Histórias esculpidas e memórias contadas: uma análise dos monumentos públicos da cidade do Rio de Janeiro a partir da estátua de Mercedes Baptista

Abstract

The research was motivated by an experience during the necessary physical distancing throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, where a tour guide raised questions about the location of the statue of Mercedes Baptista, the first Black ballerina of the Municipal Theatre of Rio de Janeiro, prompting an analysis of the monument's geographicity and its relationship with urban space. The study falls within the field of critical cultural geography and its main objective is to analyze this relationship, considering the historical and social context of Little Africa, where the statue is located. By addressing the global need to exclude monuments celebrating slave-owning figures and the reinterpretation of territories, the research seeks to understand how territorial choices for monument installations are made and their political implications. The methodology involved analyzing previous research, surveying monuments in selected neighborhoods, and conducting a historical study focused on Mercedes Baptista's biography. The chapters explore the intersection between geography and history, the history of Rio de Janeiro through monuments, and the intentionality behind tributes. The work also includes debates on the role of collective memory, the significance of national heritage, and historical representation in monuments. By examining the country's progress in this context and highlighting initiatives like the Negro Muro Project, which honors Black personalities through artistic murals, the research contributes to the dialogue on the importance of representativity and cultural diversity in public spaces.