Past Times - Talking and Teaching History

This podcast by Maastricht University student Alex Gonzalez Diaz discusses contested historical sites, Syncretismo in Guadalajara (2017), and Monumento al Mestizaje (Malinchismo) (1982) in Mexico City. It provides context and history of the monuments, introduces the actors involved in the contestation, and explores themes of syncretism and ethnic hybridisation. Syncretismo by Ismeal Varjas combines indigenous Aztec imagery with Mexican Catholic iconography, which created backlash and calls for the misuse of public funds after its inauguration. Monumento al Mestizaje was unveiled in 1982, created by Spanish-born artist Julian Martinez Soras, and was quietly relocated to a hidden park due to public disapproval. Monumento al Mestizaje depicts Mexico's infamous conquistador, Hernán Cortés, and his indigenous translator, viewed as the original traitor, La Malinche. Through analysing both sides of the contestation and the themes of syncretism and ethnic hybridisation, these public monuments explore questions of unity and identity as well as leftover legacies of settler colonialism within Mexico.

Contested Histories co-director Marie-Louise Jansen and Timothy Ryback, Director of the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation, joins our podcast to celebrate 10 years of the Contested Histories intiative. The intiative, now hosted at EuroClio, maps contestations and controversies over statues, memorials, street names and other representations of disputed historical legacies in public spaces. Together, our guests reflects on the origins of the initiative, the different kinds of contestetations and remedies that the intiative maps, and their use for (history) educators.

Stefania Gargioni and Maria Vlachaki, history educators in Paris and Thessaloniki, join the podcast to talk about their ongoing work for EuroClio's Moving Europe project. The two are making a step-by-step guide for teachers on how they can collaborate with (migration) museums in taking history outside of the classroom.

Simona Stankutė joins our podcast to talk about her recent residency with EuroClio and the work done by her colleagues at the Lithuanian History Teachers' Association creating an alternative history curriculum. We talk about challenges of overcrowded curricula , the steps needed to change a curriculum, and how teachers in Lithuania are in dialogue with the government in shaping the future of history teaching there.

Em. prof. dr. Judith Pace (University of San Francisco, USA) joins our podcast to talk about her research on teaching controversial topics, notably her latest academic work in South Africa, while also sharing some tips and recommendations for teachers.
Judy's latest article, Deliberative dialogues with preservice teachers in Bosnia-Herzegovina and South Africa using a gradient of controversy approach, discussed in the podcast episode, was published shortly after this podcast.