matriz de memoria y testimonio subalterno, 1973-2020
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2021
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Haverford College. Department of Spanish
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Thesis
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The Manuel J. and Elisa P. Asensio Prize
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spa
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Dark Archive
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Abstract
This thesis examines the evolution of the Chilean arpillera, a colorful form of artistic expression that uses appliqué, embroidery, and patchwork to depict stories of the dictatorship and scenes of everyday life, made by arpilleristas, groups of working class women, during and after the dictatorship in Chile. I propose that the arpillera itself is a testimonial framework that provides subaltern women with the opportunity to express themselves, free from the constraints imposed by existing theorists and government censorship. I also posit that the arpillera comprises a matriz de memoria (translation: a matrix/womb of memory), since it is a memory site that is constantly generative as well as a bearer of life, much like the arpilleristas who, too, are consistently tasked with preserving life andmemory. The arpillera provides a uniquely feminine space that celebrates the female gaze through its inclusion of subjectivity, emotionality, and multiplicity, which are qualities that have been overlooked by existing male-dominated frameworks. Through a personal interview with arpillerista Belgica Castro, my own lived experience in Chile during the historic "estallido social", and a close reading of four arpilleras, I analyze the development of the arpillera as it has adapted across different decades and historical contexts, from the beginning of Pinochet's Chile until the end.