Technology and Subaltern Knowledge at the Catalan Olive Oil Museum

The Catalan Olive Oil Museum (Museu de l'Oli de Catalunya) deals with the production of olive oil in one of Spain's major oil clusters. Its rich approach to museography has successfully avoided the "book on the wall" or information-dense labeling in other museums. And its direct connection with the local oil cooperative and the Center for Oil Culture has been positive in building a solid narrative for the museum. The excessive emphasis on the "treasures" inside an oil cruet, however, introduces important limitations when looking from a history of food technologies viewpoint. The article considers the exhibition's potential by concentrating on categories like subaltern knowledge, food quality, industrial districts, circulation, and experts.