Remembering the Alamo: Memory, Modernity, and the Master Symbol (CMAS History, Culture, and Society Series)

Remember the Alamo! reverberates through Texas history and culture, but what exactly are we remembering? Over nearly two centuries, the Mexican victory over an outnumbered band of Alamo defenders has been transformed into an American victory for the love of liberty. Why did the historical battle of 1836 undergo this metamorphosis in memory and mythology to become such a potent master symbol in Texan and American culture? In this probing book, Richard Flores seeks to answer that question by examining how the Alamo's transformation into an American cultural icon helped to shape social, economic, and political relations between Anglo and Mexican Texans from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries. In the first part of the book, he looks at how the attempts of heritage society members and political leaders to define the Alamo as a place have reflected struggles within Texas society over the place and status of Anglos and Mexicans. In the second part, he explores how Alamo movies and the transformation of Davy Crockett into an Alamo hero/martyr have advanced deeply racialized, ambiguous, and even invented understandings of the past. Remember The Alamo! Reverberates Through Texas History And Culture, But What Exactly Is Being Remembered? Over Nearly Two Centuries, The Mexican Victory Over An Outnumbered Band Of Alamo Defenders Has Been Transformed Into An American Victory For The Love Of Liberty. Why Did The Historical Battle Of 1836 Undergo This Metamorphosis In Memory And Mythology To Become Such A Potent Master Symbol In Texan And American Culture? In This Probing Book, Richard Flores Seeks To Answer That Question By Examining How The Alamo's Transformation Into An American Cultural Icon Helped To Shape Social, Economic, And Political Relations Between Anglo And Mexican Texans From The Late Nineteenth To The Mid-twentieth Centuries. In The First Part Of The Book, He Looks At How The Attempts Of Heritage Society Members And Political Leaders To Define The Alamo As A Place Have Reflected Struggles Within Texas Society Over The Place And Status Of Anglos And Mexicans. In The Second Part, He Explores How Alamo Movies And The Transformation Of Davy Crockett Into An Alamo Hero/martyr Have Advanced Deeply Racialised, Ambiguous, And Even Invented Understandings Of The Past.--amazon.com. Ch. 1. The Texas Modern -- Pt. 1. The Alamo As Place, 1836-1905. Ch. 2. History, Memory-place, And Silence: The Public Construction Of The Past. Ch. 3. From San Fernando De Bexar To The Alamo City: The Political Unconscious Of Plaza Space. Ch. 4. From Private Visions To Public Culture: The Making Of The Alamo -- Pt. 2. The Alamo As Project, 1890-1960. Ch. 5. Cinematic Images: Frontiers, Nationalism, And The Mexican Question. Ch. 6. Why Does Davy Live?: Modernity And Its Heroics. Conclusion: The Alamo As Tex(mex) Master Symbol Of Modernity. By Richard R. Flores. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 173-183) And Index. This study examines the American mythology surrounding the Alamo and its influence on cultural identity, historical memory, and ethnic relations. Over nearly two centuries, the Mexican victory over an outnumbered band of Alamo defenders has been transformed into an American victory for the love of liberty. Through a metamorphosis of memory and mythology, the Alamo became a master symbol in Texan and American culture. In Remembering the Alamo, Richard Flores examines how this transformation helped to shape social, economic, and political relations between Anglo and Mexican Texans from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries. Flores looks at how heritage society members and political leaders sought to define the Alamo, and how their attempts reflected struggles within Texas society over the place and status of Anglos and Mexicans. Flores also explores how Alamo movies and the transformation of Davy Crockett into a hero-martyr have advanced deeply racialized, ambiguous, and even invented understandings of the past.