Brutality Garden: Tropicalia and the Emergence of a Brazilian Counterculture

by Christopher Dunn

In the late 1960s, Brazilian artists forged a watershed cultural movement known as Tropicalia. Music inspired by that movement is today enjoying considerable attention at home and abroad. Few new listeners, however, make the connection between this music and the circumstances surrounding its creation, the most violent and repressive days of the military regime that governed Brazil from 1964 to 1985. With key manifestations in theater, cinema, visual arts, literature, and especially popular music, Tropicalia dynamically articulated the conflicts and aspirations of a generation of young, urban Brazilians.

Focusing on a group of musicians from Bahia, an impoverished state in northeastern Brazil noted for its vibrant Afro-Brazilian culture, Christopher Dunn reveals how artists including Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Gal Costa, and Tom Ze created this movement together with the musical and poetic vanguards of Sao Paulo, Brazil's most modern and industrialized city. He shows how the tropicalists selectively appropriated and parodied cultural practices from Brazil and abroad in order to expose the fissure between their nation's idealized image as a peaceful tropical "garden" and the daily brutality visited upon its citizens.

Genres: Music, Brazil, History, Nonfiction, Politics

256 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2001

Reviews

[Timantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very thoroughly researched, extremely informative work on the extensive history of the musical movement known as Tropicalia in Brazil in the 1960s-early '70s (and beyond)and the greater social, racial, ethnic, political, and economic contexts in which it was bred, as well as its lasting effects on questions of national identity, racial politics, the legacy of European colonialism and American neocolonialism, etc. in Brazil. I would have loved to have given this 5 stars. However, there were a few too many misspellings and grammatical errors for this sort of publication (or any publication). For example, the author mentions Billie Holiday as one of the many African-American musical influences on the Afro-Bahian aesthetic of the Brazilian counter-cultural movement in the 1970s and he spells her first name "Billy"? Come on....

[Phil Overeem · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times this inflicts the grinding style of academia upon the reader, but this is also THE place to get the lowdown on one of the most fascinating musical (make that artistic) movements of the 20th century. I learned a ton.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice description of Brazilian political and social history through the sounds of the Tropicalia movement.

Covers a lot more than just the music of Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Os Mutantes etc. but the descriptions of the politics and social movements of the latter half of the 20th century put the music in context.

I thought it was a good companion to the BBC 4 documentaries (Brazil, Brazil) you can find on Youtube.

[Christine Spilka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is well written and the content is articulated in a clear and organized way. I learned quite a bit about Tropicalia during the 60's and the counterculture in Brazil in the 70's; the content is very factual. It probably helps to have previous interest in Brazilian culture and music to think this book as interesting rather than dry and factual.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Incredibly well researched and in-depth monograph. Would recommend not only to those interested in Brazilian counterculture, but those also into European and American counter cultural movements. It will also introduce you to some incredible music as well!

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book, great background behind Os Mutantes, Caetano Veloso, Jorge Ben, Gal Costa, and other Tropicalia luminaries.

[Garret Shields · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not necessarily a page-turner, still very readable. Christopher Dunn is a well-respected writer for a reason! An insightful and informative look into the tropicalia movement. I learned a great deal and would recommend it to others. Shows how tropicalia was a product of the movements that preceded it, and how it has affected Brazilian culture sense. I appreciated that and also examined the visual art, not just the music of tropicalia.

[Garrett G · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty solid coverage of the tropicalia movement. Some other people have noted that it’s pretty academia based and that it sometimes is a little exhausting and i’d only agree a little bit. The beginning gives an introduction to the literary movements that took place in the beginning of the 20th century and I thought it did a great job of giving artistic context to the movement. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book!

[Hadley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for novel research and learned so much. Highly recommend if you are interested in Brazilian counterculture/music/social history. Lots of bonkers anecdotes about the military dictatorship as well.

[Peter Rowe]

mad informative Caetano Veloso Mad SUs I fw the Book Though

[Jules · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative introduction to the politics and history of Tropicalia; definitely worth it to listen along to all the songs discussed as you read.

[John :D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big ups Chris, got hella good music recommendations and learned a lot. Slogs on a little bit too much towards the end and I could not recommend this to everybody but is a very informative read if you fw the music that goes along with it

[Dave Pier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid overview of an important musical movement.