Periódicos e folhetos humorísticos de José Daniel Rodrigues da Costa desde a Revolução de 1820 até ao início da Guerra Civil

This chapter intends to approach the humorous periodicals and leaflets by José Daniel Rodrigues da Costa from the Liberal revolution of 1820 until the outbreak of the Civil War in Portugal. In Almocreve de Petas and other periodicals edited since the turn of the century, Costa resorts systematically to humor in order to convey a criticism of ways and manners in line with social and political conformity. From the revolution of 1820 onwards, his leaflets take an openly political stand in the public sphere. At first, they suggest support for the new régime. But Costa eventually joins the enemies of Constitutionalism becoming yet another mouthpiece of Absolutism. The criticism of manners undertook in his writings became so popular that required consecutive reprints until mid-nineteenth century. Generations of readers appropriated his jocular formulae showing prejudice, one of the pillars of political conformity, a tenet of the editorial line of Costa’s periodicals. But the jestful critique of change, including social mobility, supposed the possibility of conceiving otherness and change. Especially with a catalyst such as the Revolution of 1820.