In the discursive arena: an analysis of Brazilian presidential election debates

• Grant number: 13/19209-7
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): January 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Linguistics - Linguistic Theory and Analysis
• Principal researcher: Vanice Maria Oliveira Sargentini
• Grantee: Livia Maria Falconi Pires
• Home Institution: Centro de Educação e Ciências Humanas (CECH). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/08195-8 - Construction and aestheticization: the image of Brazilian female politicians in election campaigns, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

In the wake of current studies on mutations of the mode of production and the circulation of political discourse (which contemporarily show strong traces of everyday speech), we intend to analyze the functioning of the Brazilian political election discourse on the genre debate; we suppose it passes through a process of de-hierarchization and de-ideologization. We will analyze the debates of presidential candidates in the second round of Brazilian elections, from 1989 to 2010 - which relates to the political liberalization period up until the present days. We seek to uncover eventual mutations in these forms of political dialogue. We propose to: develop an analysis of the construction and mutations on the genre television debate; observe factors that are involved in the mutation process, such as the construction of the body of political man in a presidential election campaign; analyze forms of courtesy and politeness in election debates; consider the application from women for the elections; analyze how women enroll in- and are discursively subscribed to electoral debates. To do so, we will be guided by reflections on discourse analysis studies. We will rely on the thoughts of M. Foucault and J.J. Courtine (2011) for studies on political discourse, as we focus on the importance of studying the links between discourses and history. (AU)