Telenovelas, which are also known as novelas, are an integral part of Brazil’s culture. Especially the productions of Brazil’s biggest and most influential television network, Rede Globo (Globo network), are nationally and internationally broadcasted. Thus, novelas have become one of the major sources of worldwide impressions of Brazil (Page 1995: 455).
Novelas tend also to have a great impact on their Brazilian audience. Interestingly, Indigenous people are rarely depicted in those programs, or in any other types of television programs for that matter. The subject of this master thesis is in what manner Indigenous people and languages are presented in Brazilian telenovelas, especially “A Muralha”.
Several authors were source of inspiration to create this Critical Discourse Analysis, but it must be said that the most important influence was Teun van Dijk’s discourse on racism in Latin America. The first chapter of this master thesis introduces the motivations for this study and gives some general information about the Indigenous peoples and languages of Brazil. The second chapter deals with the Brazilian telenovela as a whole.
Not only are its origins and plots explained, but also its socio-cultural impact. The third chapter describes the telenovela A Muralha, which was the subject of the empirical study, in its setup, production and reception by the viewers and critics. In the aforesaid chapter, there is the novela’s plot given as well as a summary of all episodes that were included in the discourse analysis and a short summary about its production and media impact.
The fourth chapter focuses on the Critical Discourse Analysis. It is further divided into four subchapters. Design and Procedure of the analysis are explained in the first subchapter. The second subchapter is about how people are represented in the aforesaid telenovela. Thus, it deals with language and identity. The third subchapter issues semiotic choices and issues strategies that are used in the visual communication method of the telenovela.
Results of the Critical Discourse Analysis are also included in that chapter. The fifth chapter discusses the depiction of Indigenous peoples and their cultures in Brazilian television by taking the example of A Muralha (The Great Wall). The sixth chapter gives an outlook on how the Indigenous depiction in Brazilian television will probably develop in the next few years in comparison to how it should develop.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Chapter 1: Motivation for the Study
- Chapter 2: The Telenovela: A National Obsession
- 2.1 The Origin and Development of Brazilian Telenovelas
- 2.2 The Context of Analysis: The Setup of Telenovela's Plots and Storylines
- 2.3 The Socio-Cultural Impact of Telenovelas in Brazil
- 2.3.1 White Ethnocentrism in the Telenovelas
- 2.3.2 Indigenous Representation in the Telenovelas
- Chapter 3: Description of the Telenovela A Muralha
- 3.1 Production, Setup and Media Impact of A Muralha
- 3.2 The Plot
- Chapter 4: Critical Discourse Analysis about the Indigenous Content in A Muralha
- 4.1 Design and Procedure of the Analysis
- 4.2 Representing People: Language and Identity
- 4.3 Analyzing Semiotic Choices: Words and Images
- Chapter 5: Depiction of Indigenous Cultures in A Muralha: A Discussion
- Chapter 6: Indigeneity in Brazilian Television: An Outlook
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This master's thesis aims to critically analyze the representation of Indigenous peoples and languages in Brazilian telenovelas, specifically focusing on the telenovela A Muralha. It investigates how Indigenous cultures are portrayed within the broader socio-cultural context of Brazilian television and explores the impact of these representations.
- Indigenous representation in Brazilian telenovelas
- The socio-cultural impact of telenovelas in Brazil
- Critical discourse analysis of language and identity in A Muralha
- Semiotic choices and visual communication in telenovelas
- The historical context of Indigenous oppression in Brazil
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter 1: Motivation for the Study: This chapter establishes the context for the study by highlighting the historical and ongoing marginalization of Indigenous peoples and languages in Brazil. It details the drastic reduction in the number of Indigenous languages spoken, linking this to historical oppression and ongoing threats to Indigenous communities. The chapter emphasizes the significance of studying Indigenous representation in media, given their historical and continued cultural influence on Brazilian society, despite the diminished number of speakers and the challenges they face. It introduces the telenovela as a powerful medium shaping public perception.
Chapter 2: The Telenovela: A National Obsession: This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of Brazilian telenovelas, exploring their origins, evolution, and significant socio-cultural impact. It examines the typical plot structures and storylines prevalent in these productions, highlighting their role in shaping national identity and disseminating cultural values. Crucially, the chapter analyzes the underrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in these narratives and explores the underlying ethnocentric biases present in their portrayals.
Chapter 3: Description of the Telenovela A Muralha: This chapter focuses on the specific telenovela, A Muralha, which serves as the empirical basis for the study. It details the production process, the media reception and impact of the show, and provides a detailed plot summary, which lays the groundwork for the subsequent critical discourse analysis. The inclusion of episode summaries for key episodes allows for a deep understanding of the narrative, providing the necessary context for the analysis of Indigenous representation within the show itself.
Chapter 4: Critical Discourse Analysis about the Indigenous Content in A Muralha: This chapter presents the core methodology and findings of the critical discourse analysis. It systematically examines the linguistic and visual strategies employed in A Muralha to represent Indigenous characters and cultures. The analysis focuses on aspects such as personalization, collectivization, word connotations, and visual semiotic choices to uncover subtle biases and power dynamics. The chapter dissects how language shapes identity and explores how these choices reflect and reinforce societal views on Indigenous peoples.
Chapter 5: Depiction of Indigenous Cultures in A Muralha: A Discussion: This chapter synthesizes the findings of the critical discourse analysis, providing a nuanced discussion of how Indigenous cultures are depicted in A Muralha. It explores the implications of the linguistic and visual choices identified in the previous chapter, analyzing their contribution to the overall portrayal of Indigenous characters and communities. This chapter moves beyond a mere description of the findings to engage in a detailed interpretation of their implications and significance within the larger context of Brazilian television.
Chapter 6: Indigeneity in Brazilian Television: An Outlook: This chapter offers a prospective view on the future of Indigenous representation in Brazilian television, comparing the current reality with what an ideal representation might look like. It extrapolates from the findings of the analysis and suggests potential pathways for more accurate and respectful portrayals of Indigenous cultures. It uses the case study of A Muralha as a springboard to discuss broader trends and possibilities for positive change in the media landscape.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Brazilian telenovelas, Indigenous representation, Critical Discourse Analysis, A Muralha, language and identity, semiotic analysis, visual communication, ethnocentrism, Indigenous languages, Brazilian culture, media representation, colonial legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Indigenous Representation in the Brazilian Telenovela "A Muralha"
What is the main focus of this study?
This master's thesis critically analyzes the representation of Indigenous peoples and languages in Brazilian telenovelas, specifically focusing on the telenovela A Muralha. It investigates how Indigenous cultures are portrayed within the broader socio-cultural context of Brazilian television and explores the impact of these representations.
What are the key themes explored in this research?
Key themes include Indigenous representation in Brazilian telenovelas, the socio-cultural impact of telenovelas in Brazil, critical discourse analysis of language and identity in A Muralha, semiotic choices and visual communication in telenovelas, and the historical context of Indigenous oppression in Brazil.
What is the structure of the thesis?
The thesis is structured into six chapters: An introduction, a chapter on the motivation for the study, a chapter providing an overview of Brazilian telenovelas, a chapter describing the telenovela A Muralha, a chapter presenting a critical discourse analysis of Indigenous representation in A Muralha, a chapter discussing the depiction of Indigenous cultures in A Muralha, and a concluding chapter offering an outlook on Indigeneity in Brazilian television.
What methodology is used in this study?
The study employs critical discourse analysis to systematically examine the linguistic and visual strategies used in A Muralha to represent Indigenous characters and cultures. This includes analyzing aspects such as personalization, collectivization, word connotations, and visual semiotic choices.
What specific aspects of "A Muralha" are analyzed?
The analysis focuses on the linguistic and visual strategies used to represent Indigenous characters and cultures in A Muralha. This includes examining language use, identity construction, semiotic choices, and visual communication to uncover potential biases and power dynamics.
What are the key findings of the critical discourse analysis?
The critical discourse analysis reveals how linguistic and visual choices in A Muralha reflect and potentially reinforce societal views on Indigenous peoples. The detailed findings are presented and discussed in Chapters 4 and 5.
What are the broader implications of this research?
This research contributes to a deeper understanding of how media representations shape perceptions of Indigenous communities. It also offers insights into the historical and ongoing marginalization of Indigenous peoples and languages in Brazil and suggests potential pathways for more accurate and respectful portrayals in the future.
What is the overall conclusion of the thesis?
The thesis concludes by offering a prospective view on the future of Indigenous representation in Brazilian television, suggesting potential pathways for more accurate and respectful portrayals of Indigenous cultures and extrapolating from the findings of the analysis to discuss broader trends and possibilities for positive change.
What are the keywords associated with this research?
Keywords include: Brazilian telenovelas, Indigenous representation, Critical Discourse Analysis, A Muralha, language and identity, semiotic analysis, visual communication, ethnocentrism, Indigenous languages, Brazilian culture, media representation, colonial legacy.
- Quote paper
- Yasmin Barrachini-Haß (Author), 2014, Where Have All the Indios Gone? A Critical Discourse Analysis of the Brazilian Telenovela "A Muralha" and Its Indigenous Representation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/316780
