Cuenca en la década del veinte: municipio, prensa y cultura

Abstract

Linkages between the Municipality of Cuenca, its written press, and its cultural patterns from 1920 to 1930 are presented in this study. These linkages are assessed by analyzing town council minutes, and artistic and literary production that was published in local newspapers, literary magazines, and scientific journals in the decade in question. A historical context is also provided to shed light about the ¨everyday life¨ patterns of the epoch, as well as its artistic and cultural movements. Illustrious citizens from the city of Cuenca emerged in this period, whether by their participation in public positions or by their press publications of poetry and literature. These citizens’ aspiration was to strengthen the idea of a more cultured city that would lead to a deeply sought modernity, which was one of the most studied issues and certainly among the most discussed issues by authorities and cultural figures of the city. Specific actions taken by the town council are assessed in this research study; such actions include publishing books that covered a broad range of subjects, and supporting local artists by granting scholarships, incentives, and awards to craftsmen. Moreover, a detailed revision of published material in newspapers and local magazines is performed to complement the overall analysis.