Spectacular Modernity: Dictatorship, Space, and Visuality in Venezuela, 1948-1958 (Pitt Illuminations)

In cultural history, the 1950s in Venezuela are commonly celebrated as a golden age of modernity, realized by a booming oil economy, dazzling modernist architecture, and nationwide modernization projects. But this is only half the story. In this path-breaking study, Lisa Blackmore reframes the concept of modernity as a complex cultural formation in which modern aesthetics became deeply entangled with authoritarian politics. Drawing on extensive archival research and presenting a wealth of previously unpublished visual materials, Blackmore revisits the decade-long dictatorship to unearth the spectacles of progress that offset repression and censorship. Analyses of a wide range of case studies—from housing projects to agricultural colonies, urban monuments to official exhibitions, and carnival processions to consumer culture—reveal the manifold apparatuses that mythologized visionary leadership, advocated technocratic development, and presented military rule as the only route to progress. Offering a sharp corrective to depoliticized accounts of the period, Spectacular Modernity instead exposes how Venezuelans were promised a radically transformed landscape in exchange for their democratic freedoms. Tags: History, Criticism, Latin America, South America, Art, General, Architecture, Criticism & Theory An Analysis Of How A Decade Of Military Rule In Venezuela Produced A Dominant Ideology Of Progress So Meticulously Crafted That To This Day Audacious Modernist Art And Architecture And Dictatorship Are Conflated Under The Term 'modernity'-- In Cultural History, The 1950s In Venezuela Are Commonly Celebrated As A Golden Age Of Modernity, Realized By A Booming Oil Economy, Dazzling Modernist Architecture, And Nationwide Modernization Projects. But This Is Only Half The Story. In This Path-breaking Study, Lisa Blackmore Reframes The Concept Of Modernity As A Complex Cultural Formation In Which Modern Aesthetics Became Deeply Entangled With Authoritarian Politics. Drawing On Extensive Archival Research And Presenting A Wealth Of Previously Unpublished Visual Materials, Blackmore Revisits The Decade-long Dictatorship To Unearth The Spectacles Of Progress That Offset Repression And Censorship. Analyses Of A Wide Range Of Case Studies--from Housing Projects To Agricultural Colonies, Urban Monuments To Official Exhibitions, And Carnival Processions To Consumerculture--reveal The Manifold Apparatuses That Mythologized Visionary Leadership, Advocated Technocratic Development, And Presented Military Rule As The Only Route To Progress. Offering A Sharp Corrective To Depoliticized Accounts Of The Period, Spectacular Modernity Instead Exposes How Venezuelans Were Promised A Radically Transformed Landscape In Exchange For Their Democratic Freedoms-- Introduction : Rethinking The Politics And Aesthetics Of Modernity -- Part I. Official Libretto. Telling Stories : The Historiographical Foundations Of Military Rule -- Ruling Ideology : Radical Transformations Of Space And Body -- Part Ii. Setting The Scene. Nation Branding : From Covert Propaganda To Corporate Publicity -- Spectacular Visuality : Enframing The Landscape, Training The Gaze -- Exhibiting Modernity : Cultures Of Display And The Dictator's Visionary Gaze -- Part Iii. Performing Progress. Subjects Onstage : Organized Walking In Scripted Spaces -- Bringing Progress Home : Modern Mythologies In Daily Life -- Epilogue : Specters Of Spectacle. Lisa Blackmore. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 215-250) And Index.

Winner of the Fernando Coronil Prize for best book about Venezuela, awarded by the Venezuelan Studies Section of LASA. In cultural history, the 1950s in Venezuela are commonly celebrated as a golden age of modernity, realized by a booming oil economy, dazzling modernist architecture, and nationwide modernization projects. But this is only half the story. In this path-breaking study, Lisa Blackmore reframes the concept of modernity as a complex cultural formation in which modern aesthetics became deeply entangled with authoritarian politics. Drawing on extensive archival research and presenting a wealth of previously unpublished visual materials, Blackmore revisits the decade-long dictatorship to unearth the spectacles of progress that offset repression and censorship. Analyses of a wide range of case studies—from housing projects to agricultural colonies, urban monuments to official exhibitions, and carnival processions to consumerculture—reveal the manifold apparatuses that mythologized visionary leadership, advocated technocratic development, and presented military rule as the only route to progress. Offering a sharp corrective to depoliticized accounts of the period, Spectacular Modernity instead exposes how Venezuelans were promised a radically transformed landscape in exchange for their democratic freedoms.

Winner, 2018 LASA Venezuela Section Fernando Coronil Award In cultural history, the 1950s in Venezuela are commonly celebrated as a golden age of modernity, realized by a booming oil economy, dazzling modernist architecture, and nationwide modernization projects. But this is only half the story. In this path-breaking study, Lisa Blackmore reframes the concept of modernity as a complex cultural formation in which modern aesthetics became deeply entangled with authoritarian politics. Drawing on extensive archival research and presenting a wealth of previously unpublished visual materials, Blackmore revisits the decade-long dictatorship to unearth the spectacles of progress that offset repression and censorship. Analyses of a wide range of case studies—from housing projects to agricultural colonies, urban monuments to official exhibitions, and carnival processions to consumer culture—reveal the manifold apparatuses that mythologized visionary leadership, advocated technocratic development, and presented military rule as the only route to progress. Offering a sharp corrective to depoliticized accounts of the period, Spectacular Modernity instead exposes how Venezuelans were promised a radically transformed landscape in exchange for their democratic freedoms. Contents Acknowledgments Introduction: Rethinking the Politics and Aesthetics of Modernity Part I. Official Libretto 1. Telling Stories: The Historiographical Foundations of Military Rule 2. Ruling Ideology: Radical Transformations of Space and Body Part II. Setting the Scene 3. Nation Branding: From Covert Propaganda to Corporate Publicity 4. Spectacular Visuality: Enframing the Landscape, Training the Gaze 5. Exhibiting Modernity: Cultures of Display and the Dictator’s Visionary Gaze Part III. Performing Progress 6. Subjects Onstage: Organized Walking in Scripted Spaces 7. Bringing Progress Home: Modern Mythologies in Daily Life Epilogue: Specters of Spectacle Notes Bibliography Index "An analysis of how a decade of military rule in Venezuela produced a dominant ideology of progress so meticulously crafted that to this day audacious Modernist art and architecture and dictatorship are conflated under the term 'modernity'."--Site web de l'éditeur