Document 31.2: Eva and Juan Perón Wave to Their Supporters, 1951

Every aspect of the Peróns’ public appearances was carefully choreographed, right down to the way the couple waved to the crowds that gathered to see and hear them. Take a close look at this photograph of the Peróns waving to their supporters. What message might they be trying to send through their body language and facial expressions? What might the Peróns’ distinctive wave have been meant to suggest about their relationship to the Argentine people?

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(Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Questions to Consider

  1. How would you characterize the Peróns’ wave? What were its most important components? What differences do you note between Eva’s and Juan’s performance of the gesture?
  2. Compare and contrast the Peróns’ wave to the Nazi salute. What message did each gesture convey?