Dinosaurs and other Mesozoic fauna in Spanish popular culture

The group Dinosauria was established by palaeontologist Richard Owen in 1842 to describe the ‘terribly large reptiles’ of the past. Since the late-nineteenth century, palaeontology has fascinated many intellectuals, artists and creators, particularly with regard to dinosaurs and other Mesozoic reptiles. In Spain, this interest first appeared in the press in the form of fiction and essays, and by the early twentieth century, it had spread to comics and collectable cards. However, the coup d’état of 1936 and the subsequent war caused a terrible setback for palaeontology, which was reflected in the depiction of Mesozoic fauna in different art forms. Although dinosaurs continued to feature, the lack of updated scientific data meant that these animals were often recreated in forms based on imagination rather than fact. With the advent of democracy, the study of the past in Spain was revived, and in recent decades, the field of ‘palaeofiction’ has been explored through numerous cultural expressions, from literature to cinema, comic strips to video games. This article reviews how the image of Mesozoic giants has evolved in various artistic media and examines the sociocultural perception of dinosaurs in Spain over the years.