Paper short abstract:

In Brazil the figure of peons and cowboys is classic on Literature Studies and Social Sciences. The purpose of this PhD research, to be performed in the Postgraduate Program of Social Anthropology at the University of São Paulo, is to describe cowboys and peons' everyday and symbolic universe in contemporary society, through an ethnography of Livestock Shows & Fairs. The work of these agents (peons and cowboys) at Livestock Fairs and Agricultural Events, contributes to "rethink" the meanings of the " rural" nowadays, and to reflect about the theoretical and methodological ways to perform researches whose subjects are located on the border of Rural Anthropology and Urban Anthropology.

Paper long abstract:

In Brazil, there is a great circuit of Livestock Fairs & Shows . Such events, celebrate agribusiness as an important economy-booster activity and, in several States, are places for festive activities. Localities of the most different sizes, situated throughout the country have their own fair. Whose exhibition of Farming & Cattle production share stage with a range of hailed entertainment events — big shows with the most requested duos of neo-sertanejo music, gambling tents, food and drink trailers, rodeo contests and, in some cases, sophisticated restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Among the many participants, the success and good output of these Livestock Shows & Fairs depends mainly on peons and cowboys, a particular group which draws special attention. Venerated by many at these exhibitions as "the ones authentically native from the rural universe", cowboys and peons undertake indispensable jobs to the good run of these shows, such as rodeo and cattle handling. Like a troupe, they travel all the year round from fair to fair, scouring the entire Brazilian circuit of small and big livestock exhibitions. This research — a result of fieldwork at country fairs in the cities of Londrina (PR), Campo Grande (MS) and São Paulo (SP) — its intended to apprehend the dynamics of the Brazilian Livestock Shows & Fairs circuit, taking into account peons and cowboy s' routine in these events and considering the way in which their work accomplished a foundation for a large part of business and entertainment activities which happen during those events.