Ecos de um Theatro Assombrado : um estudo de caso sobre as relações entre materialidade, visagens e o Theatro da Paz, Belém (PA)

Abstract

This dissertation, structured in three acts, explores the relationships between materiality and visages in the amazonian imaginary. It delves into the topic through the case study of the narratives shared by the workers of the Theatro da Paz, located in Praça da República, Belém, in the state of Pará, Brazil. The Act I: Amazonian Visages aims to conceptualize the word Visage throughout a discussion about the territorialization of the environment into the imaginary, which influences the spatial and social distances observed between Saints, Visages and Enchanted. Those distances are themselves intertwined with the social-spatial categories of Center, Margin and Deep. The Act II: Theaters focuses on the History of Theatro da Paz to explore the social role that theaters played in Amazonian colonization strategies and the economical, social, and environmental changes incurred in Belém throughout the second half of the XIX century. Those factors are partially responsible for the physical traits currently embodied by the Theatro da Paz. Finally, Act III: Senses and Things brings together these discussions to answers questions about the role visages have between the workers’ relationship with the Theatro da Paz; of impacts of physical characteristics and operational hours in the emergence of visages; the role of ordinary material things in narratives about visages; and how these aspects entangle themselves into mastery-type relationships that strengthen social bonds between all involved subjects.