Hernán Pas, Andrea Bocco

Presentación. Gacetas gauchescas y públicos plebeyos (1830-1860)

Introduction

Presentación. Gacetas gauchescas y públicos plebeyos (1830-1860). Explora el surgimiento de gacetas gauchescas en el Río de la Plata (1830-1860) y su impacto en la diversificación de públicos lectores, incluyendo lectores-oyentes marginales.

Abstract

En la historia letrada y en la más general historia de la cultura impresa, la década de 1830 marcó un momento significativo en el despliegue de técnicas y materiales de impresión y, consecuentemente, en el incipiente proceso de ampliación y/o diversificación de los públicos lectores. En ese contexto, la aparición en el Río de la Plata de impresos periódicos gauchescos resultó un hecho singular no sólo en el marco de dicho proceso, en tanto supuso la creación multiplicada de un destinatario hasta entonces no considerado (Rama, 1982), sino también dentro de la lógica del propio género. El formato relativamente estandarizado por Bartolomé Hidalgo (1788-1822) halló en la prensa un soporte de experimentación especialmente productivo, generando una profusión de escritos gauchescos (fenómeno que Julio Schvartzman ha designado como “poligrafía incontrolable”) y a la vez un tipo de lector marginal, lector-oyente, cuyas competencias letradas eran más bien nulas o rudimentarias.

Review

The article, "Presentación. Gacetas gauchescas y públicos plebeyos (1830-1860)," introduces a compelling examination of a pivotal period in the print and literary history of the Río de la Plata region. It aims to demonstrate how the decade of the 1830s, characterized by advancements in printing technology and materials, significantly broadened and diversified reading publics. Within this transformative context, the emergence of *gauchesco* periodicals is posited as a singular phenomenon, not only for fostering an entirely new and previously unconsidered "marginal" readership, but also for profoundly influencing the very structure and expression of the *gauchesco* literary genre itself. A central strength of this work lies in its incisive focus on the 1830-1860 timeframe as a crucible for cultural innovation. The article effectively connects the established *gauchesco* format, pioneered by figures like Bartolomé Hidalgo, with its experimental proliferation in the periodical press. By highlighting the "poligrafía incontrolable" phenomenon (Schvartzman) and the creation of a "lector-oyente" whose literacy was rudimentary at best (Rama), the abstract promises a nuanced understanding of how print culture actively shaped new forms of engagement and community. This exploration moves beyond a simple linear progression of literacy, emphasizing the dynamic and often improvised nature of literary production and reception during a period of significant social and political flux. While this "Presentación" lays an excellent groundwork, the full article will undoubtedly offer deeper insights into several critical areas. One might anticipate a detailed analysis of the specific textual features and rhetorical strategies employed by these *gacetas* to reach their "plebeian" audiences, as well as a more comprehensive discussion of the socio-political implications of addressing this previously marginalized public. Further exploration into the methodologies for identifying and interpreting the impact of these "lector-oyentes" would also be highly valuable. Overall, this introduction promises a significant contribution to the fields of Latin American literary studies, print culture history, and the study of popular publics, offering a fresh perspective on the interplay between technological change, literary evolution, and audience formation.

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