THE NOT SO ARCHAIC ART OF USING BLADES: THE USES OF THE MIDDLE AGES IN THE PRACTICE OF HISTORICAL EUROPEAN MARTIAL ARTS IN THE CITY OF RIO DE JANEIRO (2014 – 2024)
Middle Ages; Neomedievalism; Historical European Martial Arts; Historical Reenactment; Living History; Historical Fencing
The imaginary about the Middle Ages permeates contemporary times. Through multiple associations, interpretations, reconstructions, contemporary times seek to recapture a dreamed idea, in constant change, of the Middle Ages. The field of study of neomedievalism fits as a theoretical lens of great merit in the perspective of critical study of these reconstructions. The contemporary movement for the revitalization of Historical European Martial Arts is configured as a practical activity resulting from the interpretation of historical sources such as: treaties and medieval manuscripts that contain, in their text, martial fighting techniques with blades. Historical European Martial Arts are an example, and auspicious, object of study through the lens of neomedievalism. This work aims to understand the uses undertaken regarding the symbolic category of the Middle Ages within the scope of practice in the city of Rio de Janeiro, as well as verifying possible links between the third revitalization movement of European Historical Martial Arts with the diffusion of far-right groups.