Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Beyond Stereotype and Comedy

2009; Brill; Issue: XVI(2) Linguagem: Inglês

10.1163/17683084-01602004

1768-3084

Kátia Augusta Maciel,

Cultural, Media, and Literary Studies

The Northeast of Brazil has historically been stereotyped as the antagonist of the wealthy and ‘modern’ Southeast. Although considerable attention has been paid to recurrent depictions of the Northeast in Brazilian cinema, a detailed study that pinpoints the stereotypes associated with the region but looks beyond them to discuss the nuances of the actual geographical, socio-cultural and political space in cinematic depictions remains to be done. This article argues that such a study can illuminate profound ruptures of a supposed national unity and also can point to current strategies of reconciliation. The argument evolves around the metamorphosed Northeast depicted in a recent popular Brazilian comedy, Lisbela e o Prisioneiro (Lisbela and the Prisoner, 2003). The aim is to demonstrate that the film conveys a very clear political message beyond the obvious popular appeal of the comedy genre.