The Battle of Cinco de Mayo: Memory, Myth, and Museum Practices in Mexico
On May 5th, 1862, heavily outnumbered Mexican troops succeeded in defeating the invading French army at the Battle of Puebla. The battle did little to change the war’s outcome, but became a powerful symbol of Mexican national unity that helped to make sense of the violence of the previous decades. C...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Leicester
2019-03-01
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| Series: | Museum & Society |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.le.ac.uk/ojs1/index.php/mas/article/view/2786 |
| _version_ | 1818215335186137088 |
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| author | Robert Mason |
| author_facet | Robert Mason |
| author_sort | Robert Mason |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | On May 5th, 1862, heavily outnumbered Mexican troops succeeded in defeating the invading French army at the Battle of Puebla. The battle did little to change the war’s outcome, but became a powerful symbol of Mexican national unity that helped to make sense of the violence of the previous decades. Celebrations to commemorate the Cinco de Mayo began almost as soon as the battle had ended, and have since evolved in Puebla to become one of the city’s pre-eminent expressions of civic identity. This article explores the evolution of the battle’s commemorations over a five-year period, during which the city invested in multiple new museums and tourist infrastructure connected to the iconic events. The article focuses on two key heritage precincts, containing six museums that were central to attempts to transform the historic city centre. The article explores how attempts to co-opt historic suffering was used to frame a narrative of civic democracy and inclusion. In so doing, it signals the role of state-level governments in curating a nationally significant memory. It also suggests a need for caution as government co-opts multiple stories into a means to augment its own authority. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T06:34:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9c8c34d08f8c43fc9147f344cf6cf02e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1479-8360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T06:34:26Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | University of Leicester |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Museum & Society |
| spelling | doaj.art-9c8c34d08f8c43fc9147f344cf6cf02e2022-12-22T00:34:31ZengUniversity of LeicesterMuseum & Society1479-83602019-03-01171375110.29311/mas.v17i1.27862668The Battle of Cinco de Mayo: Memory, Myth, and Museum Practices in MexicoRobert Mason0Griffith UnversityOn May 5th, 1862, heavily outnumbered Mexican troops succeeded in defeating the invading French army at the Battle of Puebla. The battle did little to change the war’s outcome, but became a powerful symbol of Mexican national unity that helped to make sense of the violence of the previous decades. Celebrations to commemorate the Cinco de Mayo began almost as soon as the battle had ended, and have since evolved in Puebla to become one of the city’s pre-eminent expressions of civic identity. This article explores the evolution of the battle’s commemorations over a five-year period, during which the city invested in multiple new museums and tourist infrastructure connected to the iconic events. The article focuses on two key heritage precincts, containing six museums that were central to attempts to transform the historic city centre. The article explores how attempts to co-opt historic suffering was used to frame a narrative of civic democracy and inclusion. In so doing, it signals the role of state-level governments in curating a nationally significant memory. It also suggests a need for caution as government co-opts multiple stories into a means to augment its own authority.https://journals.le.ac.uk/ojs1/index.php/mas/article/view/2786battlefield sitespueblacommemorative practicesheritage politics |
| spellingShingle | Robert Mason The Battle of Cinco de Mayo: Memory, Myth, and Museum Practices in Mexico Museum & Society battlefield sites puebla commemorative practices heritage politics |
| title | The Battle of Cinco de Mayo: Memory, Myth, and Museum Practices in Mexico |
| title_full | The Battle of Cinco de Mayo: Memory, Myth, and Museum Practices in Mexico |
| title_fullStr | The Battle of Cinco de Mayo: Memory, Myth, and Museum Practices in Mexico |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Battle of Cinco de Mayo: Memory, Myth, and Museum Practices in Mexico |
| title_short | The Battle of Cinco de Mayo: Memory, Myth, and Museum Practices in Mexico |
| title_sort | battle of cinco de mayo memory myth and museum practices in mexico |
| topic | battlefield sites puebla commemorative practices heritage politics |
| url | https://journals.le.ac.uk/ojs1/index.php/mas/article/view/2786 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT robertmason thebattleofcincodemayomemorymythandmuseumpracticesinmexico AT robertmason battleofcincodemayomemorymythandmuseumpracticesinmexico |