Colombia: The Nation Beyond the Screen

In this study, we analyse two television series that delve into the rise of the Colombian drug trafficking empire. The central research question driving this analysis is: How do television series about Pablo Escobar, specifically Netflix's Narcos (2015) and Escobar: The Drug Lord (2012), contribute to shaping Colombia's national identity among global audiences? The study aims to facilitate a comprehensive discussion on constructing Colombia's national identity from domestic and international perspectives. The findings unveil evolving trends in the representation of Colombia, indicating a departure from generic Latino identity portrayals. Growing stability within the country's political landscape allows for more accurate depictions, with narratives filmed and acted by Colombians. Despite the differences between the two series, a troubling pattern emerges regarding the portrayal of women. In both narratives, female characters are depicted as submissive objects of desire and ownership, relegated to secondary roles dependent on male characters.