A look into the social transcendence of football

"One cannot explain the contemporary trajectory of Barcelona without taking into account the impact of football"  – a blunt introduction to its new exhibition, Barcelona & Futbol. El gran joc social del segle XX, by the Museu d'Història de Barcelona (MUHBA). The show, hosted at the MUHBA's Oliva Artés headquarters, is opening on July 21 with a colloquium that illustrates how this sport has contributed to the social construction of the Catalan capital throughout the 20th century. Curated by Xavier Pujades and Carles Santacana, the exhibition aims to break many stereotypes from the perspective of urban history. For the organization, football in the city has been crucial in defining uses of public space, the internationalization of Barcelona and its economy, the media, the rivalries, and, in conclusion, the daily life and the construction of neighbourhoods and personal, collective and territorial identities.

Barcelona & Futbol. El gran joc social del segle XX translates into Barcelona & Football. The big game of the 21st century. Just like the title suggests, it takes a look back in time, as countless pictures from the last century show the presence of this sport in many corners of the city. However, the exhibit also aims to post questions to the visitors about the future: whether football will continue to be, in the 21st century, an instrument of social cohesion in an increasingly pluralistic world; whether there will ever be full equality between women and men, or what role of the public authorities should be.

For further information, check this link.