XVII Congress of the Brazilian Studies Association

Southern Gothic in the Global South: an analysis about the Southern Gothic genre in Ana Paula Maia's novels

• In Event: Circulation of Ideas Between Brazil and the United States I

Abstract

This presentation explores the possibility of the emergence of Southern Gothic literature in Latin America, especially in Brazil, drawing parallels between the traditional Southern Gothic genre originating in the United States and contemporary narratives from the South America. The geographical and historical peculiarities of both regions have provided fertile ground for the development of narratives characterized by obscure atmospheres, historical conflicts, social tensions, and slavery. Analyzing recent novels by Ana Paula Maia, focusing in "Enterre seus mortos", this study investigates how the swampy landscapes, agricultural legacies, and societal complexities of the South America contribute to the Southern Gothic tradition. While it may be challenging to categorize these works, examining the unique elements they bring to the genre proves to be fascinating. In order to analyze this issue, Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard" (1977) is used to exemplify the canon of the grotesque family tensions prevalent in the Southern Gothic genre, while the researchers Bjerre, Goddu, Martoni, Zanini, and Rita Schmidt are used as theoretical background – once most of them had already appointed to Southern Gothic adaptability and translation to other atmospheres. By studying the historical context and ideological underpinnings of both regions, through similarities and differences in Ana Paula Maia’s narrative, this research sheds light on the evolution of Southern Gothic beyond its original American context, illustrating its possible reoccurrence in diverse geographic, social, and temporal settings.

Author

• Icaro Carvalho, UCLA