Entre a fé, a magia e a resistência - a representação e a identidade nas artes de cura das mulheres rezadeiras da Paraíba no século XXI.

Abstract

The present dissertation focuses its research object in the study of the healing knowledge of the rezadeiras, women who pray to heal others, and their operation and representation through interviews and official and independent mediatic productions, among those, documentaries and video journalism that highlight the rezadeiras women and their crafts in the Paraiba state and in the twenty first century. The main objective of the research is discussing the healing practices of the rezadeiras and their resistance tactics, linking the perspective of identity while represented in their accounts and mediatic productions from the Paraiba state, taking their daily lives and their manners of existing in modern society. The research is classified as Cultural History, allowing connections with Certeau (1998), Roger Chartier (2002), Bosi (2004) and Eliade (1992), as well as introducing the study of popular faith with Souza (1986) and Miranda (2017). Among the authors that have studied elements related to faith and popular medicine, Matias (2019) and Oliveira (1985) were included. Interviews with rezadeiras from the city of Campina Grande in the Paraiba state and their attendees have been conducted which will then become part of this research, with the goal of comprehending how their identities are built and thus outlining resistance and adaptation tactics from these women nowadays. The intention is to comprehend the value of faith in the makings of the social imaginary and the usage of symbolisms as reinforcement of the construction of such imaginary, as well as seeking to investigate the narratives and purposes presented in the confection of these scenarios.