[DOC] Franco's Crypt: Spanish Culture and Memory Since 1936 by Jeremy Treglown in Arts-Photography

Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Good if the subject matter interests youBy carlos alvarezStarts from a very interesting premise of the difference between memory and history. Soon gets lost in the details of the events that it covers. Good if the subject matter interests you. not for general readers.7 of 9 people found the following review helpful. Incredible workBy Caroline Angus BakerWhen opening this book. a reader could easily expect to sit down an examine Francorsquo;s effect on Spanish art during his dictatorship. Instead. this book extends far further. into many aspects of the Franco period. so much so that art ends up being only a fraction of the story.The first part of Francorsquo;s crypt gives a clear introduction to the Franco period. The book titles refers to Valle de los Caiacute;dos. where Franco is buried outside Madrid. and his behemoth is discussed. along with other monuments to the time period. The book talks about Spainrsquo;s left and how the crypt is a symbol for all things horrid. while also managing to be a figure for the Spanish right. their religion and their vast power under Franco. The opening of the book delves into the subject of bodies buried in unmarked mass graves throughout Spain. and goes through the reality of digging up such a grave. The section is laced with a feeling of resignation; that after all this time. whose bodies are they and the reasoning behind digging is uncertain.The author gives a feeling that lsquo;memoryrsquo; is not such a simple beast; rather that the name encompasses many things. This could be certainly true. as memories and history are merely a recollection of the winners in a heated battle. With Spain being divided. by being its own enemy. all ideas. social and cultural norms. politics and attitudes are up for debate.One chapter is dedicated to dam building in Spain under Franco. The voice of the book pulls back and forward between talking of the need to progress and the results of such ambitious. and sometimes failed. projects as well as the reality of what it did to the poorer people. who saw no benefit of the projects. This back-and-forward feeling in opinions distinguishes itself throughout the book.What this book does do is lay out all the various elements of life under Franco. and how it is perceived in modern times. There can be no one element which accurately portrays Francoism and its effects. rather embracing that all walks of life. levels of wealth and social standing. and everyday opinion shape what is called lsquo;history.rsquo; Treglown takes a (well-needed) swipe at the Spanish Biographic Dictionary. done by the Royal Academy of History in 2011. The glaring pieces of detail left out. and the additions and exclusions in this so-called encyclopaedia of Spainrsquo;s history is the perfect analogy for how Spain is viewed today.This book does tell much of arts during Francorsquo;s reign. To say Franco suppressed the arts is an unfair comment. The book talks of great artists such as Joan Miroacute;. Antoni Tagrave;pies and Antonio Saura. It talks of Spanish art making its way around the world. to be seen by overseas audiences more so than ever before. Writer Camilo Joseacute; Cela won the Nobel Prize for literature. Filmmakers Pedro Almodoacute;var and Luis Buntilde;uel were able to produce their films in Spain (though Buntilde;uel. fresh from exile. had his work again banned). The book makes little mention of artists whose arts was not selected for greatness. and why. and a recurring theme throughout the book is that women barely managed to scrape their way into the history books. While Spain had its own share of female painters and writers. it seems fair to say women were not able to make much headway in the art houses of Spain. Treglown touches on the fact a feudal system still persisted among artists; not many artists were working class. no doubt out of the need to earn a living as best they could. While notable exceptions to this class divide are celebrated. it does highlight the inequality of the age.Francorsquo;s Crypt. page 102 ndash; lsquo;Besides. while in the nineteenth century all the talent painters had to emigrate. in the Franco period they were once again living on the Peninsula. Did the unexpected development occur because of or despite the regime?rsquo;Treglown answers that the regime did neither or both. Franco allowed Spanish artists to speak and their word spread worldwide. thus creating an image of Spain. Whether Franco liked it or not. we will never truly know. The book does not dwell much on drama or performance art. or on poetry. which is a shame.One area of considerable divided option is the authorrsquo;s chapters on the transition to democracy in the 1970prime;s. Opinion (or propaganda) tends to say that the left were hushed up during this period. and that the voices of the people went unheard during this period. Treglown gives examples of media accounts. historical studies and publications and documentaries which spoke out in this period against Franco. and of past crimes. He also shows that opinions of leftist Spain did have a voice. However. the so-called lsquo;pact of forgettingrsquo; does remain in place. and those guilty were never tried for crimes. so to what effect these limited voices had is questionable. A roll-call of those in power after the transition says a lot of the effect of leftist ideas for change.The reality of the era is that Franco modernised his country. After war in the 30prime;s. the violence of the 40prime;s and the struggling 50prime;s. Spain did begin to prosper in the 60prime;s. by becoming a US ally. with all important tourism and through economic growth. The book does its best to sit on the fence in the opinions of Franco and his regime. in an effort to tell truths otherwise hidden. However. it shows without doubt that Spain lacked any decent authority figures for a long period. Some argue the Catholic right-wingers lost much of their hold on Spain towards the end of Francorsquo;s reign. but a quick look who has influenced Spain since Franco. and at the laws being created in Spain in 2013 by the PP government. suggests an evil seed has been allowed to flourish. Liberalism have have got hold for some time. but the future remains murky for Spain.Treglown should be praised for putting together a book so laden with information. This is no summer-sun read. but if you want to learn about Spain. understand the country you have moved to. or wish to make sense of a divided nation. this is the best book written with an unbiased prose in a long time. I canrsquo;t be certain it shows that Franco wasnrsquo;t the oppressor he was made out to be. but it shows that despite the regime. creativity and the human spirit continued to fight back. I am a unashamed leftie and wonrsquo;t praise anything Franco achieved. but this book does its best to take on both sides of the divide.0 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Beeghly Library AcquisitionsGreat book. timely delivery.