Dark humor, mockery of modernity, and the economy of the book in David Toscana's fiction

Abstract

This study explores the ideological implications of black humor in David Toscana’s narrative works. The satiric and acerbic humor, the mocking parody and irony play a crucial role in the author’s critique of contemporary Mexican society. We highlight his satirical treatment of Modernity and history, but above all of the book culture in Mexico, to show how his critique relates to the idea of individual and collective failure as a corollary to underdevelopment. In particular, his works critique the instrumental reason promoted by the nonfiction books that have saturated the book market. We also examine his morbid humor and parody in relation to the Hispanic tradition, primarily in comparison with Cervantes and the play of truth and fantasy in Don Quixote.