Media narratives: Constructing the mapuche subject

Today indigenous movement in Chile challenges the mythical view of a homogeneous society, and situates the politics of recognition at the core of the public debate. The indigenous movement problematizes not only the contents of the national imaginary but also the narratives constructed to describe that national imaginary. The present paper analyzes the Chilean mainstream media discourse on indigenous people, particularly the Mapuche, emphasizing the preferred framing strategies. The paper argues that the Chilean mainstream media proposes contradictory images of the Mapuche. On the one hand, the Mapuche are presented as a symbol of the past, of our common origins and of our lost connection with nature. But on the other hand, the Mapuche are also portrayed as aggressive, conflictive and deviant in the news. The idealized historical Mapuche is constructed as the symbol of the mestizo origins of the nation, while the living Mapuche is depicted as a deviant actor who is threatening the social order. The result is a  paradoxical media narrative on the Mapuche: while the historic figure is revered, the present figure is demonized. Alternative media outlets (from radio to online newspapers) supported by Mapuche organizations provide alternative perspectives that challenge mainstream frameworks. As a result, an extended universe of discourse is conformed, where symbolic struggles over the power of naming are constantly being reenacted.