Ruas e rimas: apropriação dos espaços públicos e direito à cidade nas batalhas de MC's

Abstract

This paper investigates the appropriation of public spaces by groups and cultural manifestations of peripheral origin and experience. Around the last decade of the 21st century, the public spaces of Natal City have been appropriated by new modalities of cultural manifestations that create their identity in the urban environment. This highlights the vitality existing through the performance of sociocultural activities that occurs daily, such as the rap battles. In order to articulate forces for such manifestations, the elaboration of urban public policies to support such cultural segments is necessary. However, the interest, support and resources, above all, of the public power is almost nil, and the spaces that host such activities are lacking in infrastructure. Thus, such research is relevant to understand how the process of public space appropriation contributes to the exercise of the right to the city of peripheral subjects. Academic production is still scarce in regard to studies that discuss public space appropriation by these subjects in the city context, although Hip Hop culture and all its composers have much to say about urban space. Therefore, this research proposes, in general, to identify how the process of public space appropriation through rap battles contributes to the exercise of the right to the city, from the notions of space, place, daily life and diversity. In addition, four specific objectives were outlined: a) Understand the process of public space through rap battles regarding their physical aspects; b) Identify the effects of these events on the space dynamization and public diversity; c) Identify the effects of these cultural actions in regard to making the city's public spaces known; and d) Recognize the symbologies and meanings attributed to the appropriate public spaces.