Prolegomena to a library of myths: a structuralist approuch with the Ramkokamekrá-Canela people

Abstract

This text proposes a theoretical-methodological reflection for the creation of a myth collection in the library of the Ramkokamekrá-Canela people, inspired by Claude Lévi-Strauss's structural analysis, particularly in his Mythologiques series, with special emphasis on The Raw and the Cooked, which includes Jê-Timbira myths. The proposal views myths as dynamic elements, constantly transformed by the human spirit, and seeks a method for their organization and documentation in a collection guided by the structural logic inherent to the myths themselves. Employing concepts from Library Science, such as Ranganathan's laws, the study draws a parallel between bibliographic classification and indexing and the "frameworks," "codes," and "messages" used by Lévi-Strauss in myth analysis to identify patterns and connections. This model offers an approach for organizing and retrieving myths that can be adapted by various cultural institutions, with the potential of the Canela Library—an indigenous library created in 2022—being explored in this work. The main objective is to propose, through an analysis of myths and their possibilities as a collection, a method of organization that enables the collection, storage, cataloging, navigation, and retrieval of these myths within an information system. This structuralist approach emphasizes the role of myths in a people's culture and their relevance to an indigenous library fostering intercultural dialogue.