Museums, Exhibitions, and Memories of Violence in Colombia: Trying to Remember

This book explores how cultural diversity informs Colombian historical memories of the internal war (1980-2016), focusing on four case studies: the National Museum's selections, a display commemorating the assassination of a demobilized guerrilla fighter, a rural marginal community's display hall for collective healing, and a rural peripheric community's emphasis on peasant oral traditions. It contributes to understanding how social groups recreate and remember violent experiences, and how museums and exhibitions become politically active subjects in reflection and mourning.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 204 pages
Publication date: 16 June 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book delves into the intricate interplay between cultural diversity and historical memories in contemporary Colombia. It explores how individuals and communities remember the brutalities committed by the Army, guerrillas, and paramilitaries during the country's internal war (1980-2016). Through four compelling case studies, the book sheds light on the selective choices made regarding what to remember and how to represent these painful events at the National Museum of Colombia.

The first case study highlights the challenges faced by the museum in selecting and presenting narratives that do not perpetuate harmful stereotypes or glorify violence. It examines the choices made in constructing a display to commemorate the assassination of a demobilized guerrilla fighter, emphasizing the importance of avoiding romanticizing or idealizing these individuals.

The second case study explores the well-received memories at the National Museum through the examination of a display dedicated to the assassination of a demobilized guerrilla fighter. It explores the ways in which this display fosters a sense of collective memory and healing among the community.

The third case study focuses on a rural marginal community that decided to vividly remember the attacks they experienced by creating a display hall. This initiative aimed to aid in their collective and individual healing by providing a space for reflection and mourning. The community's way of remembering emphasizes peasant oral traditions through a traveling venue, which allows for the transmission of these important historical narratives.

The fourth case study, also about a rural peripheric community, discusses their unique way of remembering, which emphasizes peasant oral traditions through a traveling venue. This approach allows for the preservation and dissemination of these oral histories, ensuring that they are not lost to time.

By bringing together violence, memory, and museum studies, this text contributes to our understanding of how social groups severely impacted by atrocities recreate and remember their violent experiences. It explores how museums and exhibitions in Colombia become politically active subjects in the acts of reflection and mourning, fostering new relationships between the state and society.

The book is of great use to students and scholars interested in Latin American and public history. It offers valuable insights into the complexities of memory, representation, and social healing in post-conflict contexts. Through its compelling case studies, the book provides a rich and nuanced understanding of Colombia's historical and cultural landscape.

Weight: 326g
Dimension: 150 x 228 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032234885