Black-faced clowns: Black Francisco, Catirina, Mateus and Bastião, relatives of Macunaíma in Bumba-bois and Folias-de-Reis MA, PE, MG

Author(s)

André Curiati de Paula Bueno

• Document type: Doctoral Thesis
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas (FFLCH/SBD)
• Defense date: 2005-02-16

Examining board members

Valentim Aparecido Facioli; Maria Ignez Novais Ayala; Alberto Tsuyoshi Ikeda; Maria Lucia Aparecida Montes; Luiz Augusto de Moraes Tatit

• Advisor: Valentim Aparecido Facioli

Abstract

This is a study of three dramatic dances with masked black character, from three states of Brazil, in comparison with Mario de Andrade´s character Macunaíma. Field research with audio/video capture was done in four years, in continuity with the research for a previous thesis. Chapter 1 introduces Mário de Andrade´s approaches, ethnomusicology, semiotics, African and Afro-brazilian studies. Chapter 2 considers diferent values in Macunaíma, from the ethnographic base to visions of black characters in Brazilian popular culture, referring data from the book itself, from Andrade´s letters to Manuel Bandeira and from the critics. Chapter 3 discusses field experience, Andrade´s register of the clown Veludo in Lundu do Escravo and Tinhorão´s vision of the singing black minstrels. Chapter 4 brings transcriptions of texts registered in field with the characters Black Francisco, Catirina, Mateus and Bastião in three states of Brazil. And chapter 5 brings comparisons of the three narratives, and coherences with Macunaíma. The conclusion approaches social disguise and masks and vitality of black representations. (AU)