Body education and associative life: the german gymnastics societies in São Paulo (end of the 19th century, first decades of the 20th century)

Author(s)

Evelise Amgarten Quitzau

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Campinas, SP.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Faculdade de Educação Física
• Defense date: 2011-06-21

Examining board members

Carmen Lúcia Soares; Alexandre Fernandez Vaz; Heloísa Helena Pimenta Rocha

• Advisor: Carmen Lúcia Soares

Abstract

During the 19th century occurred in Germany the development of gymnastics, used as means to educate the bodies of the German population. This practice was present in different expressions of the associative life - in institutions formed by free individuals -, strongly ingrained in its culture and was one of the first systematizations of physical exercises which originated modern Physical Education. Filled with political, patriotic and social ideals, it was used to educate the body of the German population, preserving the physical strength and aiming the maintenance of health, as well as the necessary discipline required for the daily work and the homeland defense. This gymnastics followed the migratory waves of the 19th century, turning into a cultural aspect preserved by the German immigrants in Brazil, especially in the southern and southeastern regions of the country. In the city of São Paulo there were many institutions founded by German immigrants throughout the 19th century from which we can highlight the Deutscher Turnverein (1888) and the Turnerschaft von 1890 in São Paulo (1890), both founded for the practice of Turnen. This study aimed to analyze and comprehend the practice of gymnastics as specific means to educate the body as well as a cultural element to be preserved in this associations - especially the Turnerschaft von 1890 in São Paulo - in the period between the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the Second World War (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/02043-3 - Gymnastics and associative life: the german gimnastic societies in São Paulo (end of XIX century, first decades of XX century)
• Grantee: Evelise Amgarten Quitzau
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master