Fotografia como fonte de informação e preservação da memória: a etnografia da comunidade quilombola de capoeiras

Abstract

This experience report addresses the use of ethnographic photography as a source of information and as an resource for the cultural appreciation of the Capoeiras quilombo, located in the county of Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte, and highlights the importance of quilombola communities as guardians of traditions and historical memories. The general goal of this work is to explore the potential of ethnographic photography as a source of information. The specific goal is to document, preserve, and disseminate information about the cultural and social practices of the Capoeiras community. The research adopted a qualitative approach based on a literature review and visual data collection, emphasizing photography as a tool that transcends mere visual recording, acting as a source of information and a mediator in the construction of knowledge, identity, and collective memory. This work was carried out through participation in the production of the audiovisual project "Projeto Capoeiras", aiming to capture images representing the diversity of the community's cultural practices, such as celebrations and artistic expressions. The photographs were produced during the recording of community members' accounts about the history and significance of the elements portrayed, respecting ethical principles of consent and collaboration with the photographed subjects. It was concluded that photography, combined with ethnographic methods, constitutes an important resource for preserving collective memory, while also contributing to raising societal awareness about the significance of quilombola communities in Brazilian cultural heritage. This approach not only allowed for the documentation and interpretation of the cultural practices of the Capoeiras quilombola community but also promoted a respectful and collaborative dialogue, strengthening the community's protagonism in the construction and preservation of its own memory