A FORMAÇÃO DO CÂNONE LITERÁRIO

Summary

The video script explores the concept of the literary canon, examining how certain authors and works gain prominence over time while others are marginalized. It discusses the criteria for building a literary canon, such as the importance an author had during their time or their literary quality. Through examples like Machado de Assis and Francisca Júlia, the script highlights how historical, social, and political factors influence who is included or excluded from the canon. The speaker questions how literary history is shaped and whether some authors, like Luiz Gama, are unfairly overlooked despite their significance.

Takeaways

• 😀 The concept of the literary canon refers to a set of writers who are considered essential to a particular tradition, based on their significance or quality throughout history.
• 😀 The canon helps to shape the narrative of literature by highlighting authors who have made substantial contributions, often becoming reference points for future generations.
• 😀 An example of a canon is the Brazilian national football team, where some players, like Pelé and Garrincha, are considered indispensable to the story of Brazilian football.
• 😀 In literature, there are certain authors whose inclusion in the canon seems unavoidable, like Machado de Assis and Carlos Drummond de Andrade, due to their historical importance and literary achievements.
• 😀 The selection of authors for the literary canon is often influenced by the criteria one adopts, such as the historical importance or the literary quality of their work.
• 😀 Authors like Francisca Júlia, Júlia Lopes de Almeida, and Nísia Floresta, who were important in their time, might be excluded from the canon if the criteria focus solely on quality rather than historical significance.
• 😀 The quality of writing is a major factor in determining the literary canon, and some authors, like Gonçalves de Magalhães and Joaquim Manuel de Macedo, despite their historical importance, are seen as poor writers compared to others.
• 😀 The canon often reflects social, political, and ideological biases, which can lead to the marginalization of certain authors, such as Luiz Gama, despite his historical relevance.
• 😀 Literary history is not always a neutral recounting of facts; it is shaped by the criteria used to determine which authors are deemed worthy of inclusion.
• 😀 The process of building the literary canon is subjective, and the way we tell the story of literature can vary depending on which authors we emphasize or omit, influencing the perception of Brazilian literary history.

Q & A

What is the 'personal canon' as discussed in the script?

The 'personal canon' refers to the selection of authors or works that an individual considers significant or influential, based on their own preferences and criteria.

What does the speaker mean by 'canon' in the context of literature?

In the context of literature, the 'canon' refers to a group of writers or works that are considered foundational or significant within a particular tradition, often due to their historical importance or quality.

How does the speaker use the example of the Brazilian football team to explain the concept of a canon?

The speaker compares the formation of the literary canon to the selection of key players in the Brazilian football team. Just as certain players, like Pelé or Garrincha, are essential to telling the history of Brazilian football, some authors are considered indispensable when telling the history of literature.

Why does the speaker mention players who were less famous in the context of the Brazilian football team?

The speaker highlights that while some players are famous, others who were just as skilled but less recognized also played crucial roles in the team's success. This mirrors how certain authors may be overlooked in the literary canon despite their contributions.

What is the significance of authors like Machado de Assis, Carlos Drummond de Andrade, and Gregório de Matos in the literary canon?

These authors are considered inescapable figures in the Brazilian literary canon due to their immense influence and contributions to the history of literature in Brazil.

How does the speaker suggest literature should be evaluated for inclusion in the canon?

The speaker suggests that literature can be evaluated based on several criteria, such as historical importance, literary quality, and the success of an author during their time. Different criteria can lead to different selections for the canon.

What role do women authors like Francisca Júlia and Júlia Lopes de Almeida play in the construction of the literary canon?

The speaker argues that if the criterion for inclusion in the canon is based on the importance an author held during their time, then women authors like Francisca Júlia and Júlia Lopes de Almeida cannot be overlooked, as they were significant figures in their era.

What does the speaker say about authors like Gonçalves de Magalhães and Joaquim Manuel de Macedo?

The speaker critiques authors like Gonçalves de Magalhães and Joaquim Manuel de Macedo, suggesting that although they were historically significant, their literary quality is debatable. This highlights how different criteria (like literary quality) may challenge their place in the canon.

How does the speaker view the role of political, social, or ideological motivations in the construction of the literary canon?

The speaker acknowledges that political, social, and ideological factors may influence which authors are included or excluded from the literary canon. These factors can lead to certain voices being marginalized or overlooked.

What is the speaker's final reflection on how the canon has been constructed over time?

The speaker concludes by emphasizing the need to consider how the canon has been shaped by various historical and ideological forces, questioning whether certain overlooked authors, like Luiz Gama, deserve more recognition in the history of Brazilian literature.