Anthropophagic Queer: A Study on Abjected Bodies and Brazilian Queer Theory

<p>This project analyzes contemporary Brazilian literature and film in order to discuss queer theory and its ability to resonate with, and bring to light, specifically Brazilian concerns. The main argument of this dissertation is that, on one hand, such ideas and theories may change local perspectives; and that, on the other, they are themselves changed by local contexts. Therefore my analysis focuses on the representation of same-sex desire in Brazil throughout the 20^th century and a reading of queer theory with a Brazilian perspective in mind. In order to do that, I use the concept of <em>Antropofagia</em>. Anthropophagy was a seminal Brazilian cultural movement that, through the works of artists such as Oswald de Andrade Tarsila do Amaral and Flávio de Carvalho, proposed cultural and metaphorical cannibalism, putting together European avant-garde ideas with Brazilian traditions yet aiming to produce something entirely new.</p> <p>My anthropophagic queer reading also appeals to the notion of the abject as formulated by Julia Kristeva and later examined by Leo Bersani, Michael Warner and Judith Butler and to the space in-between, a concept formulated by Silviano Santiago.</p> <p>In literature, the analysis will focus on <em>Labirinto</em> (1971) by André de Figueiredo, <em>Passagem para o próximo sonho</em> (1981) by Herbert Daniel and <em>Os dragões nú conhecem o paraíso</em> (1988) by Caio Fernando Abreu. In film, I will deal with <em>Romance</em> (1988) by Sérgio Bianchi, <em>Madame Satã</em> (2003) by Karim Aïnouz, <em>Dzi Croquetes</em> (2010) by Tatianna Issa and Rafael Alvarez, and <em>Tatuagem</em> (2014) by Hilton Lacerda.</p> <p>My readings reveal that, beyond the Anglo-American model of coming out and politics, there are other possibilities of affirmation, be it through acceptance or silence and failure, which are seen in this dissertation as a productive mode of queer representation. Moreover, the pieces of literature and film analyzed here depict queer alternative representations to both homonormativity and heteronormativity as forms of resistance, at the same time as prejudice and homonormativity remain present in contemporary Brazilian social practices.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Hispanic & Luso-Brazilian Literatures & Languages

Grantor

The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Nemi Neto, Joao

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Paul J. Smith

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• José Del Valle
• Magdalena Perkowska

• Brazilian Film; Brazilian Literature; LGBTQ Studies; Queer Theory

Repository record dc:identifier

https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/1071

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:academicworks.cuny.edu:gc_etds-2085