Unfit and negative youth: current discursive formations and representations among the contemporary Argentina

Abstract

This article delivers an analysis and description of the current representations and speeches regarding the contemporary young people of Argentina. This representation was built based on the field job carried out with several actors (young people, old people, communications media) during years 1998 and 2004 in the city of La Plata (Province of Buenos Aires) as a part of the doctoral investigation of the authoress (Chaves, 2005). The analysis of the speeches allowed the identification of several representations over the young as well as the acknowledgement of discursive formations in which such representations were included. The note includes as well a systematization of characterizations for the young people of Argentina and/or Latin America, carried out by other authors. As well, equivalencies are established with the offered proposal. Finally, it is interpreted that the hegemonic visions towards the young people of Latin America are due to the legislature juridic and restrictive model. It is said that the young people is known by the «great NO», it is unfit (according to the juridic model) or negative (according to the restrictive model); the young are not allowed to exist as a total entity (in transition, uncomplete, nor infant nor grown up) or their practices are condemned (they are problematic youths, uncommitted, rebels or delinquents and offenders).