Gingando contra silêncios e invisibilidades: de capoeiristas do século XXI à Guerra do Paraguai

Abstract

This thesis investigates how issues of silencing and invisibility, both historical and current, occur in Capoeira. To achieve the proposed objectives, ethnography, historical research (textual and iconographic), and computerized lexicometry were combined. Nevertheless, through ethnography it was possible to distinguish the seven phases of the Capoeira ritual performed at the “Roda da Feira” in Manaus-AM. Furthermore, to classify the participants according to frequency and commitment (“core,” “intermittent,” “visitor,” “guest,” and “passersby or regular spectators”). In addition, there was an effort to apprehend Capoeira techniques through the “intention of movements” (native taxonomy) and to unveil some of the codes involved in the game (e.g., “chamada” and “guarda vencida”). Moreover, two cases were investigated in which new traditions were introjected into the Capoeira of/in Amazonas. In another context, ethnography also revealed female initiatives against the male domination status quo in Capoeira rodas, culminating in the establishment of the collective/movement “Mulheres em Conexão.” In turn, to better understand history in/through musicality, two exegeses were carried out in which the master, interestingly, presented the “melodic-imagetic” theory for interpreting songs of/in Capoeira. Also, with reference to the historical part concerning the possible participation of Capoeira in the Paraguayan War and vice versa - that is, the Paraguayan War in current Capoeira - two assemblages were produced inspired by Walter Benjamin’s concept and method of montage. Additionally, through computerized lexicometry applied to interviews with forty-six capoeiristas, it was possible to ascertain recurring terms and patterns in the responses, even though there had been no prior coordination among them. In general, the various forms of invisibility/silencing found led to the perception that Capoeira cannot “let its guard down,” or rather, still needs to remain in a state of vigilance, stitching together strategies against erasures and/or oppressions.