Body, Performance, and Identity: Notes on Black Presence in the Portuguese Theater Scene

• Grant number: 24/06296-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: October 01, 2024
• End date: April 15, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Linguistics, Literature and Arts - Arts - Theatre
• Principal Investigator: Silvia Fernandes da Silva Telesi
• Grantee: Conrado de Sousa Santos
• Supervisor: Jose Maria Lobo Antunes
• Host Institution: Escola de Comunicações e Artes (ECA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/13665-7 - Black skin, white characters, BP.DR

Abstract

The doctoral research titled 'Corpo, Performance e Identidade: Notas sobre a Presença Negra na Cena' proposes an investigation into the presence of Black individuals in the performing arts, emphasizing the meanings generated by the Black body in contemporary theater. The study aims to examine how the concept of race operates within the performing arts realm, distorting the representations put forth by racialized bodies, impeding Black artists' access to production spaces and artistic fulfillment, and ideologically influencing reception processes. Grounded in the analysis of testimonies and performances crafted and executed by Black artists, the research seeks to uncover the aesthetic, cultural, political, and social implications of Black presence in theatrical settings. Its objective is to offer reflections, tools, and clarifications that can aid in dismantling perspectives that restrict the experiences of Black artists in the performing arts. The research internship in Portugal focuses on data collection and expanding the study's scope, thereby providing an international perspective.