Beyond the Prado: Museums and Identity in Democratic Spain

Rating:
Summary: A partial book.
Review: Beeing a director of a museum in Spain I felt I must buy this book. After reading it, I must say that Beyond the Prado is a partial book; relating to a part only ( a part of Spain and a part of museums), and also inclined to favour just one point of view (about Spain and about museums). Poor.

Rating:
Summary: Reshaping Nations -- Museums and Cultural Identity
Review: Beyond the Prado is required reading for anyone who cares about the national unity debate that is taking place in Quebec. Holo provides a sensible blueprint for Canada by elucidating the process through which Spain has used museums as institutional structures in the rebuilding and reshaping of a democratic nation. Make no mistake, Beyond the Prado is about more than art and museums. It is about nurturing and protecting parts of diverse and local cultures in order to preserve and reshape whole identies of nations. And let's all face it! This isn't a problem that is unique to Canada or Spain. Reversing the trend of disintegrating national entities is going to be the major political challenge of the next century.

Rating:
Summary: Reshaping Nations -- Museums and Cultural Identity
Review: Beyond the Prado is required reading for anyone who cares about the national unity debate that is taking place in Quebec. Holo provides a sensible blueprint for Canada by elucidating the process through which Spain has used museums as institutional structures in the rebuilding and reshaping of a democratic nation. Make no mistake, Beyond the Prado is about more than art and museums. It is about nurturing and protecting parts of diverse and local cultures in order to preserve and reshape whole identies of nations. And let's all face it! This isn't a problem that is unique to Canada or Spain. Reversing the trend of disintegrating national entities is going to be the major political challenge of the next century.

Rating:
Summary: Spain Revisited
Review: I found Beyond the Prado fascinating in that it showed me a Spain much different from the one I visited in 1960. Those memories are of a militaristic, totalitarian society. Through Dr. Holo's book, a modern Spain emerges that encourages political and cultural democracy as reflected in the policies of the country's museums. Dr. Holo's book is a thoughtful, analytical thesis on Spain's museums and their place in the grander context of a country's political philosophy. What a fascinating way to explore history and a country's attempt to satisfy both an agenda of regional integration and regional diversity. Brilliant! Coming from the province of Quebec in Canada, where a serious power struggle is occurring between the people of French and English descent, I will follow closely Spain's gallant attempt to encourage diversity and regionalism and yet retain political integrity. Spain is a place I want to travel to once again. My next visit to its museums will be with a new perspective and a much deeper understanding as to their significance than I had prior to reading this book.

Rating:
Summary: Spain Revisited
Review: I found Beyond the Prado fascinating in that it showed me a Spain much different from the one I visited in 1960. Those memories are of a militaristic, totalitarian society. Through Dr. Holo's book, a modern Spain emerges that encourages political and cultural democracy as reflected in the policies of the country's museums. Dr. Holo's book is a thoughtful, analytical thesis on Spain's museums and their place in the grander context of a country's political philosophy. What a fascinating way to explore history and a country's attempt to satisfy both an agenda of regional integration and regional diversity. Brilliant! Coming from the province of Quebec in Canada, where a serious power struggle is occurring between the people of French and English descent, I will follow closely Spain's gallant attempt to encourage diversity and regionalism and yet retain political integrity. Spain is a place I want to travel to once again. My next visit to its museums will be with a new perspective and a much deeper understanding as to their significance than I had prior to reading this book.

Rating:
Summary: It surprised me with rich political and art connections.s.
Review: I found Holo's description of the creative interplay between regional culture and museums in democratic Spain fascinating. I was especially interested in the discussion of the Jewish Museum in Toledo and its impact on resurrecting, illuminating and enlivening a lost tradition in Spanish life