Barcelona in Black and White. Urban Politics and the Cultural Movement of the 'Gauche divine'

Abstract

The term gauche divine, coined by journalist Joan Segarra in 1967, was used to designate a heterogeneous group of writers, photographers, architects, designers, and intellectuals active during the late 60’s and early 70’s in Barcelona. Often described as elititist and frivolous, they were accused of limiting their opposition to Franco’s dictatorship to the realm of sexuality and everyday life. This article resists this type of interpretation, underlying the centraliy of cultural activism, and particularly urban activism, in the group’s activity. Despite the limitations imposed by Francoism as well as their own ideological contradictions, the “divinos” contibuted to fostering a sphere of public debate on the city that paved the way for the neighbourhood movements of the Spanish Transition to Democracy.