Representações (geo)gráficas e geografia quantitativa no Brasil: uma análise na Revista Brasileira de Geografia (1970-1978)

Abstract

The central theme of the dissertation is the relationship between the period of Quantitative Geography in Brazil and its (geo)graphic representations. Considering that the theoretical and methodological changes that took place in this disciplinary field in the 1950s and 1960s from the quantitative movement, reflected in a broad, qualified and distinguished change in the modes of representation of the discipline, which did not have centrality in the consolidated map images traditional and fieldwork photographs. These images were constituted through representations from techniques and graphic models based on geometric shapes and on the propagated mathematical and statistical procedures linked to patterns, trends, arrangements and spatial processes. In this sense, the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics - IBGE was characterized as the most important center for incorporation, development and dissemination of quantitative geography in the country, and it was in its so-called Revista Brasileira de Geografia (RBG) that many publications were published of the studies elaborated in this perspective in the country. Thus, the main objective was to understand and analyze the production and use of (geo)graphic representations in the Revista Brasileira de Geografia (IBGE) between the years 1970 and 1978.Methodologically, a survey, identification and analysis of these (geo)graphic representations published in the journal was carried out, discussed as registration devices for understanding how they are inserted in the statements of a scientific text. Thus, it was identified which methods, techniques and theoretical concepts were incorporated by Brazilian geography and ended up giving rise to these (geo)graphic representations. As a result, it was possible to identify, in terms of representations, the predominance of factor analysis graphs on Brazilian cities, followed by theoretical models by different authors and by cluster analysis dendrograms. It was also found that the elaboration of these representations was not a simple and quickly undertaken task, as it was necessary to acquire computers, install specific software, magnetic tapes and algorithms, as well as learning the techniques and handling specific programs. by the institution's geographers. Therefore, it started with a deficit, from a technological point of view, so much so that the first experiments had to be carried out on computers from foreign universities. However, when technical limitations were overcome, the IBGE became a reference for Quantitative Geography in Brazil, being mentioned as a place of support for the execution of these new procedures, thus propagating a wide, qualified and varied set of representations (geo)graphics, renewing the way and the way of doing geographic in Brazil.