Ciencia ficción y capitalismo: estudio semiótico de ¡Universo! (2018), de Albert Monteys

Abstract

The primary objective of this article is to analyze the semiotic representations in the graphic novel ¡Universo! (2018) by Albert Monteys. This study aims to explore how visual elements, icons, symbols, and graphic language are employed to articulate critiques and reflections on contemporary consumer society. Through a semiotic and narratological approach, the article examines the visual and discursive strategies that underpin the dystopian narrative of the work, emphasizing the interaction between text and image. In this way, through a detailed examination, it investigates how Monteys utilizes these semiotic resources to construct a discourse that challenges and questions the dominant values of consumerist culture by presenting a futuristic dystopia framed within the conventions of science fiction. In a world where technology and capital dominate human life, capitalism in its ultimate form emerges as the sole social law as well as the only moral and ethical reference. Thus, the analysis highlights how these representations contribute to the understanding and interpretation of the underlying messages in the work. Consequently, it underscores how Monteys’ work employs irony and dark humor as tools to subvert the logics of late capitalism, fostering a critical reflection that resonates with contemporary social concerns.