História e identidade nacional na vitrine: um estudo de caso da sala da Independência Mexicana no Museo Nacional de Historia Castillo de Chapultepec (México)

Abstract

This research explores the role of the “War of Independence” room in the context of the permanent exhibition of the Museo Nacional de Historia Castillo de Chapultepec (MNH) in the construction of a museological discourse of maintenance of Mexican national identity. This study of case investigates how the narrative presented in the Independence Room tells the official story and participates in the state project of forming a collective memory and with the purpose of strengthening the sense of belonging among Mexican citizens. Using a qualitative approach, which includes on-site observation, conversations with experts from this museum and documentary analysis, the research examines how the MNH, located in a heritage building in the heart of Mexico City, aims to act as a place of memory for the Mexican nation. The result of the analysis indicates the central role of the room in the construction of a historical narrative that affirms national identity, while also raising questions about the inclusion and exclusion of certain groups and perspectives from the choices of acquisition, selection and exhibition of collections. Thus, the research contributes to the understanding of how cultural institutions participate in the formation of national identity and highlights the importance of exhibitions in mediating between the past and the present within historical museums.