Representing Rio de Janeiro

In this course we will analyze how Rio de Janeiro has been represented from the 19th to the 21st century. Starting with visual texts from early 19th century, we will examine how artists perceive the different spaces composing the city, its streets and public life, and how different neighborhoods, such as Copacabana, the downtown area, or the favelas, have acquired specific identities. We will also delve into the personae that occupy these spaces, ranging from the malandros to the marginal figures of a Rio noir. Primary sources consist of films, songs, and literary works by artists such as Carla Camurati, Chico Buarque, and Geovani Martins. Secondary sources are drawn from fields such as film and literary studies, history, or anthropology.