Academic Research and Publications: Decoding Cultures and Behaviors
With over a decade dedicated to Social Sciences and Anthropology, my career focuses on exploring the complexities of human behavior and cultural dynamics. Following the lines of Performance Anthropology, Visual Anthropology, and Ethnic Studies, my work explores identity construction in broad terms.
My investigations span from Guarani indigenous villages to 20th-century Chinese cinema, always seeking to turn deep observations into meaningful and applicable insights. Therefore, my work takes shape in publications and projects that combine academic rigor and a multidisciplinary perspective.
Xondaro Guarani: arte marcial, performance e política
PhD in Anthropology: Chinese Cinema, Collectivity, and Ethnicity – A Three-Decade Story
My connection with China began back in my adolescence, when a chance encounter with a Taiji quan flyer led me from the fiction of stereotypical martial arts movies to the actual practice of the art. Amid small study groups and my first books on classical philosophy, I discovered a way of looking at the world that, little by little, would become part of my personal and intellectual journey. Over the years, these initial contacts expanded through readings and memorable encounters with others who shared these interests, keeping the search alive even in times when information was scarce.
Over time, I became interested in learning Mandarin, while connecting with Chinese friends online built a network of experiences that extended beyond my formal studies. This path ran parallel to my academic and professional education, traversing music, audiovisual media, and anthropological research.
Today, in my doctoral research, this background is reflected in the investigation of the relationship between the individual and the collectivity in China, focusing on cinema from the first half of the 20th century, prior to the 1949 Socialist Revolution. The study is based on a historical analysis of the contexts preceding the establishment of the People's Republic, concentrating on how the struggles of that time were expressed through and influenced by cinema.
Analyzing this period means bringing into play variables that are often overlooked in understanding contemporary China. Ultimately, this helps explain why the country is frequently viewed as a 'contradiction': on the one hand, possessing unique forms of popular participation; on the other, offering social solutions that defy traditional Western categories. In this research, issues of collectivity, ethnicity, and identity reveal, at their core, the same inquiry that began many years ago: understanding how images and cultural practices shape worldviews and ways of being in time.
Multi-sited Ethnography in China: Over 1,000 km in the Field
Complementing my doctoral research project, I undertook an extensive ethnographic journey through China, covering over 1,000 km. My route included destinations such as Shanghai, Changzhou, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Shiyan (Wudangshan).
During this immersion, I recorded various videos blending academic reflection with observations of daily life, offering an in-depth anthropological perspective on Chinese culture, society, and history.
Beyond the footage, the detailed field notes I took are being organized for future publication as a book and photography collection, aimed at sharing the results of my experience in the country with a non-academic audience.
For those interested in a more direct experience of fieldwork, videos from this journey are available on my YouTube channel, offering a visual record and insights into the cultural nuances observed. Please note that these serve as anthropological material; therefore, although edited to improve the viewing experience, they follow the timeline of my journey rather than the polished aesthetic of a documentary film—capturing the raw nature of filming in uncontrolled environments.
Check out the full playlist here.
MA in Anthropology: Ethnography in Guarani Villages and the Book Xondaro Guarani: arte marcial, performance e política
For my Master's dissertation in Anthropology at UERJ, I utilized participant observation and open interviews to study the xondaro, a specific practice of the Indigenous Guarani people. Also called the xondaro dance, this agonistic bodily practice is viewed by the Guarani as a martial art meant for the protection of their village. My fieldwork took place in the villages of Pyau (São Paulo) and Sapukai (Rio de Janeiro).
This project went beyond deepening the theoretical knowledge from my Social Sciences degree; it allowed me to expand my understanding of belief systems in traditional communities. Furthermore, it sharpened my capacity for qualitative analysis and observation in complex settings.
The outcome of this research was the publication of the book Xondaro Guarani: arte marcial, performance e política.
Thus, in addition to the eleven years of graduate research (Master's and PhD), my qualitative research experience includes my time as an undergraduate.
I worked as a researcher for the project Imagéticas Indígenas e Agenciamentos Contemporâneos (PRÓ-ÍNDIO/UERJ), the Anthropology of Art Core (NADA/UERJ), and spent a decade with the INARRA/UERJ Research Group.
Added to skills like music and audiovisual production, these experiences shaped a multidisciplinary path that offers a unique sensitivity for understanding human behavior. Today, this allows me to provide specialized consultancy in cultural decoding for both academic projects and the commercial market.
My approach goes beyond statistics or standard demographics (like gender, age, and class). Instead, I use Anthropology's sensitive perspective to understand the deeper layers of behavior. Based on years of experience, I can analyze the full spectrum of a social group, identifying the symbolic elements that drive decisions.
Anthropology, as the founder of qualitative methods, gives me the theoretical tools to apply this expertise in the real world.