Discursos sobre a infância em fotografias pós-morte e tumulares- Ponta Grossa (1920 -1965)

Abstract

The purpose of this work is to show which discourses circulated in the infant post-mortem photographs and infant tumular photographs between 1920 to 1965 in the city of Ponta Grossa, analyzing how the children are represented. Thus, as methodology is used three photographic collections: photo Bianchi, located in the Casa da Memória in Ponta Grossa; photographs of the Casa do Divino and three cemeteries of the city, São José, São João Batista and Colônia Dona Luiza. These photos were chosen for portraying the dead child through his particularization demonstrating beliefs that are derived from the popular religiosity in the city. Thus, twenty-four postmortem photos are added and twenty tumular photographs that will be analyzed through the photographic language and representations contained in them. For this analysis to be possible, the relationship between photography and death will be exposed, making a study of the history of death and photography and its relation to memory. In addition, a connection is made between death and feeling for the child, exposing how childishness has gained recognition and particularization even after death. After this, a historical survey of the city of Ponta Grossa and its relation with the postmortem photographs is carried out, highlighting the place of origin of the objects analyzed so that the analysis of the photos can be made from the photographic language and also from the existing symbologies in the pictures. In the same way, the children's tomb pictures are analyzed, describing the history of the cemeteries in Ponta Grossa and demonstrating that there was a pattern in the photographs found. Studies reveal that death photographs sought to immortalize children through memory and that there were forms of particular representations related to childhood, showing the popular religiosity around children through the child's particularization.