Representação cinematográfica e história institucional: uma análise de filmes sobre o Instituto Butantan (1928-1953)

Author(s)

Priscila de Almeida Xavier

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Comunicações e Artes (ECA/SBD)
• Defense date: 2010-09-27

Examining board members

Eduardo Victorio Morettin; Marcos Francisco Napolitano de Eugênio; Henri Pierre Arraes de Alencar Gervaiseau

• Advisor: Eduardo Victorio Morettin

Abstract

The history of Instituto Butantan, like the history of any other institution, brings changes over time and disruptions of the political model implemented, as directives of the board, social and historical context and other factors. A cinematographic representation of the activities performed by the institution does not show such changes, even so because the function of a divulgation film is always to show what is thought appropriate, seeking legitimacy and adherence to the organization. This can create and even reinforce myths and memories, both for external audiences, as for positions taken by the employees. The study presented here has the objective of analyzing films whose theme is the Instituto Butantan, being it the central theme or part of the narrative. We selected institutional films of scientific divulgation and also documentaries about the city of São Paulo, where the image of the institute was present. We searched the films of the institutions permanent archive and external collections. Our historical focuses were the years 1928-1953, which represents the boards of Afrânio do Amaral and Eduardo Vaz, comparing them with the paradigms left by Vital Brazil, the first and best known director of the institution. We verify a representation of the institution, whose idea of modernity, whether in science or in the city, had a clear counterpoint in the rural economy, that was a synonym of backwardness in São Paulo at the time, and this struggle eventually comes to movies made. (AU)