Ring of Liberation: Deceptive Discourse in Brazilian Capoeira

by J. Lowell Lewis

Based on eighteen months of intensive participant-observation, Ring of Liberation offers both an in-depth description of capoeira—a complex Afro-Brazilian martial art that combines feats of great strength and athleticism with music and poetry—and a pioneering synthetic approach to the analysis of complex cultural performance.

Capoeira originated in early slave culture and is practiced widely today by urban Brazilians and others. At once game, sport, mock combat, and ritualized performance, it involves two players who dance and "battle" within a ring of musicians and singers. Stunning physical performances combine with music and poetry in a form as expressive in movement as it is in word.

J. Lowell Lewis explores the convergence of form and content in capoeira. The many components and characteristics of this elaborate black art form—for example, competing genre frameworks and the necessary fusion of multiple modes of expression—demand, Lewis feels, to be given "body" as well as "voice." In response, he uses Peircean semiotics and recent work in discourse and performance theory to map the connections between physical, musical, and linguistic play in capoeira and to reflect on the general relations between semiotic systems and the creation and recording of cultural meaning.

Genres: History

294 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 1992

Reviews

[Sean Duggan · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were times when I had to set the book down and muse on whether this book was a serious exploration of the subject or a joke about academics. The author is prone to digressions about ludic and agonist styles, and how Capoeira is all part of a microcosm of life and vice versa, complete with spare diagrams of circles within circles and how they turn into nested squares. That said, there's some good stuff in here, particularly if you want to better understand Capoeira Angola, as there are a lot of things which one is just assumed to understand such as the role of chamadas, and how the rhythm of the roda should go.

This is a necessary book. It bridges the gap between the books of technique and books of anecdotes.

[Abby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly academic approach to capoeira, focusing on the game as a form of communication, including the dialogue between the players, as well as the musicians. It also examines the origin myths of capoeira, showing which are probably true and which are unlikely in historical terms. This is based on an anthropology dissertation, so it might be a difficult read for someone withouta that background, but if you play capoeira and like social science academic writing, it's a very interesting read.

[Alex Hamel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hands down, the best book on Capoeira I've ever read, and I've read quite a few, having written a bunch of essays myself. Lewis delves deep into the cultural aspects of Capoeira, as well as breaking it down in such a concise way, as no Master has even done in English writing.

Needless to say, I hope for more books like this to appear in the future, but since then, no other has even come close to the detailed analysis of 'Ring of Liberation.' A must read for any Capoeira enthusiast, practitioner, teacher, or anybody who's interested in Afro-Brazilian cultural (with a hint of Native Brazilian Indians).

[Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for those in Capoeira. Really opened my eyes to how Brazilian slaves used this art in their lives. Viva la jogo!

[Indio Gr · Rating 3 out of 5]

i want learn capoeira

[John Carter McKnight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding cultural anthropology: Lewis takes on martial arts, music, singing, slave culture, African religion and third-world industrialization, weaving them seamlessly into a readable exploration of capoiera. Lewis acknowledges the role of the "magic circle" in the breach, viewing capoiera play as training, social commentary, and an environment co-constructed with Afro-Brazilian culture historically and currently.

Should be part of any games and culture curriculum.

[Dy Murwaningrum · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good. this book describes about capoeira in brazilian deeply. Lewis reveal about the brazilian Capoeira by the Playing concept.In this book, He divides into three forms of playing in capoeira. Body play(Jogar), Musical play(tocar), Verbal play(brincar).