Nota roja
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
|
Related e |
|
Featured: |
Nota roja (lit. “red note” or “red news”) is a journalism genre popular in Mexico. While similar to more general sensationalist or yellow journalism, the nota roja focuses almost exclusively on stories related to physical violence related to crime, accidents and natural disasters.
The origin of the name is most likely related to the Mexican Inquisition, where a red stamp was placed on orders for execution or other punishments. By the 19th century, the term came to be used for violent crime, especially murder.
With the development of the newspaper industry in that century, news of this type developed long, very detailed stories, which might have a graphic image to artistically depict the event.
Both were meant to provoke emotion and sensationalism. The need to provoke emotion in the stories continued into the 20th century, but the introduction of photography in journalism changed both the illustration and text of the stories, with photographs, especially gory ones, dominating nota roja pages and text diminishing to bare facts and violent words.
Today, entire newspapers are devoted to nota roja stories and have infiltrated television as well. The genre has also influenced writing and cinema in Mexico as well as prompted criticisms that it promotes and commercializes violence.
Definition
Nota roja literally means “red note” or “red news”. It is a type of sensational journalism or yellow journalism, defined by its focus exclusively on stories involving physical violence usually occasioned by robbery, murder, tragic accidents, imprisonment and executions. However, natural disasters can also be covered. News of this type can be found as single sheet announcements, sections of newspapers, entire newspapers and magazines and television.
Linking in as of 2022
José Guadalupe Posada, Carlos Monsiváis, Enrique Metinides, Cómo Nace el Universo, México Bárbaro, Elidio Ramos Zárate, Disappearance of Alfredo Jiménez Mota, Vania Vargas
See also
- Post-mortem photography
- Death and Disaster (Andy Warhol) by Andy Warhol
