La Revolución: Mexico's Great Revolution as Memory, Myth, and History

by Thomas Benjamin

Overview

The 1910 Revolution is still tangibly present in Mexico in the festivals that celebrate its victories, on the monuments to its heroes, and, most important, in the stories and memories of the Mexican people. Yet there has never been general agreement on what the revolution meant, what its objectives were, and whether they have been accomplished.

This pathfinding book shows how Mexicans from 1910 through the 1950s interpreted the revolution, tried to make sense of it, and, through collective memory, myth-making, and history writing, invented an idea called "la Revolución." In part one, Thomas Benjamin follows the historical development of different and often opposing revolutionary traditions and the state's efforts to forge them into one unified and unifying narrative. In part two, he examines ways of remembering the past and making it relevant to the present through fiestas, monuments, and official history. This research clarifies how the revolution has served to authorize and legitimize political factions and particular regimes to the present day. Beyond the Mexican case, it demonstrates how history is used to serve the needs of the present.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780292708822
Publisher:	University of Texas Press
Publication date:	04/01/2000
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Thomas Benjamin is Professor of Latin American History at Central Michigan University.

Table of Contents

• Preface
• The Pantheon of National Heroes
• Chronology of Events, 1810-1910
• Introduction: The Revolution with a Capital Letter
• Chronology of Events, 1911-1928
• Part One: Construction
  • 1. 1911-1913: Every Event's Name Is Itself an Interpretation
  • 2. 1913-1920: Warring Authorities Mean Warring Pasts
  • 3. 1920-1928: Political Domination Involves Historical Definition
  • Chronology of Events, 1928-1968
• Part Two: Performance
  • 4. Festival: A Vigorous Mexico Arising
  • 5. Monument: From the Ruins of the Old Regime
  • 6. History: The Work of Concord and Unification
• Chronology of Events, 1968-present
• Conclusion: Affirming and Subverting the Revolution
• Notes
• Sources
• Bibliography
• Index
• Photo section begins on p. 85

What People are Saying About This

Mark Wasserman

There is no hotter topic than how we construct our historical memory. The Mexican Revolution offers an exemplary myth to explore. Thomas Benjamin has examined the construction of the Mexican memory and the myth of the Revolution with wit and grace.... I believe this book will find a considerable market among students and scholars.
— Mark Wasserman, Professor of History, Rutgers University