The Order of the Visible and the Sayable

While it is important to recognize in principle that censorship takes various forms and is not confined to repressive action by authoritarian states, this article argues for the usefulness of analysing particular censorship apparatuses and investigating their specific effects on cultural activity in particular places at particular times. A survey is presented of the evolution of theatre censorship in Spain between 1931 and 1985, summarizing preliminary findings from a major research project drawing on evidence from censorship files, legislation, published studies, and first-hand accounts from interviewees. The people involved in the process, the criteria they followed, the ideological priorities they represented, and the outcomes of the decisions they made are analysed. Tentative conclusions are outlined about the functioning of the system and its impact on all forms of theatre, especially its role in policing, ordering, and distributing bodies and discourses.Aunque cabe reconocer en principio que la censura puede revestir varias formas y no se limita a acciones represivas realizadas por estados autoritarios, se defiende en este artículo la utilidad del análisis de determinados aparatos censores y de la investigación de los efectos que producen en la actividad cultural de lugares y épocas concretos. Se presenta una visión global de la evolución de la censura teatral en España entre 1931 y 1985, resumiendo los resultados preliminares de un amplio proyecto de investigación que examina expedientes de censura, documentos legislativos, estudios publicados y testimonios individuales. Se realiza un análisis del personal censor, los criterios aplicados, los objetivos ideológicos subyacentes, y las secuelas de los dictámenes emitidos. Por último, se adelantan conclusiones provisionales acerca del funcionamiento del sistema y el impacto en todas las formas teatrales, destacando especialmente el papel desempeñado por la censura en la policía, ordenación y distribución de los cuerpos y de los discursos

Art · Art history · Authoritarianism · Cartography · Censorship · Geography · Humanities · Ideology · Order (exchange · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Historical and Modern Theater Studies · Law · Media, Journalism, and Communication History · Spanish Culture and Identity

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