Blood and liver: the persistence of the leprosy symbolic images considering the Papa-Figo myth

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29397/reciis.v14i2.1896

Keywords:

Imaginary, Myth, Leprosy, Folklore, Symbol.

Abstract

This article is focused on the symbolic processes that, in the face of the imminence of illness and death, make powerful narratives emerge in the imaginary, which are symbolized by myths. For this purpose, we center on the symbolic images on leprosy that surround the Brazilian myth of the Papa-Figo - a fantastic creature represented by the rich and powerful people which were contaminated and would do anything to recover from the illness and back to their health; including consuming the entrails of kidnapped children.In a synchronic and diachronic journey, we related historical and folkloric reports to contemporary narratives: urban exploration videos exploring the abandoned house of the 'Papa-Figo widow'. In this symbolic reading, we explore the recurrence of symbols linked to blood, liver, well, power, money and the mysterious Other, showing that the fear of disease and its physical and social consequences move us archetypically, awakening ancestral relationships that connect us to the experience human level




Author Biography

Andriolli Costa, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. Porto Alegre, RS

Doutorado em Comunicação e Informação pela Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul.

Published

2020-06-26

How to Cite

Costa, A. (2020). Blood and liver: the persistence of the leprosy symbolic images considering the Papa-Figo myth. Revista Eletrônica De Comunicação, Informação & Inovação Em Saúde, 14(2). https://doi.org/10.29397/reciis.v14i2.1896