BODY-DOCUMENT

DIALOGUES INSPIRED BY BEATRIZ NASCIMENTO

Abstract

The notion of the document occupies a central position in the epistemological foundations of Information Science and has been continuously expanded through debates that challenge the boundaries of what can be recognized as a document, mainly through reflection on the materiality of information actions and their impact on social reality. In this context, the concept of body-document, developed by Beatriz Nascimento, offers significant potential for contributing to contemporary discussions on document theory and documentality, particularly by bringing Brazilian Black thought and critical race theory into dialogue with informational studies. This article aims to discuss the contributions of the body-document concept to document theory, drawing on Beatriz Nascimento’s intellectual production and on scholarship dedicated to interpreting her work. The study adopts a theoretical-conceptual approach, based on a literature review of document theory and documentality, combined with an analysis of Nascimento’s writings. The findings suggest that the body-document can be understood as an expansion of the epistemological boundaries of the document, recognizing the Black body as a space for the inscription, preservation, and transmission of collective historical experiences. It is argued that its main contribution to Information Science lies in introducing racialized historical experience as a relevant element for understanding processes of documentary production, validation, and circulation. The study concludes that the concept offers new possibilities for reflecting on the relationships between document, memory, corporeality, and race.