The communicative processes in the life of a space for the dead. The panteón del Saucito in San Luis Potosí, México

Abstract

In this article we analyze the Saucito cemetery in San Luis Potosí, Mexico, with a new perspective. The works dedicated to this place have a historical focus, studying the history of the site, as well as the relevance of the illustrious people who lie here. Without leaving aside these contributions, we propose to discuss the processes of contemporary appropriation by the inhabitants of the city of San Luis Potosí. To achieve this purpose, we will assume that both the urban layout of the cemetery, as well as its tombs and monuments, are communicated through the visual, so; Firstly, we present the theory of the image presented by Hans Belting, its agency in society by Alfred Gell and the consequences of its mobility seen by Freedberg; As a second point, we analyze the public space of the venue through the interpretation of Henri Lefebvre; and in the third instance, we point to space and image as part of Martín Serrano’s general theory of communication. Throughout the development, the photographic image has a fundamental role, as it is part of the argument to explain the processes that allow the living to feel linked not only with their ancestors (real and imaginary) but also with the space that houses them, transmuting the individual death in generational life.