The NARCOMANTA (Drug Cartel Banner) Phenomenon of Power

Just very briefly, don't want to let this go from my mind. It was until quite recently that the so called narcomanta phenomenon caught my attention. I think that it was only three months ago that I thougth that this was bizarre and did not want to think that it was important. However, seeing in the news that killings involving drug cartels, police and civilians are a daily bread in the Mexican news, have made me change my mind about this.

I am not sure on how people in Mexico feel about the narcomantas, but i see them as acts of terrorism, because they send messages to different social institutions: to the government, to the police and army, and to the rest of the society. As far as I am aware, the narcomantas are big banners that are displayed in diverse areas of cities (where they could be seen of course). The normal cities where they are displayed are where important drug cartels have power, and where corruption is wide spread across the police and government. Yes, I know this could mean almost anywhere in Mexico (sadly though). Well, let's leave it to Chihuahua, Sonora, Sinaloa, Tamaulipas, Reynosa, and Veracruz. I hope I am not missing any place, but if i am, please make a comment.

So, yes, the narcomantas that I first saw said things like: 'we are recruiting current and ex-police forces to join our cartel. We provide these benefits' (salary, etc. obviously better than the one offered by the state). Nowadays, the much more complex and elaborate banners say something like: "the federal state has been making millions by hiding away the following drug cartel leaders: -and there is the list of very much sought for criminals-". And finally, on one side of the banner, the photo of the muppet that Mexicans have as president... I don't want to get started about that 'president' man.

As I see it, just under this very superficial comment and my impressions for the past few months, the narcomantas are a very ambitious project. They are a clear symbol of what Mexico has been pretending to cover for decades: corruption is endemic and is at large.

The narcomantas must be terrifying the whole of the society because more than ever before the killings happen on an scandalous daily basis, at many places, and are reaching more people. The banners may serve a purpose of confirming fear to the society. What it may have started as a war against the state, must be understood as a means to scare the people.

In Mexico it is more or less evident that very few are protected (who are these and by whom are they protected is what has been evidenced by the narcomantas), and therefore you cannot trust the state in all its shapes. At the end, the most painful thing to me is that this is cutting deep into the soul of the people.

Spellbound by Horror and Gore Watching

This past weekend was the last bank holiday of the year, and as for every year there is this fantastic Frightfest taking place in the West End. Last year was the first time i could go and got two day passes. I did love it and decided that this year i would get a whole weekend pass. However, as I was in Helvetijarvi national park (Suomi), i missed the opportunity for buying a weekend pass. Yes, i did not think that well about this whole thing. Even if i was waiting so eagerly for that film festival... Even the best hunter looses its pray.

Anyhow, once i came back from Suomi i tried getting a couple of day passes for the Frightfest, and i could get a ticket for one of the days that i wanted to attend. So i did, regretably only went to one day. This make me realise that next year i ought to really think clearly and plan this ticket buying much more seriously.

Right, so there i went, last Friday. The list of films for the day were: Cronocrímenes (Time Crimes); El Rey de la Montaña (The King of the Hill); Trailer Park of Terror; The Strangers; Freakdog; and, Bad Biology. Because i had to take the train to get back home, i had to skip Bad Biology. This was a shame as it seems to be quite sick and inappropritate, which would have make it worthwhile: taking the human sexuality and reproduction to some extremes cannot be as extreme as the actual reality... I had a nice warm up with Teeth some time in the early summer.

Enough with my kind of 'diary' sketch. I did enjoy Time Crimes and Mum & Dad the most. Time Crimes because it presented the time-travel paradox in a nerve breaking manner resolving it quite well at the end without remorse. The main character is trapped in time and sacrifices two of his selves leaving them trapped in two times. Mum & Dad, was a rather interesting exploration of English family dynamics, contemporary society and psychotic minds. You feel trapped and engaged with the well protrayed characters. Fascinatingly, three of the actors, the director and the producer came to the festival.

But, but, my favorite thing on that day was that Adam Green and Joe Lynch made a series of mini-shorts to pay homage to the Frightfest! The short that i watched was a make-over to one of my favorite 'The Twilight Zone' moments, which was the prologue to the '83 movie: 'Do you want to see something really scary?'

Yes, I did get my share of scare bites for the weekend. Such a great feeling!

Electric Vihta wasn't dead! Long live Electric Vihta!

visited 13 states (5.77%)
Create your own visited map of The World

Yeah, i wish that this map would actually show the visited cities to make it more thorough, otherwise it's a bit boring... but for the moment does the job. I'll try to search for another one that would be much more specific.

Recently visited the very beautiful beaches of Wells-next-the Sea and Holkham (Norfolk, England).





My next travelling projects: to visit Boston (USA) and Barcelona (Spain).

I've got to admit that those do not compare to the fantastic travelling mega project of jULES and Olavi Viimeinen who are going all around the world for over a year! Let's hope they post some crazy images from their trips.

I've obviously have more to say, but for the moment i needed to show that this bloggy blog is alive and kicking, just like us!