Beth’s caravan, it’s going to be Taubaté

Abstract

ABSTRACT

This article examined the Caravana da Beth, a sociocultural phenomenon that takes place in Taubaté, from a variety of theoretical perspectives. Through a qualitative analysis based on literature review, we explored the origins of the caravan, the central figure of Beth, the sociocultural impact in Taubaté, the influence on the participants, the caravan as an imagined community and a performance, the relationship with previous caravan traditions, as well as the challenges and limitations of the study. We used citations from renowned authors such as Anderson, Bauman, Goffman, and Geertz to support our arguments. We discovered that the Caravana da Beth goes beyond a simple collective journey, playing a crucial role in constructing collective identity, strengthening social bonds, and shaping local culture. The central figure of Beth exerts significant influence, while shared rituals and practices play an important role in forming an imagined community. The Caravana da Beth also stands out as a performance that offers flow experiences and transformation to the participants. Ultimately, this study contributes to the understanding of similar events, providing valuable insights into social dynamics, collective identities, and sociocultural impacts of itinerant collective events.