Abstract

In the light of Labov and Waletzky (1967)'s narrative model, this study illustrates the configuration process of a mythical narrative of Negro Matapacos, a stray, mixed-breed dog used to symbolize the struggle of oppressed and marginalized groups during the unprecedented popular revolt sparked in Chile on October 18, 2019. The study carries out a multimodal analysis of written, visual, and audio-visual data collected from October 2019 and March 2020, through ethnographic work and the monitoring of Facebook and Instagram publications. The results suggest the identification of clear and functional narrative elements in the configuration of a myth, where the meanings attributed to the sculpture are co-constructed, resemiotized, and recontextualized through the social protest, which are strategically supported by the permanent use of social media. © 2023 Universidad Catolica Silva Henriquez. All rights reserved.