English
The Memorial Democratic in Barcelona is presenting the exhibit „Símbolos de Franco” (Franco Symbols) until the 13th of February 2011. The curators are Jordi Gixe and Francesc Abad.The exbihit examines the remains of the Franco era that still can be found in Catalonia. The idea is to remind about 40 years of dictatorship to avoid the development of new totalitarian ideas.
The Memorial Democratic was founded to promote democratic values and create an initiative that remind of the historic past. Therefore the initiative supports the research and the promotion of these values.In accordance the Memorial is presenting the research results of an investigation of the Franco symbols that are still found throughout Catalonia.
Thousands of symbols and images that are still found in Spain demonstrate how far-reaching Franco’s propaganda was. And although more than 3 decades have gone by these symbols still exist in public as well as in private.The symbolic meaning of Franco is comparable to other fascist symbols in Europe and is characterized by many eagles, arches and military references and also images associated with the Catholic Church so Franco would have a better reputation outside of Spain.
The symbolic meaning of Franco emerged during the Spanish civil war and served the propaganda for the dictator. Many of the symbols have their origin in the Spanish falange movement of the JONS which added many traditional symbols.During the Franco dictatorship this symbolic spread and used to put a doctrine into place. A good example was the adjustment of the military uniform: a fusion between the uniforms of the JONS and the traditionalists.To reach a totalitarian and global presence in all public sectors the Franco symbolic was found everywhere: seals, stamps, flags etc. Even public transportation and places where full of the symbolic. Una muestra para no perderse y reconocer una “huella” clara de un periodo doloroso y complejo de la historia reciente de España.
Nancy Guzman
An exhibition that is passing through a real good time. Rent apartments in Barcelona as you cannot come and visit this memory game of the Catalan society.
