Questão de Humanities and their Technologies #019e354a
On the first day, a clay pot was placed in the center of the shed, representing the spirit of the deceased present in the room. Those who danced deposited coins as they passed by it, and around it, white corn, honey, water, acaçás (a type of cornmeal cake), and cachaça (a type of Brazilian rum) were placed. On the second day, the ogãs (drummers), before beginning the ceremony, walked through the corridor formed by the houses, striking their eaves with long bamboo poles until they reached the entrance gate. On the third day, four people, the most influential in the cult, carried a sheet that apparently contained a body inside. However, this body was formed from green plant leaves, which were poured over a person.
The Brazilian ritual presented in the text represents, for its followers, the
Maintaining a collective memory.
contesting an ethnic identity.
The sacrifice of an African deity.
Legitimizing a pagan practice.
promise of a social revolt.
Explicação Oficial / Explicações da Comunidade
Analysis of the Axexe Ritual
The correct answer is option A. A) Maintaining a collective memory.
1. The Nature and Purpose of Ritual
The text describes Axexe, a "rite of passage" that unfolds over three days and is centered on the figure of a deceased person ("the spirit of the dead"). The function of a rite of passage like this is to guide the community and the spirit of the deceased through the transition from life to death, according to the group's beliefs.
2. Ritual as a Collective Practice
The key to interpretation lies in how the ritual is conducted:
- It's a community action: It involves the participation of many people ("Those who danced"). * It is structured and traditional: There are specific roles (the "ogãs," the "four most influential people") and a sequence of symbolic acts (depositing offerings, striking with bamboo sticks, carrying the sheet with leaves). * It focuses on the past and the present: The ritual honors a person who has passed away, keeping their memory alive within the group, while reaffirming the community's practices and beliefs in the present.
By performing these acts together, participants are not merely bidding farewell to an individual; they are actively practicing and reinforcing their traditions, their beliefs about life and death, and the history of their community. The ritual serves as a mechanism for the group to remember its members and preserve its traditions from generation to generation. This is the essence of... maintaining a collective memory.
3. Evaluation of Other Alternatives
- B) contesting an ethnic identity: Incorrect. Ritual is an affirmation and practice of a specific cultural/ethnic identity, not a challenge to it. * C) Immolation of an African deity: Incorrect. "Imolation" means sacrifice. The text does not describe any sacrifice, and the ritual is for a deceased member of the community, not for a deity. * D) Legitimization of a pagan practice: Incorrect. The term "pagan" is external and often pejorative. For its followers, the ritual is not intended to "legitimize" themselves, but rather to fulfill a fundamental spiritual and social function. * E) Promise of a social revolt: Incorrect. There is no element in the text that suggests a purpose of revolt or social protest. The focus is entirely spiritual and communal.
4. Conclusion
The Axexe ritual, as described, is a collective and symbolic practice that allows the community to process the death of one of its members according to its traditions. In doing so, the group reinforces its bonds, its beliefs, and the memory of the deceased, ensuring a lasting legacy. maintaining their collective memory.