A relação entre Literatura e Sociedade

Prof. Thiago Falcão

22 Jun 201808:34

Summary

TLDRThis lecture explores the intricate relationship between literature and society through Antônio Cândido's work, emphasizing the historical and social factors shaping literary production. It discusses the evolution of Brazilian literature from its colonial roots to modern times, highlighting the writer's role in reflecting societal values and the public's influence on literary development. The discussion also touches on the writer's political engagement and the impact of industrialization on literature's quality and public reception.

Takeaways

📚 The script discusses the relationship between literature and society, emphasizing how literature is not isolated from societal issues but deeply connected to them.
👨‍🏫 Antonio Candido, a renowned literary critic, is introduced as an expert in evaluating the philosophical, historical, and economic aspects of literature and their connections to societal power dynamics.
🌟 Literature is portrayed as a reflection of society, with its evolution and quality influenced by the dynamics between the producers (writers) and consumers (readers) of literature.
🎭 The physical elements of a book, such as pages and letters, are acknowledged as the building blocks, but the script highlights that the true essence of a book lies in the ideas and emotions it conveys.
✍️ The role of the writer is explored, showing how they are part of the social fabric and cannot escape the influences of historical context, politics, and power relations.
🗣️ The public's expectations and the writer's response to them are crucial in shaping literature, with the writer needing to engage in a dialogue with their audience.
🏛️ The historical context of Brazil is used to illustrate how the formation of national identity, independence struggles, and patriotism have influenced the country's literature.
📈 The script points out a shift in the 20th century where the development of the publishing industry and a more discerning public led to an improvement in the quality of literature.
🔍 Antonio Candido criticizes the lack of complexity in literature, suggesting that writers often catered to elite tastes rather than addressing broader societal issues.
🌐 The script concludes by emphasizing the interdependence of the public, the work, and society, suggesting that the evolution of literature is a collective effort involving both writers and readers.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the text 'Literature and Society' by Antônio Cândido?
-The main theme of the text is the relationship between literature and society, focusing on how literature reflects and is influenced by philosophical, historical, economic aspects, and power relations within society.
How does Antônio Cândido view the role of literature in society?
-Antônio Cândido sees literature as deeply connected to societal issues, rather than being disconnected. He argues that literature is involved in societal dynamics, reflecting the context of social, historical, political, and power relations.
What is the significance of the physical elements of a book according to Cândido?
-Cândido suggests that while physical elements like pages, covers, and letters are part of a book, it would be naive to think that a book is composed only of these. He emphasizes that the soul of a book lies in the words that bring it to life beyond its physical form.
What is the role of the writer in the context of social dynamics as per Cândido's perspective?
-According to Cândido, the writer is not isolated from social dynamics. The writer is part of society, participating in its dynamics, and cannot escape it. The writer's work converges with the social context, historical reality, politics, and power relations.
How does Cândido describe the relationship between the producer (writer) and the receiver (reader) of literature?
-Cândido describes the relationship between the writer and the reader as a dialogue where the writer must correspond to the expectations of the readers. The writer and the public are interdependent, with the author's image being shaped by the opinion of the readers.
What historical period does Cândido discuss in relation to the formation of Brazilian literature?
-Cândido discusses the formation of Brazilian literature during the colonial period, highlighting the characteristics of the readership and the role of writers in that era.
What term does Cândido use to describe the early role of writers in Brazil?
-Cândido uses the term 'militância intelectual' (intellectual militancy) to describe the early role of writers in Brazil, where their writings were closely tied to the quest for freedom and the voice of the people.
How did the relationship between writers and the state evolve over time according to Cândido?
-Cândido explains that over time, the state legitimized the role of writers, conferring prestige and favors upon them while also repressing excesses. This led to a separation between writers and the masses, with writers becoming more aligned with the state and writing for smaller, culturally poor elites.
What changes does Cândido observe in the 20th century regarding literature and its consumers?
-Cândido notes that in the 20th century, with the development of the publishing industry, the growth of a more demanding readership, and the possibility of specific remuneration, the quality of literary works improved. Writers sought to occupy a differentiated role in society, and consumers became more discerning.
How does Cândido conclude the discussion on the evolution of literature in Brazil?
-Cândido concludes by emphasizing the interdependence between the public, the work, and society. He suggests that the literature's intensity evolved as both writers and their public matured, and he calls for a recognition that readers are as responsible for the evolution of literature as the writers themselves.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Literature and Society: The Role of Writers and Readers

This paragraph discusses the relationship between literature and society, focusing on the work of literary critic Antônio Cândido. It emphasizes how literature is not isolated from societal issues but deeply connected to them, including power dynamics. The paragraph explores the physical elements of a book and the idea that a book is more than just its physical components. It delves into the social forces that shape a book, including the historical, political, and power contexts. The role of the writer is highlighted as someone who cannot escape social dynamics and is influenced by the social context, historical reality, and power relations. The paragraph concludes by suggesting that literature is a reflection of society, shaped by the interplay between the producer and the receiver of the literary work.

05:00

🎭 The Evolution of Literature: From Colonial Times to Modernity

The second paragraph continues the discussion on literature's development, particularly in Brazil. It touches on the historical context of writers and their roles, which were initially not considered a profession but evolved with the fight for freedom and the identification with the masses. The paragraph discusses how the writer's role became politicized and how they were separated from the general public, leading to a focus on writing for cultural elites. It also mentions the lack of complexity in literature due to this separation. However, with the 20th century's industrial and societal developments, there was a shift towards a more demanding readership and a higher quality of literary works. The paragraph ends by emphasizing the interdependence of the public, the work, and society, suggesting that the evolution of literature is tied to the evolution of its readers and writers, and that the intensity of literature has grown as these relationships have become more complex.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Literature and Society

Literature and Society is a central theme of the video, exploring how literature reflects and interacts with societal structures, philosophies, and power dynamics. The video discusses how literature is not isolated from societal issues but is deeply involved in them, as seen in the exploration of Antônio Cândido's work, which evaluates the philosophical, historical, and economic aspects of society and their relation to literary works.

💡Antônio Cândido

Antônio Cândido is a prominent literary critic mentioned in the script, known for his competent analysis of literature. His work 'Literature and Society' is highlighted, which provides a sociological approach to understanding literature's role and evolution within historical contexts, emphasizing the interplay between literature and societal power structures.

💡Sociological Approach

A sociological approach is used in the video to analyze literature, focusing on the relationship between the producer (writer) and the receiver (reader) of literary works. This approach is evident in the discussion of how literature's development is influenced by social dynamics, historical reality, and power relations, rather than purely aesthetic considerations.

💡Public and Writer

The relationship between the public and the writer is a key concept in the video. It discusses how the writer's work is shaped by the expectations of the reading public and how the writer's image is influenced by the public's reception of their work. The video emphasizes the interdependence between the public's tastes and the literature produced.

💡Colonial Brazil

Colonial Brazil is mentioned as a context for understanding the early development of Brazilian literature and its readership. The video describes how the public in colonial Brazil was shaped by religious ceremonies, public celebrations, and discourse, influencing the characteristics and demands of literature at the time.

💡Intellectual Militancy

Intellectual militancy is a term used by Cândido to define the role of writers in the early history of Brazil. The video explains how writers were not just producing literature but were also voices of the people, fighting for freedom and contributing to the formation of national identity and patriotism.

💡Literary Production

Literary production is discussed in the context of how it is influenced by social context, historical reality, and power relations. The video suggests that literature is not just a product of an author's imagination but is deeply connected to the society in which it is created, reflecting and shaping societal norms and culture.

💡Oral Tradition

The oral tradition is mentioned as an influence on literature, particularly in the context of early Brazilian literature. The video notes the persistence of oral storytelling and melodic verbal expressions in written literature, even as the literary scene evolved, indicating a connection to the first audiences of literature.

💡Literary Evolution

Literary evolution is a key theme, with the video tracing the development of literature from its early forms to more complex and dense works. It discusses how literature has evolved in response to societal changes, the growth of the reading public, and the writers' quest for a distinct role in society.

💡Readers and Writers in Construction

The concept of readers and writers being 'in construction' is used to illustrate the idea that both are evolving entities, shaped by and shaping the literature and society they are part of. The video suggests that the development of literature is a collective effort, involving both the creators and consumers of literary works.

💡Conformity and Standardization

Conformity and standardization are discussed as influences on literature, particularly in the context of writers catering to the expectations of the state and elite audiences. The video suggests that these forces can limit the complexity and diversity of literature, although there is an optimistic view towards the 20th century with the rise of a more discerning readership and writers seeking a differentiated role in society.

Highlights

The text discusses the relationship between literature and society, emphasizing how literature reflects and interacts with societal power structures.

Antonio Candido's work 'Literature and Society' is introduced as a critical analysis of the philosophical, historical, and economic aspects of literature.

Literature is not disconnected from societal issues; it is deeply involved in them, contrary to common misconceptions.

The physical components of a book, such as pages and letters, are not its only constituents; the social context and historical reality also play a significant role.

The writer is a social being who cannot escape the dynamics of society, and this influences their literary production.

Literature is produced within a social context, influenced by historical reality, politics, and power relations.

The book 'Literature and Society' by Antonio Candido encourages readers to see literature as a product of its historical record and societal role.

The literary work's reception by the public and its maturation are approached sociologically rather than aesthetically.

Literature is a dialogue between the producer (writer) and the receptor (reader), with the writer needing to meet the expectations of the readers.

The heterogeneity of literature reflects the diversity of its audience, and it mediates the relationship between the author and the public.

Antonio Candido raises questions about the identity of the public and the writer, suggesting that both have evolved over time.

In colonial Brazil, the public was shaped by religious ceremonies, public celebrations, and discourse, influencing the demand for literature.

Literature in Brazil has been characterized by a focus on morality and poetics, reflecting the formation of Brazilian identity.

The role of the writer in Brazilian history has been closely tied to the struggle for freedom and the voice of the people.

The state's recognition of the writer's role and the subsequent political ties have influenced the writer's relationship with the public.

Writers began to write for smaller, culturally poor elites, leading to a lack of complex literature according to Antonio Candido.

The 20th century saw a shift with the development of the publishing industry, a more demanding readership, and writers seeking a distinguished role in society.

The importance of oral tradition and verbal melody in literature is discussed, as it attempts to please remnants of the early public.

The conclusion emphasizes the interdependence of the public, the work, and society, and the responsibility of both readers and writers in the evolution of literature.

Literature is a mirror of society, reflecting customs and culture, and is in a constant state of construction along with the country and its ideas.