Indeed, Benavides concludes that as one of the most effective and lucrative industries in Latin America, telenovelas and narco-dramas play a key role in the ongoing reconfiguration of social identities and popular culture. Situating these melodramas within concrete historical developments in Latin America, he shows how telenovelas and narco-dramas serve to unite peoples of various countries and provide a voice of rebellion against often-oppressive governmental systems. More than a dozen versions of the telenovela have been made in other countries due to the popularity of the plot. reincarnations La fea más bella and Ugly Betty), Adrián está de visita, and Pasión de gavilanes the Brazilian historical telenovela Xica and a variety of Mexican narco-drama films. Yo soy Betty, la fea, often referred to simply as Betty, la fea, is a Colombian telenovela, written by Fernando Gaitn and produced from 25 October 1999 to by RCN. Benavides offers close readings of the Colombian telenovelas Betty la fea (along with its Mexican and U.S.
In this first comprehensive analysis of telenovelas and narco-dramas, Hugo Benavides assesses the dynamic role of melodrama in creating meaningful cultural images to explain why these genres have become so successful while more elite cultural productions are declining in popularity. Latin American soap operas-telenovelas-have found enthusiastic audiences throughout the Americas and Europe, as well as in Egypt, Russia, and China, while Mexican narco-dramas have become highly popular among Latinos in the United States. Soap opera speaks a universal language, presenting characters and plots that resonate far beyond the culture that creates them.