An Intersectional Analysis of Ecuadorian Television Fiction
A Comparative Study Using the OBITEL Methodology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62161/sauc.v12.6198Keywords:
Intersectional analysis, Archetypes, Ecuador, Stereotypes, Narrative, OBITEL, TelenovelaAbstract
This article presents a comparative intersectional analysis of two Ecuadorian telenovelas premiered in 2024 by leading national television networks: Los García (Ecuavisa) and Los de al lado (TC Televisión). The qualitative analysis of eight episodes, four from each production, is conducted using the methodology proposed by the Ibero American Observatory of Fiction Television (OBITEL), which examines casting strategies, character development, and the intersectional positioning of characters. The findings reveal an ethnic centralism, with mestizo characters predominantly occupying leading roles, alongside the limited visibility of Indigenous and Afro descendant characters. Furthermore, Ecuadorian television fiction continues to rely on conventional forms of representation, restricting the incorporation of intersectional perspectives that could strengthen narrative complexity and more accurately reflect the country’s social diversity.
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