Quando o anjo da História sobrevoa as terras sertanejas: usos e representações da noção de sertão na Casa da Memória Potiguar (1934-1972)

Abstract

This dissertation aims to investigate the uses of the notion of sertão in the texts published in the Revista do Instituto Histórico e Geográfico do Rio Grande do Norte, between 1934 and 1972. It discusses the writings of men such as Eloy Castriciano de Souza, Nestor dos Santos Lima, José Augusto Bezerra de Medeiros and Luís da Câmara Cascudo, in order to see different conceptions, contexts and thus the uses of the notion. In this time frame, 27 volumes of the Journal are considered for analysis, in addition to works that the partners have published individually outside the Institute. Using the qualitative examination, the contributions of Michel Foucault and Paul Ricoeur are accepted in the analysis of discourse, stressing the power games, the language games, representations and the will to truth about the past. The research proposal is divided into two moments. First, the theoretical approach of the sociology of Pierre Bourdieu is taken as a support to examine, in the historiography produced by the literati, the theatralization of the power manifested in the publications, in order to examine political and intellectual interests. Celebrations, necrologies, tributes, minutes of the writing of the magazine, answers to other men of letters and biographies fit this framework of sources, directed to the search of power games. This phase is characterized by questioning the exchange of praise that occurs in a significant portion of the sources. In the second moment, arguments and questions are presented regarding the uses of the notion of sertão performed by the potiguar guild. This operation is an attempt to problematize the representations, different facets, besides the political and social aspects inculcated to the sertões by the network of sociability formed by the Institute. In this course, there is the dialogue with the perspective of psychoanalysis, by pointing out, in the sources, elements of the sertão seen as a problem for the professionals of politics. The debate is marked by the discussion of faith in progress, which is parallel to the representations of the sertões in this selected context. Thus, the dissertation calls into question the political and intellectual dimensions of the Potiguar Institute, understanding that the representations of the sertões are guided by the intentions of the one who writes. The argument elaborated in this work is that the representations of the sertão are used, above all, in the construction of a political history, particular and elitist, on the part of the partners.