Catarse

Abstract

This project arises from the discomfort caused by the lack of reference to the suffering of Black slaves and Indigenous people in the exhibition of jewelry pieces at the Marta Ortigão Sampaio House-Museum in the city of Porto. The compulsive work of these populations enabled the extraction of enormous quantities of raw materials of Brazilian origin during the colonial period, specifically gold, diamonds, and a variety of gemstones. It is from these processes that the cinematographic creation Catarse unfolds, presenting the main changes in Portuguese jewelry between the 16th and 18th centuries, while also revealing that such transformations are, among other factors, the result of oppression and rampant exploitation. This also allows us to note how various European museums still base their organization and narrative exhibitions on ethnocentric perspectives, which omit the dark aspects of history, even in the face of the growing demand in recent decades for more inclusive and ethical stances from these institutions. Catarse aims, therefore, to expose how the luxurious jewelry present in the House-Museum bears silent witness to the injustices and violence committed during the era of colonization, as do many other objects exhibited by various museum entities.

Date of Award	28 Oct 2024
Original language	Portuguese
Awarding Institution	Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Supervisor	Vânia Maria Coutinho (Supervisor) & Nuno Faria (Co-Supervisor)