Telenovelas are an integral part of the Latino family. Women that work at home watch several novelas a day. Spanish television channels show them Monday through Friday almost all day long. There is a brief interruption to show the news and talk shows in the afternoon. These novelas last from 6 months to a year. The theme good versus evil is always present. Viewers divide the characters between “Buenos” and “malos”, good and evil.
Several years ago, Colombia produced a telenovela titled Betty la fea. The TV show Ugly Betty was based on this novela. It was so popular that nothing of importance was done during the time the telenovela aired. Everyone watched it, including men. A new version aired in 2019 titled Betty in New York. I provided a link to the first chapter in your video clips for the week.
In 2011 a new type of telenovela /series was aired, La reina del sur. The series depicts the rise of Teresa Mendoza, a young woman from Mexico who becomes the most powerful drug trafficker in southern Spain. Watch these two short chapters of these two telenovelas, Ugly Betty and La reina del sur before you answer the Discussion questions.Watch these two short chapters of these two telenovelas, Ugly Betty and La reina del sur before you answer the Discussion questions.
Tell us about any experience you have had watching an American soap opera or a “telenovela”.
After reading the articles The Power of the Telenovela and Telenovelas Provide Platform and watching the videos, explain how “telenovelas” have impacted the Latino community. Please provide examples.
How can “telenovelas” be used as a tool to influence society? Explain
