Sons do conflito: música popular, patrimônio e as fronteiras invisíveis da Praça Tiradentes

Abstract

This article analyzes the dynamics of use and appropriation of Praça Tiradentes in Ouro Preto, examining how policies of patrimonialization and cultural management reproduce inequalities in access to public space. Through two case studies - the cancellation of Dilsinho’s concert (2023) and the overcrowding at Alceu Valença’s concert (2025) - we demonstrated how the square operates under a hierarchical logic that privileges certain cultural expressions over others, We argue that this distinction reflects and reinforces social inequalities, transforming the historical heritage into an arena of symbolic conflicts. The analysis reveals three dimensions of value in tension: (1) symbolic, where the square is disputed between monument and living space; (2) economic, marked by the prioritization of tourism to the detriment of residents; and (3) social, evidencing the weakening of the community’s affective ties with its own patrimony.