Exhibited in showcases, hidden in the present. (Mis)representations of indigeneity in contemporary museums

Gast-Vortrag (online): Belén Arribalzaga MA

In recent years, the representations of indigenous peoples and nations in public exhibitions have often been revised and redesigned into a celebration of “cultural diversity” and “inclusion”, on occasions even denouncing traditional approaches as racist and colonial. When contrasted with the previous silence and/or exposure of indigeneity as part of Natural History, this can be an important advancement. Nevertheless, a close analysis may expose various mechanisms through which the exclusion of indigenous nations is still ongoing, albeit in less evident ways.

This conference will analyze such tensions, through a study of three public exhibitions in Argentina and the historical narratives that emerge from their displays and posters. Philosophy of history, postcolonial and decolonial studies will help us shed light on mechanisms of exclusion such as the differential allocation of temporalities, the emphasis on the cooperation or friendship between settlers and indigenous people, and the exclusion of these populations in the design of the exhibitions. The case studies will serve as a basis to understand the representations of these populations in museums, what they say and they silence, and their effects, most notably on the agency of contemporary indigenous peoples.

Belén Arribalzaga studied History at the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and obtained a Master's degree in Gender Studies and Policies at the National University of Tres de Febrero, Argentina. She works as a history teacher in schools from marginalized areas in the city of Buenos Aires. Her research focuses on the exclusions that occur there, both through their living conditions and through the narratives (re)produced in the teaching of history in the classroom.

Zoom-Link: https://zoom.us/j/94954210748