Writer, philologist, and journalist Jordi Amat has released his new essay, "Las batallas de Barcelona" (The Battles of Barcelona), which critically examines the city's cultural evolution from 1975 to 2025 and its ongoing challenges as a global metropolis.
The book, originally published in Catalan by Edicions 62 and now available in Spanish from Tusquets, received the V Premi Bones Lletres for humanistic essay. Amat's work explores how Barcelona has transformed over five decades of democratic life, from the post-industrial era to its current status as a global service city.
Amat's essay delves into the city's cultural imaginaries, offering a detailed look at its construction, crises, and the demolition of many democratic city ideals. He incorporates personal reflections, including his own identity as a "petit bourgeois" living in the city centre, to legitimise his critique.
Examining Barcelona's Transformation
The book covers significant cultural episodes that have shaped Barcelona. These include the "Barcelona, posa’t guapa" (Barcelona, Get Pretty) campaign and the Cultural Olympiad. It also discusses the inauguration of the Olympic Games, a period Amat describes as a "paradox of success" and the "Myth of '92."
Amat also addresses more recent events, such as the 2017 terrorist attack on La Rambla. The essay features a wide array of figures, from Freddy Mercury and Woody Allen to local intellectuals like Oriol Bohigas and Manuel Vázquez Montalbán. He also critiques events like the Fòrum Internacional de les Cultures, calling it an "apotheosis of good intentions."
The City and Its People
A central theme in Amat's book is the idea that "the city is the people." He notes that former Mayor Pasqual Maragall popularised this phrase, which originated with architect Josep Lluís Sert and ultimately Shakespeare. Amat uses this concept to question whether Barcelona remains a democratic city if its native residents cannot afford to live there.
He highlights the growing discomfort among middle-class residents due to the city's global transformation. This includes issues like access to housing, the impact of tourism, and the presence of expats. Amat suggests that Barcelona's success as a global city has come at a price for its long-term inhabitants.
Cultural Institutions and Debates
Amat also examines the state of Barcelona's cultural institutions. He argues that the Museum of Contemporary Art of Barcelona (Macba) does not serve as a canonical structure for the city. Instead, he points to Antoni Gaudí's works, particularly the Sagrada Família, as Barcelona's true cultural magnet. "The Sagrada Família, our Sacre Coeur, is the eighth wonder of the world," Amat states, "and nobody questions it like the Macba."
He also discusses the National Art Museum of Catalonia (MNAC) and its ongoing reform project. Amat notes that the proposed changes for MNAC remain unclear following the defeat of Manuel Borja-Villel's vision. He also champions intellectuals like Pep Subirós and Josep Ramoneda, praising their contributions to Barcelona's cultural landscape.
Barcelona's Identity and the Procés
Amat dedicates a section of his book to Barcelona's relationship with the procés, the Catalan independence movement. He explains that his books often make independentists "very nervous" because they "build a narrative of Catalan modernity that is alien to them." Amat argues that the procés "had no capital, no metropolis," suggesting a disconnect from Barcelona's urban reality.
He reflects on the difficulty of accepting that Barcelona cannot remain isolated from global dynamics. Amat believes the city is at a significant moment, facing relevant decisions. These include upcoming appointments for directors of key cultural institutions, such as the Fundació Miró and the Teatre Nacional de Catalunya (TNC).
Amat's work offers a timely reflection on Barcelona's identity and future. His book encourages residents and policymakers to consider the city's past transformations as they navigate its present challenges and shape its path forward.
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Originally published by El País Barcelona. Read original article.
