Exploitation, inequality, and justice: meanings produced by rural adolescents in response to the film Propriedade

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the meanings produced by rural adolescents regarding work through aesthetic mediation. An action research was conducted with three adolescents from a rural school in the Federal District. The methodology included semi-structured interviews and the organization of a film club. In this article, the analysis focuses on the discussions of a focus group after the screening of the film Propriedade (2023). Data were analyzed focusing on discursive fragments to understand the ongoing production of meanings. The film catalyzed debates on labor exploitation analogous to slavery, inequality, and justice. The adolescents demonstrated the ability for conceptual thinking, reflecting on complex ethical dilemmas such as the legitimacy of violence as a response to oppression. Their statements revealed a connection between their own experiences of informal labor and the film’s narrative. The discussion highlighted how art can mediate reflection on the objective conditions of exploitation (such as surplus value) and the ways these shape subjectivity and perceptions of reality. Aesthetic mediation was considered effective in fostering critical reflections among youth, linking their singular experiences to broader social issues. The research reaffirms the relevance of the Cultural-Historical Theory for understanding adolescent development and emphasizes the potential of art as a tool for fostering critical awareness. It also points to the need for public policies for rural contexts and the integration of art into the school curriculum as a means of social transformation.