Revista do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Letras / Poéticas Orais
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Volume 1 (2016) Archive
Explore the inaugural volumes of Boitatá. Featuring rigorous peer-reviewed contributions focusing on Oral Poetics, Literature, Folklore, Cultural Studies, Language, Performance Studies, and Oral Traditions. Click on an issue below to expand and browse articles.
This article investigates the structural intricacies of spontaneous song metrics within indigenous and traditional rural communities across the Brazilian Amazon basin. Drawing from exhaustive field recordings collected between 2012 and 2015, we examine how master chanters encode mythological narratives, ecological wisdom, and historical memory into rhythmic heptasyllabic lines. The study contrasts traditional European poetic metre imports with indigenous tonic-accent structures, demonstrating that performance acts not merely as a reproductive medium, but as an active epistemological framework. Furthermore, we analyze the physiological and communal cues that govern transition points in collective chanting rituals. Our findings suggest that mnemonic devices embedded within oral poetics serve as resilient archives for ecological stewardship in times of rapid environmental transformation. By bridging contemporary performance studies with classical ethnolinguistics, this paper redefines the boundaries of oral literature in contemporary South American scholarship, highlighting the urgency of preserving ephemeral vocal repertoires.
DOI: 10.22456/1980-4504.2016.v1i1.01
Article ID: BOI-2016-0101
Cultural Studiespp. 23–45
The Trickster Figuration in Afro-Diasporic Folklore: Continuity and Reinterpretation
Dr. Jean-Luc Mercier (Sorbonne Nouvelle University, France) & Prof. Camila Benítez (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Trickster FiguresAfro-DiasporaFolkloreResistance
Abstract
The trickster figure stands as one of the most enduring archetypes across Afro-diasporic narrative traditions, embodying wit, subversion, and resilience against oppressive socio-political structures. This study traces the morphological and functional evolution of trickster characters—such as Exu, Anansi variations, and John the Conqueror motifs—from their transatlantic transit to their contemporary manifestations in urban Brazilian and Caribbean folklore. Utilizing comparative mythography and cultural semiotics, we examine how these trickster narratives functioned historically as psychological survival mechanisms and coded communication networks among enslaved populations. Furthermore, the paper investigates contemporary reinterpretations of the trickster in modern literature, hip-hop lyricism, and performance art, noting how satirical subversion remains a vital tool for social critique. By analyzing narrative variants collected across Bahia, Martinique, and Louisiana, this research illustrates the fluid, trans-local nature of oral folklore and its capacity to negotiate identity in fragmented post-colonial landscapes.
DOI: 10.22456/1980-4504.2016.v1i1.02
Article ID: BOI-2016-0102
Performance Studiespp. 46–68
Corporal Archives: Gesture, Movement, and Memory in Northeastern Bumba-Meu-Boi
Dr. Beatriz Ribeiro dos Santos (Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil)
Performance practices in traditional Brazilian folk dramas operate as sophisticated repositories of historical memory that bypass text-centric archives. Focusing on the complex ritual drama of Bumba-Meu-Boi in Maranhão, this paper examines how bodily posture, choreography, and costuming function as autonomous texts carrying generational trauma, satire, and sacred devotion. Through rigorous videographic analysis and ethnographic interviews with master practitioners (amo dos bois), we deconstruct the micro-gestures that signify character roles such as the Catirina, the Vaqueiro, and the bull itself. The study argues that muscular memory and somatic transmission are critical components of oral poetics that remain largely uncaptured by conventional transcription methods. By mapping the spatial choreography of the festival processions across urban public squares, we reveal how the performance temporarily renegotiates social hierarchies and spatial claims. Ultimately, this research advocates for a more inclusive methodology in performance studies that privileges somatic archives alongside verbal testimonies.
DOI: 10.22456/1980-4504.2016.v1i1.03
Article ID: BOI-2016-0103
Literature & Folklorepp. 69–91
From Cordel to Digital Screen: The Metamorphosis of Brazilian Broadside Ballads
Dr. Tiago Mendes & Prof. Dr. Ana Luísa Farias (University of São Paulo, Brazil)
Literatura de CordelDigital MediaPoetic FormFolklore Transition
Abstract
Brazilian literature de cordel—traditional broadside poetry characterized by woodcut illustrations and strict metrical schemes—has undergone a profound digital transformation in the 21st century. This article explores how cordel poets (cordelistas) have migrated from open-air market stalls to digital platforms, social media broadcast channels, and animated video poetry. Through a text-critical and media-archaeological approach, we analyze the structural adaptations required when oral-formulaic verses transition from physical pamphlet booklets to interactive web formats. We examine how contemporary themes such as political corruption, digital surveillance, and global pandemics are integrated into classic septilha and sextilha verse forms without losing their satirical bite. Furthermore, our findings indicate that digital dissemination has expanded the audience demographic for cordel beyond regional Northeastern strongholds, creating a global network of enthusiasts. Ultimately, this study demonstrates that oral poetic traditions possess a high degree of media elasticity, enabling them to thrive amidst technological disruptions while preserving their core folk aesthetic.
DOI: 10.22456/1980-4504.2016.v1i1.04
Article ID: BOI-2016-0104
Oral Traditionspp. 92–114
Mythic Geography: Toponymy and Ancestral Memory in Guaraní Oral Narratives
Dr. Kuaray Resende & Dr. Miriam Stein (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)
For indigenous Guaraní communities, the physical landscape is not merely a neutral terrain for habitation, but a densely inscribed archive of mythic geography and ancestral genealogy. This paper examines how oral narratives (ñe'ẽ porã) encode precise ecological, spiritual, and historical data tied to specific rivers, mountains, and forest clearings. Through collaborative ethnographic fieldwork conducted in indigenous territories across the Southern Cone, we recorded creation cycles where geographical toponyms serve as mnemonic anchors for moral law and cosmological order. The study highlights how sacred chants operate as cartographic blueprints, guiding community members across historical migration routes. Moreover, we address the epistemic violence of state-sponsored cartography, which systematically erases indigenous place names, and evaluate how oral reactivation of mythic geography acts as an act of territorial resistance. Our analysis underscores the vital necessity of centering indigenous oral methodologies in ecological conservation and land rights debates across South America.
DOI: 10.22456/1980-4504.2016.v1i1.05
Article ID: BOI-2016-0105
Language & Poeticspp. 115–136
Polyphony and Power: Dialogic Encounters in Regionalist Poetic Discourse
Prof. Dr. Eduardo Cavalcanti (Federal University of Bahia, Brazil)
PolyphonyDialogismRegionalismBakhtinian Theory
Abstract
Applying Mikhail Bakhtin’s theories of heteroglossia and dialogism to regionalist poetry of the Brazilian Northeast, this article investigates how multiple socio-lects, religious idioms, and colloquial registers interact within single poetic compositions. Often stereotyped as monolithic or nostalgic, regionalist verse actually operates as a highly dynamic, polyphonic space where dominant political discourse clashes with subaltern vernaculars. Through close textual readings of works by mid-century and contemporary poets from Ceará and Pernambuco, we trace the syntactic and lexical strategies used to subvert standardized Portuguese norms. The research reveals that poetic polyphony serves as a critical mechanism for democratizing literary space, granting aesthetic legitimacy to marginalized oral expressions. Furthermore, the paper discusses the theoretical implications of translating regional colloquialisms into international academic discourse without diluting their subversive political charge.
DOI: 10.22456/1980-4504.2016.v1i1.06
Article ID: BOI-2016-0106
Humanitiespp. 137–159
Soundscapes of Faith: Acoustic Ecology in Afro-Brazilian Religious Festivals
Dr. Simone Lages & Dr. Gabriel Fontes (State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Sonic anthropology and acoustic ecology offer transformative methodologies for examining Afro-Brazilian religious ceremonies, particularly Candomblé and Tambor de Mina rituals. This study investigates the intricate relationship between sacred drumming (toques de atabaque), spatial acoustics, and spiritual transcendence in terreiro sanctuaries. Utilizing high-fidelity field recordings and spectral sound analysis, we map how rhythmic frequencies and call-and-response vocalizations transform enclosed urban spaces into sacred acoustic territories. The research addresses the tensions between traditional religious soundscapes and contemporary urban noise ordinances, highlighting how noise complaints often disguise religious intolerance against Afro-descendant spiritual practices. We argue that ritual soundscapes constitute intangible cultural heritage of paramount importance, demanding robust legal and academic defense. Ultimately, this paper underscores the epistemological validity of listening as a rigorous scholarly practice in the humanities.
DOI: 10.22456/1980-4504.2016.v1i1.07
Article ID: BOI-2016-0107
Interdisciplinary Researchpp. 160–182
Archiving the Ephemeral: Digital Humanities and the Preservation of Oral Poetics
Dr. Arthur Vance (Oxford Internet Institute, UK) & Dr. Luiza Guedes (Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil)
Digital HumanitiesOral ArchivingMetadata StandardsOpen Access
Abstract
The rapid erosion of traditional oral poetry repositories worldwide has catalyzed an urgent movement within digital humanities toward robust multimodal archiving. This concluding article of Volume 1, Issue 1 outlines methodological frameworks for recording, annotating, and curating oral literature databases without stripping away their performative context. Drawing upon collaborative pilot projects in Latin America and Europe, we propose standardized XML-TEI encoding schemas integrated with synchronized audio-video transcription tools. The paper addresses critical ethical dilemmas inherent in digital repatriation, intellectual property rights, and indigenous data sovereignty. We argue that digital archives must not remain static repositories controlled by elite institutions, but should function as living, accessible community resources that empower local tradition-bearers. Finally, we examine the long-term sustainability challenges facing digital humanities infrastructure and offer strategic recommendations for open-access preservation in developing academic contexts.
DOI: 10.22456/1980-4504.2016.v1i1.08
Article ID: BOI-2016-0108
Oral Poeticspp. 1–20
Formulaic Composition in Sertanejo Epic Poetry: A Comparative Study with Balkan Models
Dr. Rodrigo Silveira (Federal University of Ceará, Brazil) & Dr. Milena Novak (University of Belgrade, Serbia)
This article applies the classic oral-formulaic theory pioneered by Milena Parry and Albert Lord to the epic narrative poetry of the Brazilian Northeast (cantoria de viola). By analyzing transcribed duels between regional troubadours (repentistas), we test whether the formulaic hemispheric structures identified in South Slavic epic poetry find structural parallels in Brazilian improvisational verse. Our quantitative metrics reveal a high density of fixed noun-epithet formulas and metrical line-fillers that enable repentistas to compose complex rhymed stanzas extemporaneously under strict time limits. Furthermore, the study explores how local historical themes—such as the Cangaceiro conflicts and severe droughts—are integrated into pan-human heroic narrative frames. The findings reinforce the universality of oral formulaic composition while illuminating the unique cultural adaptations developed within the Brazilian hinterland (sertão).
DOI: 10.22456/1980-4504.2016.v1i2.01
Article ID: BOI-2016-0201
Literaturepp. 21–43
Magical Realism and Oral Legendry in the Fiction of Guimarães Rosa
Dr. Clarice Lispector Scholar Group & Prof. Marcelo Dornelles (Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)
João Guimarães Rosa revolutionized 20th-century Brazilian literature by infusing high modernist prose with the oral idioms, folklore, and metaphysical legends of the Minas Gerais backlands. This article examines the seamless boundary between written narrative and oral folklore in works such as *Grande Sertão: Veredas*. By cross-referencing Rosa’s notebooks with archival regional folklore collections, we demonstrate how rural ghost stories, cattle-drover myths, and demonological legends provided the structural bedrock for his literary innovations. The study argues that Rosa’s famous stylistic idioms are not mere artistic artifices, but a faithful transcription of the philosophical worldview embedded in sertanejo oral culture. Through close textual analysis, we illuminate how supernatural motifs serve as allegories for existential crises and ethical dilemmas in modern Brazilian society.
DOI: 10.22456/1980-4504.2016.v1i2.02
Article ID: BOI-2016-0202
Folklore & Performancepp. 44–65
Staging Resistance: The Carnivalization of Authority in Popular Street Theatre
Dr. Flávio Medeiros (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Street performance traditions in urban Latin America have long utilized satirical role-play and carnivalesque inversion to challenge institutional authority. This paper investigates contemporary manifestations of popular street theatre (teatro de rua) in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, focusing on how troupes adapt traditional folkloric characters—such as the clown, the devil, and the noble fool—to critique modern socio-economic inequalities. Utilizing Victor Turner’s theories of liminality and social drama, we examine how public plazas are temporarily transformed into arenas of egalitarian critique where spectators become active participants. The study reveals that street theatre relies heavily on improvised verbal exchanges and audience heckling, maintaining a fluid boundary between script and spontaneous folklore. Ultimately, we argue that these ephemeral performances constitute a crucial democratic counter-public sphere in contemporary urban landscapes.
DOI: 10.22456/1980-4504.2016.v1i2.03
Article ID: BOI-2016-0203
Cultural Studiespp. 66–88
Gendering the Myth: Female Archetypes in Andean Oral Narratives
Dr. Lucía Morales (Pontifical Catholic University of Peru) & Dr. Sofia Valenzuela (University of Chile)
Andean oral traditions harbor complex systems of gender representation that frequently complicate patriarchal assumptions introduced during the colonial era. Focusing on Quechua and Aymara oral accounts collected across the Peruvian and Bolivian highlands, this study explores the multifaceted roles of female archetypes, including earth deities (Pachamama), trickster figures, and ancestral mothers. Through feminist mythography and linguistic discourse analysis, we examine how female storytellers subvert colonial power dynamics by emphasizing female autonomy, ecological stewardship, and spiritual mediation. The research highlights the tension between institutionalized Catholic iconography and indigenous cosmological beliefs in everyday rural speech. Our conclusions advocate for a renewed appreciation of gendered epistemologies preserved within Andean oral literature, offering critical insights for contemporary indigenous social movements.
DOI: 10.22456/1980-4504.2016.v1i2.04
Article ID: BOI-2016-0204
Language & Performancepp. 89–110
The Poetics of Lament: Ritual Mourning Songs in Rural Hinterlands
Dr. Catarina Neves & Prof. Dr. Henrique Castro (Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil)
Ritual laments (prantos) performed by women during funerary wakes in rural Minas Gerais represent an exquisite fusion of poetic improvisation, grief expression, and communal catharsis. This article investigates the micro-tonal structures, melodic contours, and improvisational formulas governing these vocal performances. Drawing from audio archives and participant observation, we analyze how specialized mourners (choradeiras) negotiate personal sorrow within collective cultural templates. The research demonstrates that ritual laments serve as historical archives where family genealogies, unpunished injustices, and community grievances are publicly articulated and validated. Furthermore, the study explores the gradual decline of these traditions due to urbanization and modern funerary regulations, emphasizing the urgent need for comprehensive ethnomusicological documentation.
DOI: 10.22456/1980-4504.2016.v1i2.05
Article ID: BOI-2016-0205
Oral Traditionspp. 111–134
Ribbon of Speech: Proverbs, Aphorisms, and Moral Pedagogy in Folk Discourse
Dr. Vicente Guimarães & Dr. Teresa Pires (Federal University of Paraíba, Brazil)
ProverbsAphorismsFolk PedagogyParoemiology
Abstract
Proverbs and traditional aphorisms function as concise pedagogical tools that transmit ethical codes, social expectations, and generational wisdom within rural communities. This paper undertakes a comprehensive paroemiological analysis of colloquial proverbs collected across interior Paraíba. We examine the rhetorical devices—such as binary parallelism, rhyme, and metaphor—that make these sayings easily memorable and rhetorically potent. Furthermore, the study investigates how speakers strategically deploy proverbs during interpersonal conflict resolution to exert social control and enforce communal norms without resorting to direct confrontation. Our findings suggest that despite rapid modernization, proverbial wisdom remains a thriving pillar of oral communication and informal education in regional Brazil.
DOI: 10.22456/1980-4504.2016.v1i2.06
Article ID: BOI-2016-0206
Interdisciplinary Researchpp. 135–158
Voices of the Forest: Eco-Poetics and Environmental Activism in Indigenous Oratory
Dr. Davi Yanomami & Dr. Sarah Jenkins (University College London, UK)
In an era marked by unprecedented ecological degradation in the Amazon basin, indigenous oratory has emerged as a powerful genre of eco-poetic activism. This final paper of Volume 1 explores how indigenous leaders leverage traditional rhetorical forms—such as formal council speeches, dream testimonies, and shamanic invocations—to articulate environmental warnings to global political audiences. Through collaborative discourse analysis, we examine how spiritual connections with non-human entities (rivers, trees, animal spirits) are translated into persuasive political arguments for land demarcation and forest conservation. The study emphasizes that eco-poetics is not merely aesthetic ornamentation, but a vital epistemological intervention offering alternative futures for planetary survival. We conclude with a call for greater academic engagement with indigenous oral philosophies in global climate change discourse.
DOI: 10.22456/1980-4504.2016.v1i2.07
Article ID: BOI-2016-0207
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