Los voladores de Papantla
Persistencias coloniales y resistencias comunitarias en dos prácticas en México
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5004367 |
|---|---|
| Authors | José Javier Contreras Vizcaino (0000-0002-2913-7751, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana), Gregorio Rosas Herrera (0009-0008-6874-7254, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Issue | 57 |
| Pages | 147-171 |
| Publication date | 2024-10-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Antípoda Revista de Antropología y Arqueología (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2011-4273 • E-ISSN: 1900-5407 |
| Publisher | Universidad de los Andes (PUBLISHER • VE) |
| DOI | 10.7440/antipoda57.2024.07 |
| OpenAlex | W4403010505 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 5 |
The ritual ceremony of the Papantla flyers is a pre-Hispanic cultural practice performed since 600 B. C. by various indigenous peoples of Mexico and Central America. This intricate ceremony comprises multiple stages, with the most notable being "the flight," where a group of five individuals ascend a tall mast, known as the flying pole, to perform songs and dances from the top. Tied by their feet with ropes, the flyers then descend in concentric circles until they reach the ground. This article focuses on two contemporary practices in Mexico: one at the Xcaret Tourist Park in Quintana Roo, and the other in the municipality of Papantla, Veracruz. The aim is to compare these practices to highlight the tensions between colonial legacies and community resistance. Using the method of montage, we analyze two dialectical images across different dimensions: spaces, times, technical-material contents, participating social subjects, and the objectivity of the practice itself. The results reveal the tension between the colonial persistence of capitalist modernity-manifested in the commodification and patrimonialization of the practice-and community resistance, demonstrated through the revival of memories and traditions. While this research focuses on two specific practices, the methodological and analytical approach can be applied to other activities within the ritual flyers ceremony, or to other cultural practices recognized as intangible cultural heritage. This study contributes to the field of critical heritage studies
Art · Humanities · Sociology · Indigenous Cultures and History · Indigenous Cultures and Socio-Education · Mexican Socioeconomic and Environmental Dynamics
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,5 |
| Citation span | 2024 - 2024 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |