Mala onda
Encyclopedia
Mala onda is a bildungsroman
novel and social commentary
by Alberto Fuguet
. It is also Fuguet's debut novel
, first published in 1992.
Mala onda is set in Chile during a ten-day period in late 1980, around the time of the Chilean constitutional referendum. The protagonist is Matías Vicuña, a maladjusted, upper class
, 17-year-old boy who is jaded and frustrated by what he perceives as the folly and blandness of his family and peers.
The novel examines the Chilean emulation of North American consumerism
, in the context of a growing opposition to the dictatorial rule of Augusto Pinochet
in Chile.
Bildungsroman
In literary criticism, bildungsroman or coming-of-age story is a literary genre which focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist from youth to adulthood , and in which character change is thus extremely important...
novel and social commentary
Social commentary
Social commentary is the act of rebelling against an individual, or a group of people by rhetorical means, or commentary on social issues or society...
by Alberto Fuguet
Alberto Fuguet
Alberto Fuguet de Goyeneche is a popular Chilean writer, journalist, film critic and film director who rose to critical prominence in the 1990s as part of the movement known as the New Chilean Narrative. Although he was born in Santiago, he spent his first 13 years of life in Encino, California...
. It is also Fuguet's debut novel
Debut novel
A debut novel is the first novel an author publishes. Debut novels are the author's first opportunity to make an impact on the publishing industry, and thus the success or failure of a debut novel can affect the ability of the author to publish in the future...
, first published in 1992.
Mala onda is set in Chile during a ten-day period in late 1980, around the time of the Chilean constitutional referendum. The protagonist is Matías Vicuña, a maladjusted, upper class
Upper class
In social science, the "upper class" is the group of people at the top of a social hierarchy. Members of an upper class may have great power over the allocation of resources and governmental policy in their area.- Historical meaning :...
, 17-year-old boy who is jaded and frustrated by what he perceives as the folly and blandness of his family and peers.
The novel examines the Chilean emulation of North American consumerism
Consumerism
Consumerism is a social and economic order that is based on the systematic creation and fostering of a desire to purchase goods and services in ever greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen...
, in the context of a growing opposition to the dictatorial rule of Augusto Pinochet
Augusto Pinochet
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973...
in Chile.