Miguel Caballero (Northwestern University) presents his book The Monument of Tomorrow: Creative Conservation and the Spanish War as part of the 16th Edition of the Iberian Studies and Transformative Thinking Series at the University of Notre Dame.
Miguel Caballero is Associate Professor of Iberian Studies, specializing in the 20th and 21st centuries, with an interdisciplinary approach connecting literature, art, and philosophy. His research focuses on two main areas:
The first is avant-garde art and literature, anti-fascism, urban and heritage studies. His book, The Monument of Tomorrow: Avant-Garde Conservation and the Spanish War (Penn State University Press, 2025), examines how the radical theory and practice of creative destruction evolved into creative conservation in response to the rise of fascism (1920s-1930s). In wartime Spain, writers, artists, architects, philosophers, activists, and the people at large pioneered avant-garde approaches to conservation and radical monumentality, laying the groundwork for later protectionist efforts during World War II and contributing to the development of the notion of World Heritage. In connection with this research, he has curated two exhibitions: Ephemeral Treasures in Moscow (sponsored by the Neubauer Collegium of Culture and Society) and the solo exhibition of artist Fernando Sánchez Castillo Fake Games. The Collectivized Monument in IVAM, Valencia.
The second research line focuses on medical humanities, specifically HIV/AIDS studies. He is currently working on a book that explores HIV art, literature, and critical theory, examining the development and commercialization of antiretroviral therapies for both HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals (1996-present). This academic project builds on his activist work, whose writings can be found in ASS (Amor, Sexo y Serología), and on fieldwork conducted in molecular pathology laboratories, biotechnology conferences, and pharmaceutical companies.
BOOK PRESENTATION
October 12th, 11-12:30pm. Decio Hall 344, RLL Seminar Room
The Monument of Tomorrow: Creative Conservation and the Spanish Civil War PSU Press, 2025. Miguel Caballero (Northwestern University)
Originally published at romancelanguages.nd.edu.