Web Round-up: Museum of the Battle of Ideas

For a little while now I've been meaning to do a round-up of interesting little snippets of information do to with museums and related issues which I've recently come across. Most are via Museum Anthropology.

First up is a review of the Museum of the Battle of Ideas in Cuba. As Michelle Tisdel Flikke reveals in her engaging essay, the Museum was set up by the Cuban government in the wake of the ideological battle with the US over the custody of Elian Gonzalez. What's interesting about this particular institution, is that it appears to be, not only a manifestation of the mythologising of history as a necessary component of the development of national heritage, but also that it is dealing with a fairly recent event. As discussions on this blog in the past have revealed, there is usually a time-lag between events happening and and them becoming part of the master narrative of nation. Often, in the case of war or revolution or occupation, a period of reflection appears to be necessary in order for the wrangling between various interest groups and different voices to reach some sort of dominant view which becomes historical 'fact'. However, here, it appears the Cuban government, unsurprisingly, pounced on the propaganda value of the incident almost immediately, immortalising their version of events in a museum (which as I'm sure we're all aware by now, seems to have the effect - outwardly at least - of objectifying history). But, what perhaps transcends this museum's most basic propagandist function, is the imaginative way in which the Gonzalez incident is tied to a much broader historical narrative of migration to and from Cuba from the nineteenth century. Not only that, the museum has become an epicentre for popular imaginings of nationhood, with thousands of artefacts donated from Cubans all around the world, many of which - according to Flikke - relate to the revolution and perceived acts of aggression on the Cuban people. The museum thus has become a site of remembrance, memorial (to Elian and his family) and a repository of ideas of Cuban identity and nationhood. Perhaps appropriately enough in this context, a museum of the people. Although as Flikke reveals, the absences and 'silences' in the overall narrative are profound.

Altogether the essay is, for me, a fascinating insight into the workings of museums and heritage in a communist state; an intriguing mix of stock socialist imagery (note the evocative sculpture of the boy casting away an imperialist doll), revolutionary propaganda versus what appears to be a genuine sense of ownership, identification and engagement with the museum and its themes by its audience.

Comments

Thanks Amy for noting Dr. Flikke's review essay on Museum Anthropology Review. Hopefully she will be able to participate in a discussion here or in the comments section on MAR. The essay and its subject certainly provide much food for thought. Your comments extend the essay fruitfully. As editor for Museum Anthropology and Museum Anthropology Review it is always gratifying when one can actually see published contributions doing work in the world, including prompting further reflection and comment in the scholarly and museum professional communities.
The Attic said…
Thanks for that Jason. And thanks also for noting the Attic again. Best wishes to you and your students at Indiana.

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