Neo-Authoritarian Masculinity in Brazilian Crime Film

This book explores how Brazilian crime films portray masculinity and how their messages connect to twenty-first-century sociopolitical issues. It argues that these films promote an agenda in support of the nation's recent swing toward authoritarianism, criminalizing the poor, emasculating the civilian middle-class male intellectual, and portraying state security as the only power able to stem increasing crime rates.

Format: Hardback
Length: 268 pages
Publication date: 08 February 2022
Publisher: University Press of Florida

This comprehensive book delves into an insightful analysis of contemporary crime films in Brazil, exploring their portrayal of masculinity and their relevance to twenty-first-century sociopolitical issues. Author Jeremy Lehnen argues that these films actively promote an agenda supportive of the nation's recent shift towards authoritarianism, culminating in the election of far-right president Jair Bolsonaro in 2018. Lehnen examines the central role of masculinity in various archetypal crime films, focusing on urban violence and including notable titles such as City of God, Almost Brothers, Elite Squad, The Year of the Man, and The Dictator. Through his examination, Lehnen identifies representations that criminalize the poor, marginalized male, emasculate the civilian middle-class male intellectual, portraying him as incapable of responding to crime, and ultimately asserting state security as the sole authority capable of addressing rising crime rates.

Drawing upon insights from masculinity studies, Lehnen contends that Brazilian crime films function as ideologically charged mediums that assert and normalize the presence of the neo-authoritarian male within society. This book serves as a powerful testament to the persuasive power of gendered scripts, as it demonstrates how they can become widely accepted by audiences and contribute to the establishment of real power structures beyond the realm of cinema. By examining the intersection of crime films, masculinity, and sociopolitical context, this book offers valuable insights into the complex dynamics shaping Brazilian society and culture.

Weight: 544g
Dimension: 159 x 235 x 27 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781683402541