The construction of the sacred through photographs displayed in Latin American homes

Abstract

From a sociological perspective, sacredness is a social construction. In this article, I stand at the intersection of the tradition of domestic shrines and the contemporary use of photography, from a perspective of lived religion. The aim is to clarify what are the sacred realities that structure daily life for Latin American participants. I argue that the practice of displaying pictures at home is a form of ‘sacralization practice’. The research is based on data from a sample of 25 respondents from three cities (Córdoba, Argentina; Lima, Perú; Montevideo, Uruguay), four religious affiliations (Catholics, Protestants, Umbanda, Non-Affiliated), and two socioeconomic statuses (lower and upper/middle). Employing a layered analysis of pictures displayed at home (PDH), I studied the materiality, the context of the display, and the motifs portrayed. The results show that participants, both religious and non-affiliated, sacralize foundational relationships and moments, even the events scholars disregard.