A Guatemalan man created his version of the Mexican family-favorite game, Loteria, named Millennial Loteria. Not only does he cleverly readapt Loteria characters to fit with today’s online world, like La Selfie and El Tinder, but he also tackles the problems in America’s society.
Student debt, for example, is depicted as a man carrying the world on its back. Global warming is, fittingly, the sun. But perhaps the most relevant in today’s political climate is La Border Wall, pictured as a ladder standing up against a brick wall.
One can assume he’s poking at Donald Trump’s promise to deliver another border wall in hopes of stopping illegal immigration. The artist is sending a message with his ladder card, saying immigrants will find a way to America despite Trump’s efforts to stop them. He even sent the POTUS this message on his Instagram:
We see your wall and we give you La Escalera.
Mike Alfaro, the Guatemalan creative, made Millennial Loteria hoping to erase old stereotypes of Latinos. But he especially wants to take a crack at millennials and their daily lives. At 29-years-old, Alfaro is a millennial as well, so he knows all about our lives revolving around social media, easy access to services like Uber, and eating brunch.
Alfaro thought of the idea during his trip to Guatemala when he and his family played Loteria. The Guatemalan visited his home country to do research for a show. He wasn’t expecting to do this project too, but nostalgia got the better of him.
Loteria’s origins can be traced back to 1880 in Mexico. However, people from all over Latin America have enjoyed the game for decades. Guatemala shares a border with Mexico, so it’s no surprise that Alfaro has been playing Loteria since he was a young boy.
Many artists have created their interpretations of Loteria, but none like this. He defends millennials with a comedic relief, allowing his art to reach the screens of millions. Older generations often label younger people as lazy and unmotivated, without taking into consideration the differences between the two eras.
In reality, though, millennials have helped change the way society treats certain individuals. For example, Alfaro created two Loteria characters that say it all: a PRIDE flag and La Feminist. Now, more than ever, women and members of the LGBTQ community can be themselves.
What sets this Loteria apart from the rest the most is timing. Donald Trump is president and over half the country is fuming. Any content created that trolls Trump will without a doubt become viral. But Millennial Loteria was simply genius.