Bienvenidos a ACABland. ?Por qué nos encapuchamos? 18.0

Welcome to ACABland. Why do we wear balaclavas? Chilean October Crisis 2019-2020

Abstract (250 words)

Variation on a Theme Park is a book concerning global cities, privatisation of public space and the culture of contemporary urbanism as consumption. The absence of authentic citizen engagement is what characterises the theme park city and its variations.

In 2018 Chile was voted tourist destination of the year and the cultural heritage residential barrio Lastarria, in  Santiago, was nominated as one of the 12 hipster locations.

This essay is a mapping of a cultural precinct and a review of street art that traces the shift from cultural tourism to the normalisation of violence during the five-month Chilean urban insurrection that began on 18 October, 2019 (18-O). The area, now known as Ground Zero, is mapped as a cultural tourist precinct from 2010-2019 and then its subsequent transformation after 18-O. The concept of authentic engagement is used as the evaluating tool in both phases and the transformation is sifted through the ANTIFA idea of ACAB – All Cops Are Bastards. The violent actions of a second generation born after the return to democracy in 1990 precipitated 18-O. An ACAB logic served the myth of many that the current democracy is a continuation of the dictatorship (1973-1990).

In conclusion, the normalisation of violence and destruction as protest could only be suspended by COVID quarantine on 27 March, 2020. When quarantine was lifted in October 2020, the violence and destruction resumed and an ACAB alibi normalised violence and destruction as legitimate protest. Quarantine was lifted in early October and for the first 18-O anniversary, protesters destroyed two historic churches with fire as the official opening of ACABland.


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