The discourse of absence: echoes of a municipal cultural institute

Abstract

The right to the enjoyment of culture is a universal human right and therefore inclusive. However, in the city of Guasave, this is a political discourse used as a bridge between government and society. The idea of considering culture as an appendix of education, has led the municipality to create from its structure a direction where both areas are contemplated, not as a complement to each other, but as subordinate to the culture of education. The aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of having a Department of Culture in the municipality that serves as a bridge between the government, society, and everything worthy of being showcased as an indicator of Guasave’s cultural identity. This is justified, in large part, by the youth population’s lack of awareness of their cultural wealth. There is an urgent need to strategically shift perspectives regarding the tangible and intangible cultural assets—and their artistic value—found in the area. Recognizing them will ultimately make the municipality a place worth visiting not only for entertainment, but for its artistic and cultural value. This study draws on theoretical perspectives from psychology (Maslow), social representations (Moscovici), sociology (Bourdieu), and administration (Chiavenato). It follows a qualitative approach, supported by the phenomenological method, using observation and semi-structured interviews as techniques to collect data from a convenience sample.