“A mais bela normalista”: rituais juvenis no Curso Normal do Instituto Estadual de Educação (Florianópolis, 1961-1971)

From 1961 to 1971, the undergraduate course Curso Normal, at Instituto Estadual de Educacao , followed the process of modernization of the city of Florianopolis (Santa Catarina State). The present study seeks to understand the beauty rituals that involved the prom preparation and the organization of the beauty contest “A mais bela normalista”, as elements which integrated the school culture at that time. The circulation and repercussion of cultural and pedagogical models are conceived as analytical categories in which it is observed the historical intelligibility towards school practices. Written documents, iconic documents, and school materials constitute the documental corpus. The research made possible the understanding of solemnities at the prom and at the beauty contest “A mais bela normalista” as events associated to the process of modernization sought at the school. Keywords: Curso Normal, prom, beauty contest, cultural and pedagogical models.