Itapipoca em imagens: fotografia, memória e mediação cultural na construção da identidade local

Abstract

This monograph investigates photography as a tool for cultural mediation in preserving the collective memory and local identity of the city of Itapipoca, Ceará, Brazil. It is based on the assumption that the photographic image, beyond being a visual document, is a cultural sign capable of promoting dialogue between times, subjects, and spaces. The study adopts a qualitative, descriptive, and interpretative approach, grounded in the analysis of historical photographs from the 20th century, applying Erwin Panofsky’s iconographic-iconological method as adapted by Boris Kossoy for photographic analysis. The research is complemented by field observations and informal interviews with local residents, allowing for broader interpretation of the images through affective memories and lived experiences. Photography is understood as a bridge between past and present, acting as a symbolic and documentary mediation device. The analysis demonstrated that photographs not only preserve visual information but also evoke social, historical, and emotional meanings that strengthen community belonging and collective memory. It is concluded that, within the field of Information Science, recognizing photography as a mediating document is essential to valuing cultural diversity, strengthening local identities, and democratizing access to memory and information.