Carnavais, malandros e heróis: Para uma sociologia do dilema brasileiro

by Roberto DaMatta

In this work on Brazilian social rituals, Roberto DaMatta focuses on the trajectories of three types of public ritual (carnival, Independence Day and other military parades, and local-level religious processions) as principal axes in defining the values and attitudes that shape urban Brazil. At this level, he seeks to contribute to theories of dramatisation and ideology, by examining the styles, forms and actors of these three sets of rituals. Emphasis is upon three particular ways that ritual manipulates and transforms elements and relationships: reinforcement, inversion and neutralisation. This theoretical approach should be of interest to philosophers, sociologists, anthropologists and students of comparative religion.

Genres: Brazil, Sociology, Nonfiction, Anthropology, Politics, Academic, History

402 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1979

About the author

Roberto DaMatta (Niterói, 29 de julho de 1936) é um importante antropólogo brasileiro, além de também trabalhar como conferencista, professor universitário, consultor, colunista de jornal e produtor de TV.

Reviews

[Bob Newman · Rating 3 out of 5]

in the footsteps of the masters

I've never seen Brazil's Carnival, nor have I attended Mardi Gras in New Orleans. The last time I checked, though, they both were extremely colorful and exciting. People seemed to be having a lot of fun. If you're looking for even a faint echo of that, give this book a wide berth. DaMatta shuns almost any sort of description at all. He is SERIOUS ! This is a most academic book, meant not even for general anthropologists, but for specialists in the study of ritual. For them, I would say this is a five star book---intelligent, imaginative, and interesting. If you plan to do studies of major rituals in any society---from the Balinese cockfight to the Spanish bullfight, from North Korean mass pictures in stadiums to the Ram Lila in north India---you will find this rock-hard analysis most useful and thought-provoking. You will be able to break off flints that will light fires in your research to come or make you re-analyze the research you have already completed. DaMatta not only delves into the meanings of all aspects of Carnival and how they reflect Brazilian society at large, but he ties his work to many of the past greats---Van Gennep, Durkheim, Leach, Turner, Geertz---and other, less known Brazilian social scientists' work as well.

He calls the Carnival "a multidimensional festival", with meaning on a number of levels. He contrasts the Brazilian one with the New Orleans Mardi Gras in one very erudite chapter and points out that if we examine both closely, we see that they are almost opposite in meaning. In Brazil, he compares Carnival with a military parade on Independence Day and with the religious processions that occur frequently during each year. Location or social space, dress, behavior---everything is grist for the mill. He stresses many times that `inversion' is the most salient aspect of Carnival. He has chapters on hierarchy in Brazilian society and on those who slip through the cracks--rogues, who might be heroes in fact. Without a great knowledge of Brazilian society (though I have read a number of books on it, and avidly consumed Amado, Machado de Asis, da Cunha, Lispector, and other Brazilian writers over the years), I cannot say if I agree or disagree with the author's analysis. It is impressive, but extremely hard going. I found the discussion of ritual very valuable. DaMatta tried and succeeded in writing a theoretical book to rival those of earlier masters. His location in Brazil and writing in Portuguese probably precludes him being widely-known. His style reminds one of many French social-theorists. Yes, I mean only the most determined reader will make it to the end of CARNIVALS, ROGUES, AND HEROES. That's the sole reason why I have awarded an otherwise excellent book only three stars.

[Marcello Eduardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

"O Brasil não é para principiantes" - Tom Jobim

There are three "must read" books for someone to start to try to understand Brasil. This is one of them.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Voltando a este livro três décadas após a primeira leitura, sigo convencida de que se trata de uma das análises mais profundas e indispensáveis sobre o tecido social brasileiro.

Os rituais do Brasil — carnavais, paradas, procissões — e seus intervalos, assim como seus personagens centrais — malandros e renunciantes — revelam uma dimensão permanente da nossa realidade.

Hoje, em tempos de internet, redes sociais e inteligência artificial, talvez os nomes desses rituais tenham se transformado. Mas o papel dos rituais e de seus protagonistas, como chave de interpretação da vida brasileira, permanece inalterado.

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Returning to this book three decades after my first reading, I remain convinced that it is one of the most profound and indispensable analyses of Brazil’s social fabric.

The rituals of Brazil — carnivals, parades, processions — and their interludes, as well as their central figures — tricksters and renunciants — reveal a permanent dimension of our reality.

Today, in times of the internet, social media, and artificial intelligence, the names of these rituals may have changed. Yet the role of rituals and their protagonists, as keys to interpreting Brazilian life, remains unchanged.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recomendo ler primeiro os livros citados neste livro, pois o entendimento será maior. Ex: O conde de Monte Cristo e alguns contos de Poe.


Não estou muito acostumada a ler sobre Antropologia, mas gostei desse🙃

[Fernanda Lobo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro interessante, pois faz repensar o comportamento da sociedade brasileira em geral.

[Keith]

Roberto's structuralist casa e rua distinction of Carnaval has become somewhat standard reading for US students of Brazil. It seems OK to me, but I can tell you my teachers in Brazil don't give it as much weight.