Alcoi Modernist Fair criticized for selective historical memory

An opinion piece critiques the Modernist Fair of Alcoy, arguing that the event serves as an exaltation of the bourgeoisie rather than a true historical recreation. The author contends that by focusing solely on Modernism, the city is engaging in a selective form of public memory that overlooks its deep roots in the labor movement.

The text highlights the historical exploitation of workers in the region, noting that while industrialists built wealth, laborers faced long hours, low wages, and poor living conditions. The author suggests that the Alcoi City Council’s approach to public memory is a political decision that chooses to remember certain episodes while deliberately erasing others, such as the Petroleum Revolution, the collectivizations of 1936, and the period of Francoist repression.