Memoria histórica fotográfica del autódromo internacional de Yahuarcocha. Entre lo artístico y lo documental

Abstract

This research analyzes the role of photographs in the construction of the historical and cultural memory of motorsports, using images that document the architectural evolution of the place. The research is based exclusively on a qualitative approach, using a semiotic analysis of a photographic bank composed of forty images, divided into two historical periods: the 1970s and the period from 2018 to the present. In addition, interviews were conducted with key actors such as photographers and amateur drivers to have a broader context of the culture of the place. During the literature review, it was identified that, although there are studies related to photography and historical memory, few address this perspective in sports spaces such as the Yahuarcocha racetrack. Theories such as those of Roland Barthes, Susan Sontag, Pierre Bourdieu and Merizanda M. C. Ramírez Aceves and Angélica Paulina Arreola Huerta establish the guidelines for the analysis, highlighting how images not only document, but also construct and interpret social and cultural meanings of motorsports. The aim of this research is to show how images go beyond recording sporting events and competitions, images also convey emotions and feelings that have been connected to generations. In the golden age of motor racing (1970), it was considered an elitist sport and the images represented that exclusivity. In contrast to current photographs that show inclusion and a participatory environment, adapting to the social and cultural transformations of the country. The natural environment of the racetrack is also addressed, with the Yahuarcocha lagoon as the main symbol of cultural identity and the connection of motor sport with nature. However, the research highlights this tension between historical conservation and the imminent development of the place, highlighting the importance of balance to preserve cultural heritage. Finally, this study contributes to the analysis of visual memory and the understanding of motorsports as part of the Ecuadorian cultural identity, showing how a sports space such as a racetrack can transcend its initial function to become a cultural and social symbol that will transcend time