Abstract
This paper offers a phenomenological analysis of the phenomenon of rumors in jail, called bembas in the jargon of political prisoners in 1970s Argentina. It is an attempt to describe certain aspects of the production, circulation and reception of the bembas within the time and space of the prison setting. The author’s own experience leads him to show how the circulation and production of bembas are a simultaneous occurrence. During their circulation through cells and cell blocks, bembas would inevitably become transformed, acquiring depth, growing simpler or more complex, dividing, subdividing, or even combining with other bembas. The role of these rumors within the political punishment system is analysed to show the ambiguous psychological function of the circulation of information in such a restricted society.
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