Abstract

RESENDIZ RODEA, Andrés. Lo húmedo y lo seco: Fronteras y polarización social en la plástica mexicana del siglo XIX. An. Inst. Investig. Estét [online]. 2003, vol.25, n.83, pp.77-98. ISSN 0185-1276.

During the nineteenth century, the Southern and Western areas of Mexico City were associated with "health" as opposed to the East side due to existing geographical features. However a process was set in motion in order to prevent these features from being considered as mere elements of nature. A number of precepts, images and forms of behavior were constructed (always in reference to the twin poles of moist and dry) which generated a "social imaginary" that reinforced the tension resulting from the con flicting interests between opposed social groups, which repelled and resisted each other in a variety of ways, segregating space in an exclusive manner. As the city sent its rubbish to the East the social divide deepen, with the districts situated in that direction worsened by the conditions which they themselves originated. The well-to-do classes clearely showed a preference towards the Western and Southern areas of the city. While doing so they drained the Mexican valley basin. But not only did they fleed from the wetter areas, which they associated with illness, but also displaced towards areas they shuned since these were considered harmful or undesirable (i.e.: hospitals for contagious diseases and the great penitentiary). At the same time, they neglected the provision of drinking water and other urban services. This exacerbated the polarization of the problem making its solution even more difficult, until finally the space designated for the negative reached a saturating point.

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