Interações e mediação : uma análise teórico-etnográfica do sincretismo afro-brasileiro na Sala FÉ do Museu Théo Brandão de Antropologia e Folclore

Abstract

This work is a theoretical-ethnographic research on the exhibition of religious syncretism in the second module of the Sala FÉ of the Théo Brandão Museum of Anthropology and Folklore (Maceió-AL) and the process of mediation as a practice of museum education. The research starting point is my previous experience over two years as a mediator at the Théo Brandão Museum. During that period, I was able to observe different types of reactions towards the religious syncretism module from the visitors. As well, I could also observe the strategies taken by other mediators to approach the theme of this part of the room, and how they dealt with the public’s reverence towards the Afro-religious symbols, and frequent prejudice over the exhibition. I attach particular attention to the interactions of mediators and visitors with the space and individuals’ reactions in order to problematize the concept of Afro-Brazilian syncretism, based on the mediators' reports, field diary records and classical and contemporary theories about the theme. I approach the mediation process as a museum practice and how it enabled me to exercise anthropological practice. Through this work, I intend to bring reflections on the mediation process in museums and contribute to discussions over religious syncretism.