Perhaps only poetry can be compared to historiography in Brazil, both boasting a long tradition of authors of the highest caliber, representing the most varied styles and approaches. And it is curious to note that, despite this vast and excellent body of literature available, the average Brazilian is completely unaware of Brazil’s history. It is one of those paralyzing ironies. The average American has his opinion about all the major events in American history: he knows them, at least. And in the United States, one need only walk into any bookstore, at either end of this vast country, to observe the following: in none of them is there a section larger than that of American history. In Brazil, despite the great authors, this is not the case. And the great authors, it must be said, are as great as they are unknown to the general public. So, here we are: the machinery of culture already seems to exist; what is missing, however, is something to force the engine to start.
Tag: history
Brazilian History Might Well Be the Most…
Brazilian history might well be the most fascinating on the planet if two or three more Gilbertos Freyres were to emerge, offering readers two or three hundred years of history analyzed through the multifaceted lens of the original genius. No cataclysms, heroic feats, or miraculous successes would be needed to make it intriguing: it would suffice if, through clothing, customs, preferences, and convictions, the rise and fall of the common man were made evident. “What did you play when you were a child?”, “What did you do on weekends?”, “What did you read?”, “What did you think about this or that?”… This kind of question says everything, or almost everything, about the state of a civilization.
Something That Stands Out in Humanity’s…
Something that stands out in humanity’s most recent great achievements, many of which are related to technology, is that none of them possess a grandeur comparable to the great achievements of the past. This is noticeable because they are predominantly isolated feats of intelligence, for which no greater virtues were required. In contrast, we have the madmen of previous centuries, whose exploits always begin with an inalienable personal risk. It is true that, using different parameters, it is possible to choose the former, because they bring about more pronounced transformations. But there is perhaps none of these new luminaries whose mere idea of embarking on a sailboat and venturing out into a stormy sea with precarious equipment, or exploring unknown territory on foot, does not provoke the utmost terror.
The Fact That There Are Excellent Historians…
The fact that there are excellent historians recounting the events does not seem to fully justify the great interest aroused by Brazil during the Second Empire. There is certainly something else that makes it possible, more than a century later, to vividly feel the reality of a Gilberto Freyre’s pages. The rest of Brazilian history seems to be eclipsed by the second half of the 19th century, and much of what happened in those years is not included in historiography. Great men, great works being produced, the impression of a great country in development, creating and maturing. Even the disputes, the differences, the politics, carried something of timeless value. In other periods, only duty can cover the indifference that their successes arouse; and even so, it is difficult to transport oneself there…