On masculinities in gauchesca Literature and tango

Abstract

Just like gauchesca literature, tango also provided symbols of masculinity in the narrative of national identity. However, not all gauchos and not all guapos shared the same characteristics of manhood. While both were part of the models of the Argentine macho, this image did not remain unchanged; it underwent transformations throughout the history of both genres, where both gauchos and compadritos, without necessarily abandoning hegemonic masculinity, faced contradictions and discrepancies, sometimes manifesting as fissures or escape routes in the type of manhood they represented.

In our literature, there are tough and relentless gauchos, as well as gauchos who cry and lament. A similar phenomenon occurs in tango: there are hard and violent guapos, and sentimental and mournful ones. Both genres seem to share modes or forms of masculinity, which led us to formulate the guiding hypothesis of this work: that the models of masculinity developed in tango originate, at least partially, from gauchesca literature.