New Books in Communications

Vanesa Rodríguez-Galindo, "Madrid on the Move: Feeling Modern and Visually Aware in the Nineteenth Century" (Manchester UP, 2021)

Nov 8, 2025
Vanesa Rodríguez-Galindo, a cultural historian and expert in urban studies, delves into 19th-century Madrid's transformation. She discusses how modernization influenced visual culture, with advancements in print media reshaping identity and societal norms. The rise of illustrated periodicals dazzled readers, showcasing social interactions and urban life. Rodríguez-Galindo contrasts Madrid's adaptations to French influence while highlighting the city's unique identity. Engaging in public space and the role of migrants, she reflects on how the past resonates with today's digital connectivity and cultural imagery.
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INSIGHT

Reframing What 'Modern' Meant

  • Vanesa Rodríguez-Galindo reframes modernity by asking what 'being modern' meant to Madrileños in the 19th century.
  • She shows the term 'modernity' was not used then as we use it today, so contemporary meanings are often anachronistic.
INSIGHT

Dual Forces Shaped Madrid's Growth

  • Madrid underwent both spontaneous urban sprawl from migration and planned expansion with engineering projects.
  • These combined shifts reshaped spectatorship and how residents experienced city life.
INSIGHT

Images Became Mass Media

  • Illustrated print media became an early mass culture by combining images and text on the same page.
  • Images gained legal and social significance as vehicles of information comparable to the printed word.
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