In the webs of dictatorships: the medical profile of Osório César between communism, art and psychoanalysis (1922-1979)

• Grant number: 23/08332-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Effective date (Start): May 01, 2024
• Effective date (End): April 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - History - History of Science
• Principal Investigator: Ana Lúcia Lana Nemi
• Grantee: Tairini Ayhu Cruz Aparicio de Almeida
• Host Institution: Escola de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (EFLCH). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Guarulhos. Guarulhos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research aims to analyze the medical and political path of the psychiatrist Osório Thaumaturgo Cesar (1895-1979), seeking to understand how his communist political militancy was important in the face of the social perspective of his medical work. The period covered will be between 1922 and 1979. His trajectory encompasses the pioneering use of art in mental health, having been based on the psychoanalytic approach of Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) and on his strong political activity with the Brazilian Communist Party, since the 1930's. It is also intended to understand if this militancy was a decisive point for the partial erasure of his figure, since even being a pioneer in art therapy, his name is little known both in academia and in common sense.The methodology pointed out by the British historian Quentin Skinner, which indicates the need to scrutinize the trajectory, the works and the political and historical context in which the subject was inserted during the focus period of his work and research.In this sense, some works by Osório César related to psychiatry and political militancy will be used as sources, some DEOPS processes/appeal available at the National Archive and the Communist International Archive available at the Edgard Leuenroth Archive at Unicamp. In addition, the bibliographic collection that belonged to César and is available at the Municipal Library of Franco da Rocha - SP will be examined.