Power and satire in the front-page images of Mariano Rajoy: visual motifs as political humour

This article explores the use of photography and visual motifs as forms political humour in contemporary media. By studying representation former Prime Minister Spain Mariano Rajoy front pages three Spanish newspapers (El Mundo, El País La Vanguardia) between 2011 2017, paper identifies questions liaisons power satire present so-called “serious” press, focusing on how different photographic traits concerning layout, composition gestures reflect ideological choices. developed by printed media is then framed within a figurative tradition that goes back to royal portraiture, from Velázquez Goya, which employs common strategies for depiction power, including satirical humorous attributes push specific agendas. examination, based quantified study analysis more than 7,500 pages, part national research project Visual Motifs Public Sphere: Production Circulation Images Power Spain, 2011-2017. In order determine useful procedural approach expressions photographs, defining invoke remarkable content, this also presents comparative categorisation formal (im)balances related concepts motif humour.