Identidade cultural judaica nas celebrações religiosas : a construção de significados pelas crianças

Abstract

The present study seeks to articulate the poststructuralist perspective of Cultural Studies on cultural identity and the new social studies of childhood, considering the alterity of childhood and children protagonism in the construction of their own identities. In order to develop this discussion, we consider socialization as an expression of collective dialogical processes and, in particular, we use the concept of interpretive reproduction proposed by Corsaro, which reaffirms the conception of socialization of classical sociology, and the concept of mimesis used by Grigorowitschs to understand the children construction of cultural meanings. The object of the study focuses on the understanding of children of 4 and 5 years of age from a school in Recife on two celebrations of Jewish culture: Shabbat and Pesach. The methodological choices constitute a qualitative research, having the children as co-researchers. The records for analysis consisted of videography of the observation sessions, in particular the interaction circles with the children. The analysis was guided by the questioning: how are the processes of constitution of children's cultural identity through interpretive reproduction in school? The results revealed that children's narrative is a mosaic of selected fragments of adult narratives, reconnected in the children‘s voices, according to their own interpretation. It was also observed the performative action in the expressions of the children that through movements and gestures express meanings attributed to the symbols and identity marks of the cultures where they are inserted. In conclusion, it is enfaticaly shown the protagonism of the children in the construction of their identities, emphasizing the children's capacity to deal with the heterogeneity and complexity of society. This research also indicates that it is necessary for the children to find space to work the differences since in the contrast that marks diversity is that it becomes possible the construction of identities. The reflection proposed in this study aims to contribute to the appreciation of cultural pluralism that allows the recognition of multiple cultural identities in which different realities coexist and offer opportunities of promotion and appreciation of differences, in addition to fostering tolerance and respect.