XVII Congress of the Brazilian Studies Association

Underrepresented voices in Brazilian Cinema: Presence, Tensions and Representations

Session Submission Type: Complete Panel

Abstract

The presence of underrepresented voices in cultural productions such as film, literature and art have been a valuable stage for activism as well as for representation of marginalized communities. Inevitably, rationalizing the presentation of silenced, ostracized and often stereotyped communities raises dialogues between fiction and real-life experiences, and it also has the potential to expose the complex relationship between politics and aesthetics of each media. Nevertheless, these audio and visual platforms give visibility to a broad spectrum of underrepresented voices, including the ones addressed in this panel: queer, trans, Indigenous, Black and occupation movements’ members in Brazil.

Comprising four presentations, this panel proposes a discussion based on the presence and the representation of marginalized voices focusing on examples that blend reality, fiction, performance, and fantasy. The first presentation will focus on the subjectivity and representation of occupation movements in São Paulo through Eliane Caffé’s film Era o Hotel Cambridge (2016) and Julián Fuks’ novel, A ocupação (2019). The second will delve into Tizuka Yamasaki’s Encantados (2017), a novel-to-film adaptation of Zeneida Lima’s autobiography, O Mundo Místico dos Caruanas e a Revolta de Sua Ave (1992) to explore the adaptation process and the challenges of representing Indigenous knowledges. The third will explore the theme of queer and trans ecology by analyzing Uýra Sodoma’s performance in the Indigenous futurist film Uýra: A retomada da Floresta (2023). The fourth presentation will analyze the Brazilian short films Beatitude (2015) and Blackout (2020) as examples of Black activism and empowerment through Afrofuturistic films.

Sub Unit

• XVII Congress of the Brazilian Studies Association

Individual Presentations

• Subjectivity, Representation, and Ocupações in São Paulo: A Comparative Analysis of Era o Hotel Cambridge (Eliane Caffé - 2016) and A ocupação (Julián Fuks 2019) - Andrew Rajca, University of South Carolina

• From Ethnographic to Self-Performing Indian: Tizuka Yamasaki and the Challenges of Adapting the Female Pajé to the Screen - Frans Weiser, University of Georgia

• Queer Trans Ecologies from the Amazon: Indigenous Futurism and Performative Activism - Kathryn Sanchez, University of Wisconsin Madison

• Tomorrowland: Black protagonist of dystopias and utopias in Brazilian afrofuturistic films - Fernanda Guida, Spelman College

Chair

• Fernanda Guida, Spelman College

Session Organizer

• Fernanda Guida, Spelman College