Panamanian Museums and Historical Memory

Ana Luisa Sánchez Laws is Associate Professor in Media and Design, Volda University College, Norway. Her research has focused on the use of new technologies to address contested topics in museums, and on issues of diversity and social inclusion in museums. Her most recent project is in the area of interaction design, and involves the creation of multitouch prototypes as support for pedagogical activities at the upcoming Museo de la Casa Colonial in Panama Viejo, Panama.

• PrefaceAcknowledgementsNotes on TransliterationChapter 1. IntroductionPanama as “a melting pot”Political conflict, past and presentA short note on methodologyChapter outlineChapter 2. A short history of PanamaPre-Columbian PanamaThe arrival of the SpanishIndependence from Spain and union with ColombiaThe birth of the Republic of PanamaThe Dule Revolution, further migrations, and institutionalized racismGrowing conflicts in the Canal Zone and the Torrijos EraThe 1980s crisisThe New Democratic PeriodChapter 3. The Reina Torres de Araúz Anthropological Museum (MARTA)Emergence of the Museum of the Panamanian ManThe ExhibitionFrom Museum of the Panamanian Man to MARTAChapter 4. The Panamá Viejo Visitor CentreThe Spanish Empire and the foundation of Panamá La ViejaWorld Heritage and the management of Panamá La ViejaThe ExhibitionChapter 5. The Museum of NationalityLa Villa de Los SantosEmergence of the museumCurrent ExhibitionContemporary debatesChapter 6. The Museum of the Kuna NationThe Comarca Kuna YalaEmergence of the Museum and ExhibitionChapter 7. The Museum of the Inter-Oceanic Canal(Museo del Canal Interoceánico de Panamá)San FelipeEmergence of the MuseumThe ExhibitionChapter 8. The West Indian Museum of PanamaEl MarañónEmergence of the Museum and Current ExhibitionDebates around the Museum: between highlighting and downplaying the African elements in PanamaniannessChapter 9. The 7th Panama Art Biennial at the Museum of Contemporary ArtciudadMULTIPLEcity: urban spaces for play, critique and reflectionThe 7th Panama Art BiennialThe ExhibitionConclusion and epilogueHybrid managementNew technologiesWorks CitedIndex

“At a time when issues of nationalism and national identity continue to exercise the minds of policy makers in governments around the globe, museums continue to play a key role in the cultural imagining of the nation. This innovative and timely volume examines the development of the representation of nationhood in a variety of museums and art installations within Panama. As such it makes a most useful and original contribution to the growing literature about the conceptualisation of the nation state within museums.”  ·  Sheila Watson, University of Leicester"Sánchez Law’s work is an important contribution to a much needed debate on Panamanian heritage issues. Her main conclusion, that the exclusion of contemporary conflicts from museums is a way to exclude a segment of the population from participating in the build-up of national identity, is both well argued and suggestive. As a platform for more socially responsible representations in Panamanian museums, this book is of interest not only to museum people but to everyone who is interested in the role of history in society." ·  Anders Johansen, University of Bergen