Entre vermelhos e barricadas: docência e movimento estudantil na escola de belas artes da ufrj em 2024

Abstract

This article discusses the student strike that took place in the first semester of 2024 at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, with a particular focus on the unrest that began at the School of Fine Arts, located on the university’s Ilha do Fundão campus. During this period, the institution’s faculty chose not to participate in the strike, which affected all country. In response to the political climate and prevailing teaching conditions, the students decided to align themselves with the national strike. The student strike initially began at the School of Fine Arts and later expanded to other departments and courses. Adopting a testimonial and critical perspective, the author, as a participant observer, reflects on her multifaceted role as a teacher, painter, artist, and researcher in the field of art education. She draws on the recent history of the bicentennial institution and its connections with the academic community throughout its journey of development. The narrative delves into the interplay between teaching and the artistic process in painting, linking these elements to the events surrounding the strike. The central theme of the text revolves around understanding the motivations behind the student strike and how the collective experience within the studios was transposed into mobilization activities. Through an occupation strike, student activism forged a new space for learning, exchange, and organizing, involving some faculty members and challenging the often rigid, utilitarian, and authoritarian structures of the university. By employing collaborative strategies, aspiring artists seek to unify and articulate a collective voice.

Keywords: Student strike. Student activism. Academic mobilization. Teaching. Art education. Artistic practice. School of Fine Arts. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.