Banca de DEFESA: AMANDA APARECIDA MONTAGIL SILVA

The city under the lens: Porto Velho in the 40s and 50s through photography

Amazon, Porto Velho, Photography and memory

This dissertation seeks to explore and reveal the city of Porto Velho through photography. The focus of the investigation is on the period between the 1940s and 1950s, in the context of the 20th century, when the center of attention was occupied by photographic records. These years are of great importance for the history of the state of Rondônia as a whole, as they witnessed important events that shaped its trajectory. The research aims to draw a comprehensive overview of the main political and economic events that contributed to the historical construction of Porto Velho, capital of the State of Rondônia. Such events include important milestones, such as the creation of the Federal Territory of Guaporé, which later became the Federal Territory of Rondônia, and the second rubber economic cycle in the Amazon region. A particularly notable moment is the visit of then president Getúlio Vargas to the city, which was marked by a significant routine of photographic records. The study approaches photography as a valuable source of research for historians, supporting its potential to uncover social and symbolic aspects through, above all, the architectural marks that persist in the urban landscape of Porto Velho. In this way, this work aims to shed light on the rich history of Porto Velho, revealing the complex layers of meaning that can be extracted from photographic images of the time. At the same time, it is hoped to contribute to a deeper and enriching understanding of the evolution of this city throughout the 20th century.