The emergence of cultural complexes in ecovillages: ethnographic studies Brazil/Switzerland

Abstract

This article aims to contribute to the subjectivity study of ecovillage dwellers based on the concept of cultural complex. The investigation focused on the complexes that emerged with regard to the individual, collective, and nature, how they developed and were worked on. We rely on the notion of cultural complexes to understand the relationships of individuals with themselves, with others, and with the environment in the community framework. We observed the participants in two ecovillages in Switzerland and one in Brazil. The analyses evidenced that life in ecovillages develops collective complexes that mediate the relationships of individuals with their relevant groups regarding aspects of individuality and collectivity and ways of relating to nature. However, in each community, the physical context and the presence or absence of self-reflection works developed cultural complexes in different ways, producing specific relationships between each individual and their context.