As we mentioned a few days ago, for this 2nd Edition of the Seniors' Week we have had a very special collaboration for us. It is Dominga talks to herself, a profile created by Elisabeth Justicia, whom we have the pleasure of interviewing today, sharing with her followers her unique view of the world and various current topics.
Visit the social media of this endearing grandmother or our Instagram profile and enter the draw for a senior-friendly smartphone SPC ZEUS 4G PRO and the book Dominga talks to herself: better to talk to yourself than to stay silent accompanied.
If you want to get to know Dominga and Elisabeth a little better, don’t miss this interview.
Who is Elisabeth Justicia?
Elisabeth is an illustrator, graphic designer, and senior technician in social integration. After many years working in the artistic and graphic design world, she felt the need to add a more social dimension to her work and, without knowing exactly how, she achieved it thanks to the universe of Dominga talks to herself.
And who and what is Dominga?
Dominga is a fictional character completely inspired by my grandmother, through whom I manage to convey a multitude of feelings, emotions, thoughts, and opinions thanks to the calmness that only age can bring. Most of the viewpoints come directly from the way the “real Dominga,” my grandmother, thinks.
How, why, or for what purpose was the Dominga talks to herself profile created?
Dominga was born at the end of the lockdown. During the months we stayed at home, I started a series called "confined drawings" which I began posting on social media. It was a series of daily drawings related to the feelings and emotions we could experience during those months at home, which lost meaning once we could go out again. But the need to keep telling stories and expressing my opinion remained. So Dominga appeared as an excuse to continue doing so, with the “protection” of using a fictional character instead of exposing myself directly.
How has Dominga evolved over these years: what has she learned, where has she made mistakes, what does she miss from the past, and what does she expect from the present and future…?
I believe there is indeed a noticeable evolution in Dominga and her message. She has taken on a more social aspect and managed to give visibility to a generation that seems increasingly forgotten. And this is a very important generation that has achieved most of the comforts and well-being we enjoy today!
With this social focus, I have also learned a lot (and therefore my character has too). Getting closer to these social aspects, creating empowerment workshops for older women, collaborating with associations involved and concerned about our future as a society, etc., I believe have enriched, taught, and helped the character grow immensely.
So everything Dominga has learned, where she has erred, what she misses, or hopes for the future can be seen reflected in her published cartoons and will be seen in those yet to be published.
You recently published the book Dominga talks to herself, Better to talk to yourself than to stay silent accompanied. Tell us why you decided to write Dominga’s book—did Dominga still have something to say?
Dominga has many things left to say, and this book is just the beginning. After the success on social media and the great reception of the character by organizations like the Red Cross, Cuidopía, Grandes Amigos, and several smaller (but great) associations, I was invited to publish a “Dominga” book with whatever I wanted to share. And of course, there are many topics Dominga talks about almost daily in her cartoons: social issues, seniors, feminism, feelings, emotions, claims, humor… So this book was designed to explore in depth, through new cartoons and unpublished texts, three themes: loneliness, fear, and the passage of time. And this is just a small selection, so as you can see, there is still much to tell—and maybe one book won’t be enough!
Who is the book aimed at? Who do you especially address it to?
As I mentioned before, the book can be aimed at anyone who wants to reflect on the three topics it covers, who wants to learn to see new perspectives and find a balance between those dilemmas we face. Dominga, addressing these topics in independent cartoons, tries to show reality as it is: there are moments when loneliness, fear, or the passage of time affect us deeply, and other moments when we can even fully enjoy them. Ideally, we would find a balance that helps us keep going “without falling too much.”
What will we find in the book?
It is a book that tackles three major themes (or big topics!): loneliness (seen from that unwanted loneliness that saddens, isolates, and depresses us, to chosen solitude that allows us to enjoy life and get to know ourselves better), fears (those that paralyze us and prevent us from doing things and those that push us to act in uncomfortable moments), and the passage of time (the time we long for, the time that makes us live in nostalgia and memory, the time that threatens us with its speed…).
And I think these three themes are very well connected and affect us all, regardless of our age. It’s a way to realize that age is just a number and that life affects us all equally. It also combines text, images, and some somewhat poetic reflections, so it’s suitable for all audiences!
Who is this book recommended for?
The book is suitable both for avid readers and for those who are not very fond of reading. It is an easy-to-read book (it even has slightly larger font size to facilitate reading for older people) and very light, combining short texts and independent cartoons that allow reading at a slow pace to reflect a little on each page, or more quickly to finish it in a short time.
Dominga talks to herself has collaborated with us for the 2nd Edition of SPC’s Seniors' Week. What is Dominga’s relationship with technology?
The character Dominga expresses herself through social media, so technology is a very important reality. However, she is aware of the great gap in the mix of technology and older people. We live in a society where major technological advances focus on younger generations and often forget the rest. One of Dominga’s major claims is that technology should serve people (regardless of age) and make life easier, not the other way around. Yet, many times, this same technology makes the well-being of older people more difficult.
She already has a ZEUS 4G PRO. How and for what is Dominga using it?
Although Dominga is a fictional character, I am sure that if Dominga were real, she would be delighted that SPC has put this smartphone in her hands, which makes technology easier to use, allows her to stay in touch with friends and family, and also has that emergency button that provides so much peace of mind! Honestly, I am really happy to see your enthusiasm for bringing technology closer to older people and breaking this trend of focusing only on the younger ones.
