Chapter 15: Temporality in Cultural Trajectories: A Psychological Approach on Semiotic Constructions

The present discussion concerning the notion of temporality from a semiotic, cultural, and constructivist perspective emerged from a very real and situated psychological issue related to the project Amerindian Network Support, which I have been coordinating since 2012. It is supported by the Rectorship for Culture and Extension of the University of São Paulo, Brazil (Pró-Reitoria de Cultura e Extensão da USP). Our activities with the autochthon peoples, who live in the city of São Paulo, mainly consist in organizing meetings where they talk about the psychosocial vulnerabilities they are facing. A group of undergraduate students from different fields of study (psychology, history, and social sciences) participates in these meetings under my supervision. The project is considered a service to the autochthon communities that live in São Paulo, and we do not collect data for scientific purposes. Nevertheless, it offers a catalytic background for a reflection on the meaning of temporality in interethnic situations.