Carnivals, Rogues, and Heroes ─ An Interpretation of the Brazilian Dilemma

Carnivals, Rogues, and heroes, by renowned Brazilian anthropologist Roberto DaMatta, offers a fresh, provocative, and multi-faceted interpretation of Brazil, a modern, complex, and often misunderstood nation that encompasses half of the continent of South America. Using the tools of comparative social anthropology, DaMatta seeks to understand his native country by examining the values, attitudes, and systems that shape the identity of Brazil. This leads him to probe the dilemma between the highly authoritarian, hierarchical aspects of Brazilian society and the concurrent desire for equality, democracy, and harmony in the same society. Addressing the question "who are we as a nation and a society?" DaMatta focuses on carnival as well as other rituals, exploring how nation and society function complementarily as two systems in opposition and conflict, thus presenting Brazilians with different ways of "reading" and interpreting their culture. DaMatta's fascinating exploration of Brazilian carnivals, rogues, and heroes not only leads to a new and deeper understanding of Brazil but also contributes to a modern appreciation of rituals, symbols, and dramatizations.