SOCIOCULTURAL TENSIONS AND CONFLICTS IN THE "LARGEST SAINT JOHN OF THE WORLD"

Abstract

The concepts of culture and identity are relevant for language studies. Saussure (2010) conceived language as complex because of its ability to reflect external relations to the world and language. Hall (2005) agrees that speaking is activating a theia of meanings intrinsic to the language and cultural and identity systems that permeate worldviews in societies. Therefore, starting from the hypothesis that subjects with higher education have greater interest and knowledge about cultural issues, their influences and relationships with the identity of a people, the study questioned tourists from the " LARGEST SAINT JOHN IN THE WORLD", Campina Grande/PB, to verify how they "see" culture and identity in the city, aspects evidenced through popular art and the songs that make up the repertoire of the event. Through a theoretical framework composed by Bauman (2012; 2013), Canclini (2005; 2009), Hall (2005) among others, it was verified the perception, by tourists, of the need to value local culture and the prominence for northeastern music. It was also evidenced that a higher education can influence the idea of conservatism, with the preservation of the local cultural element to the detriment of the fluidity of cultural and identity relations.