Collective Memory and Resistance: Visual explorations in the Historic Centre and Films of Mexico City

This thesis reveals that collective memory and resistance persist in Mexico City's Historic Centre, even amid urban transformations. It identifies two competing landscapes: 'Profane Heritage,' representing popular memory, and official spaces imposed by dominant power structures. Through visual analysis of films from 1919 to 1995 and qualitative interviews, the study demonstrates that these memories coexist across time, resisting erasure through subtle, everyday tactics. The research highlights how informal places of memory endure, allowing inhabitants to defend their identities despite threats from urban projects.

Herrera Quiroz, Lesslie Astrid. (2019). Collective Memory and Resistance: Visual explorations in the Historic Centre and Films of Mexico City [Lausanne, EPFL]. https://doi.org/10.5075/EPFL-THESIS-9256