Clandestine Captivity, Testimony, and Construction of Truth in a Memory Site: Narrative Strategies and Memory Work at the ESMA Site Museum’s Permanent Exhibition (Buenos Aires)

A study of the ESMA Museum and Site of Memory in Buenos Aires reveals how narrative strategies and memory work shape public understanding of clandestine captivity, testimony, and truth construction. The research highlights the museum's permanent exhibition as a critical site for preserving and interpreting the experiences of victims during Argentina's last military dictatorship (1976–1983). By analyzing testimonial accounts, spatial design, and interpretive techniques, the study demonstrates how memory sites can both challenge official narratives and foster collective reflection. The approach combines qualitative analysis of museum exhibits with theoretical frameworks from memory studies and critical history, offering insights into the role of museums in constructing historical truth through storytelling.

(Ed.). (2024). Clandestine Captivity, Testimony, and Construction of Truth in a Memory Site: Narrative Strategies and Memory Work at the ESMA Site Museum’s Permanent Exhibition (Buenos Aires). Museums, Narratives, and Critical Histories, 265–276. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110787443-015