Emoções, sedição e patrimônios difíceis

a luta pela preservação do território de Bento Rodrigues

Abstract

This article addresses the heritage emotions triggered by the contact of residents with the territory of Bento Rodrigues after the dam collapse on November 5, 2015, which completely destroyed the area. These emotions reveal that the affective bonds with the place remain alive and manifest themselves in symbolic and commemorative practices, such as religious festivals and cultural events, which reinforce the sense of belonging and the unity between the residents and the territory. Furthermore, the paper explores another dimension of heritage emotions, characterized by mobilization in defense of the territory in the face of destruction threats. Referred to as sédition by Daniel Fabre, such emotions are expressed in a reactive and defensive way, driving individuals to resist projects that compromise emotionally significant spaces. In the case of Bento Rodrigues, the announcement of a dam construction by the mining company responsible for the disaster triggered a strong emotional reaction among the residents. This feeling of outrage stimulated heritage defense practices, in which those affected sought strategies to claim recognition and protection of the destroyed territory. Thus, the article aims to analyze difficult heritage through the lens of heritage emotions, which proved to be fundamental in fostering social articulation, activating processes of resistance and re-signification of the territory.