PAULINA MONTAÑO DEMANDA SU LIBERTAD. APROXIMACIÓN A UNA ETNOGRAFÍA PERFORMATIVA DE UN PLEITO JUDICIAL, CHOCÓ, 1738 Translated title: PAULINA MONTAÑO'S FREEDOM LAW SUIT. AN "ETHNOGRAPHY OF PERFORMANCE" APPROACH TO A LEGAL ACTION, CHOCÓ, 1738

Abstract

Con base en el pleito que la esclava Paulina Montaño entabló en contra de su amo Juan Caysedo, en el Chocó, entre 1738 y 1739, examino las posibilidades de intervención de los esclavos en la producción de los documentos, sus posibilidades para proseguir un juicio asimétrico en contra de sus propietarios y las acciones seguidas para obtener la libertad. Para estudiar el caso me apoyo en la "etnografía performativa", la cual me brinda herramientas para una lectura distinta del proceso judicial.

Translated abstract

This article is based on the legal action that the slave Paulina Montaño filed against her master Juan de Caysedo, in the colonial Chocó, between 1738 and 1739. I examine how much input and influence the slaves could have had in the making of the files and the chances they had in getting a balanced and fair trial against their masters. I also examine the procedures that followed in order to obtain their freedom. In this case, my support comes from the methodology "Ethnography of Performance" which provides the tools for a different kind of reading of the judicial process.