THE MAN OF X: INTERTEXUAL RELATIONSHIPS IN AROEIRA’S CARTOONS

Abstract

This study aims to understand how intertextual relationships are established in the cartoons produced by Renato Aroeira when depicting the figure of Elon Musk. The cartoonist draws on cultural, political, and social influences, alongside visual figures of speech and references to current events, with the purpose of constructing a critical narrative. A survey of 17 cartoons published on the author's Instagram account (@arocartum) between 2022 and 2024 was conducted, focusing on Musk. The concept and types of intertextuality were understood, in addition to its use in the creation of argumentative strategies (Koch, Bentes, Cavalcante, 2012; Koch, Elias, 2014; Cavalcante et al., 2022), in conjunction with the concepts of genre and hypergenre, specifically addressing cartoons and studies on comic language (Romualdo, 2000; Miani, 2000, 2023). In the cartoons, Musk is portrayed as a manipulator exerting global control over political, social, and economic events, including in Brazil. Aroeira’s critique addresses themes such as censorship, corporate influence, and intervention in public policies and social movements, emphasizing the negative impacts of concentrating power in the hands of a single billionaire, both in the public and private sectors.