La Represión Franquista
What Do These Pictures Remind You Of?
La Represión Franquista Began in 1936 when Franco took over Spain by winning the Civil War. A time of politically motivated kidnapping, rape, murder, and forced internment in labor camps. Anti-government protests were outlawed, anti-government sentiment could get you killed. Referred to also as the White Terror.
Homogeny of Language The vernacular languages of Spain (simplified) Spanish official; spoken all over the country Catalan/Valencian, co-official Basque, co-official Galician, co-official Aranese, co-official (dialect of Occitan) Asturian and Leonese, recognised Aragonese, recognised Extremaduran, unofficial Fala, unofficial
Franco s Plan to Make Castilian the Only Language Spain was a set of regions that each had their own specific language. Each language group also represented a distinct culture with its own customs and values. In order to promote nationalism and try to make Spain all the same throughout, Franco instated Castilian Spanish as the only official language. All government documents had to be in Castilian. Use of regional languages was discouraged and, at times, downright outlawed. Several regional languages came to the brink of extinction as a result.
Oppression of Women Be feminine, not feminist. Women regarded as angels of the home, and as such, not fit for professions outside the house. Promoted high birth rates with financial incentives. Certain jobs, like doctor, lawyer, judge, public official, were specifically forbidden. All women were supposed to quit their jobs when they married. Women could not receive government benefits for their families. Only men could. Women discouraged to learn. In 1940 23% of Spanish women were illiterate. As late as the 1970 s women still needed permission to work outside the home from their husbands. No such thing as divorce for adultery or for domestic abuse. Birth control completely illegal.
Disappearances and Mass Graves Approx. 136,000 children taken from parents, many never to return. Children of opposition taken when parents thrown in jail. Tens of thousands of people killed during the Civil War and the almost four decades of Franco s rule. So far, about 250 of the more than 2,000 mass graves have been excavated, with 5,400 bodies found.
The Death of Art? Franco set up censorship committees that had to approve all books, music, movies and art of any kind Art was supposed to reflect Catholic values and the values of isolationist Spain Art was outright banned or so edited as to be unrecognizable at times As a result, artists that disagreed with the regime had to be very careful and use lots of symbolism to get their message across.
The 3 B s of Cinema Luis Buñuel, director who skewered the richness of the Catholic Church and its support of Franco in his films Luis Garcia Berlanga, satirist, most often hauled up before Franco s censorship tribunals Juan Antonio Bardem co-directed Esa Pareja Feliz with L.G.B., which made fun of Franco s idea of the happy family.
Federico Garcia Lorca Playwright, poet, essayist Franco hated his works and had them banned in Spain Spent time in America, was influenced by the Harlem Renaissance and also by gypsy and Arabic culture in Spain Killed because of his part in supporting the creation of the Republic and his socialist leanings, as well as his homosexuality
Crimes Against Humanity Though Franco s regime ended in 1978, Spain is still picking up the pieces today. Spain returned to democracy, but spent decades refusing to investigate the deaths and disappearances during Franco s rule. In 2008, Franco s actions were ruled crimes against humanity by Spanish courts. This opened the door for further investigation, which is still going on today. Many of Franco s henchmen have been tried, but not all of the more than 100,000 missing or dead people have been located.