Resum
Culture at the service of the Empire: the use of news items about libraries and book heritage in the Franco regimeâs current affairs newsreel
Objectives: To determine whether news items about libraries and book heritage were used during the Franco regime (1939â1975) as a resource for disseminating political propaganda through the current affairs newsreel âNoticiero Documentalâ, also known as âNO-DOâ.
Methodology: We identified and extracted news items about books, reading, bibliographic heritage and libraries from the âNO-DOâ newsreel, which Spanish cinemas were obliged to screen before films. The news items were then categorised and analysed.
Results: Most of the news items idealise Spainâs sociocultural reality even while this stands in contrast with the undeveloped state of the library system of the time. Most items advertise large exhibitions of book heritage taking place alongside events involving important figures of Spanish culture or works in Spanish. Their purpose is to enhance the historical importance of Hispanic culture as epitomised by the Franco regime.
Methodology: We identified and extracted news items about books, reading, bibliographic heritage and libraries from the âNO-DOâ newsreel, which Spanish cinemas were obliged to screen before films. The news items were then categorised and analysed.
Results: Most of the news items idealise Spainâs sociocultural reality even while this stands in contrast with the undeveloped state of the library system of the time. Most items advertise large exhibitions of book heritage taking place alongside events involving important figures of Spanish culture or works in Spanish. Their purpose is to enhance the historical importance of Hispanic culture as epitomised by the Franco regime.
