The Plaza Artesanos in Santiago, Chile, during the 1950s: A plebeian public space through the lens of urban cultural history

Abstract

This article examines, from the perspective of urban cultural history, the relevance of Plaza Artesanos as a plebeian public space in the 1950s, especially during the second term of Carlos Ibáñez del Campo (1953-1958). The study of the social manifestations that the plaza hosted during these years allows for an exploration of a historical way of life inherent to the mass city, as well as practices related to collective living. An analysis is proposed that integrates the elements of the urban imaginary that facilitated the appropriation of the plaza, the milestones that contextualize it within the city, and the relationship of these aspects with the social and political demands articulated from the platforms installed within it. To achieve this, information from diverse sources is utilized, including press documents, literary chronicles, and photographs, which differ from traditional materials that make up the heritage of urban history, as they contribute to reconstructing urban culture. In conclusion, it is argued that Plaza Artesanos was a significant node in the fabric of Santiago's public space in the mid-20th century. The traces left by its usage illustrate the importance attributed to it as a center located on "the other shore" of the city: a place of collective memory where the plebeian urban mass staged its strength as a social and political actor.