Transnational dreamscapes: Cinema and visual motifs in the 1929 Barcelona International Exposition

Abstract

This article explores the connections between moving images and world fairs by focusing on a specific case: the Barcelona 1929 International Exposition. The event, a key moment in the city’s history, showcased cinema as a technological marvel, a vehicle for transnational influence and a tool for propaganda. After an introduction to the political and economic context of the exposition, our analysis covers four main areas: first, we document the role played by Palacio de Proyecciones, a sumptuous palace where new audio-visual devices and techniques were displayed; second, we trace the remains of the mysterious lost film Barcelona Trailer, where Hollywood stars greeted Hispanic audiences and praised the exhibition; third, we offer a critical analysis of the newsreels recorded by the film company CINAES and their mise en scène; finally, we compare visual motifs and shots from the 1929 footage with contemporary images produced today in Barcelona, examining the links between visual culture, technology and gender.