Consumption Experiences in Samba:

A study about the process of signification of the Feijoada Portelense

Abstract

Samba is considered a symbol of Rio de Janeiro, and it is very common meeting in specific groups to share this musical style. These meetings function as a space for representation and sociocultural expression, interactions and celebrations, in which the consumption of various types of dishes result in the production of meanings that articulate the festivity and food. This study investigated the process of constructing meanings of the traditional feijoada at the Portela samba school. Visits to Portela were
carried out to recognize the local, particularities and identify the research interlocutors that would mediate entry into the study field and then undertake a participant observation. The results indicate that, although it has undergone changes in preparation, Portela feijoada has become an event in which symbolic exchanges occur, contributing to the construction of meanings that reflect and construct the very notion of "tradition" elaborated by members of the samba school.