The Silenced Century in One Piece: Nico Robin as Archive and Memory

Abstract

In this paper, inspired by the anime One Piece, the figure of the character Nico Robin is explored as a human archive that embodies memory, resistance, and hope in the face of the oblivion imposed by dominant power structures. The analysis of the Void Century, a period of time erased by the figure of the World Government, we can observe how the manipulation of history functions as a tool of domination. In this vein, Nico Robin emerges, who, through her ability to decipher poneglyphs, offers alternative narratives that destabilize official discourse.

The objective of this paper is to study that the anime, beyond being a tale of pirates and adventures, offers a critical reflection on censorship, repression, and the importance of seeing the perspective of silenced voices. This analysis will draw on the contributions of Michel-Rolph Trouillot, Michel Foucault, Jacques Derrida, Janine Benyus, Carlos A. Scolari, and Hayden White, and from which the concept of insurgent metahistory will be proposed.

Keywords: One Piece, Nico Roin, void century, historical memory, archive, resistance, insurgent metahistory.