ARCADISMO OU NEOCLASSICISMO: Contexto histórico, características e autores | Escolas Literárias

Summary

Professor Alencar provides an insightful lecture on Arcadianism in Brazilian literature, a literary movement connected to the Enlightenment and emphasizing reason, nature, and classical values. The movement, which emerged in Portugal and later in Brazil, focused on balance, mythology, and a simple rural lifestyle. Arcadianism also intertwined with historical events, such as the Inconfidência Mineira, influencing authors like Tomás Antônio Gonzaga and Cláudio Manuel da Costa. The lecture highlights key works, including Gonzaga's 'Marília de Dirceu' and Basílio da Gama's 'Uraguai,' demonstrating Arcadianism’s impact on Brazilian cultural and literary development.

Takeaways

• 😀 Arcadianism is a literary school in colonial Brazil closely tied to the Enlightenment, focusing on reason, science, and balance.
• 😀 Arcadianism also aligns with Neoclassicism, which sought a return to classical Greco-Roman values, emphasizing mythology and harmony.
• 😀 The Enlightenment's influence on Arcadianism led to a rational, balanced approach in art, avoiding the exaggerated emotions of Baroque.
• 😀 Key characteristics of Arcadianism include the use of mythology, valorization of nature, bucolic simplicity, and a focus on logical thinking.
• 😀 Arcadianism in Portugal began in 1756 with the Lusitanian Arcadia, and in Brazil, it started in 1768 with poets like Cláudio Manuel da Costa and Tomás Antônio Gonzaga.
• 😀 The economic shift in Brazil from sugarcane in the Northeast to gold exploration in Minas Gerais influenced the cultural and literary landscape of Arcadianism.
• 😀 The Mineiro group, based in Minas Gerais, played a central role in Arcadianism in Brazil and created the foundation for a new literary public.
• 😀 The Arcadian movement in Brazil is connected to the Inconfidência Mineira of 1789, which sought independence from Portugal, mirroring the ideals of the French Revolution.
• 😀 Tomás Antônio Gonzaga's poem 'Marília de Dirceu' is a key work of Arcadianism, blending bucolic imagery with personal and political themes, reflecting his unfulfilled love story.
• 😀 Basílio da Gama's epic 'Uruguai' blends historical events with mythology, focusing on the Treaty of Madrid and the struggle between indigenous people and colonizers.
• 😀 Santa Rita Durão’s work 'Caramuru' is another important piece of Brazilian Arcadian literature, portraying the interaction between Portuguese explorers and indigenous tribes.

Q & A

What is Arcadianism, and how is it related to the Enlightenment?

Arcadianism is a literary movement that emerged in the 18th century, closely linked to the intellectual and philosophical movement called the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment emphasized reason, logic, and scientific progress, which were reflected in Arcadianism's focus on rationalism, balance, and the rejection of the exaggerated and fantastical elements of the Baroque period.

How did Arcadianism differ from the Baroque period?

Arcadianism rejected the excess, imbalance, and fantasy associated with the Baroque period. Instead, it embraced reason, scientific advances, and classical values, emphasizing balance, harmony, and the idealization of nature, which were in contrast to the chaotic and exaggerated forms of Baroque art and literature.

What are the main characteristics of Arcadianism?

The main characteristics of Arcadianism include the use of mythology, the valorization of nature as a symbol of balance and perfection, a focus on bucolicism and pastoralism (idealized rural life), the predominance of logic, and the concept of 'Carpe Diem,' or enjoying the present day, particularly through an appreciation of nature.

Why was Arcadianism also referred to as Neoclassicism?

Arcadianism is also known as Neoclassicism because it revived classical values from Greco-Roman antiquity, similar to how the Renaissance had done centuries earlier. The term 'neo' means 'new,' referring to a renewed interest in classical ideals, such as balance, reason, and the use of mythology.

When and where did Arcadianism begin in Portugal and Brazil?

In Portugal, Arcadianism began in 1756 with the establishment of the Lusitanian Arcadia. In Brazil, it started in 1768, primarily with the publication of poetic works by Cláudio Manuel da Costa. This marked the beginning of the 'Mineiro Group,' which became influential in Brazilian literature.

How did the economic changes in Brazil influence the development of Arcadianism?

The economic prosperity from gold mining in Minas Gerais shifted the cultural focus from the sugarcane-producing Northeast to the Southeast of Brazil. This change in the economic landscape was reflected in the rise of the 'Mineiro Group' of Arcadian poets, who played a key role in the literary culture of Brazil during this period.

How did the Inconfidência Mineira influence Arcadian literature?

The Inconfidência Mineira, a movement for Brazilian independence from Portugal in 1789, had a significant impact on Arcadian literature. Many poets of the Arcadian movement, including Tomás Antônio Gonzaga, were involved in this conspiracy. Their works, like Gonzaga's *Marília de Dirceu*, reflect both personal and political themes, including the ideals of freedom and resistance to colonial oppression.

What is the significance of Tomás Antônio Gonzaga’s *Marília de Dirceu* in Arcadianism?

Tomás Antônio Gonzaga’s *Marília de Dirceu* is one of the most important works of Arcadianism in Brazil. The poem, written in the pastoral tradition, tells the story of Gonzaga's love for a young woman named Marília. It combines the ideals of Arcadianism with the political context of the Inconfidência Mineira, illustrating the connection between personal emotions and the larger political struggle for independence.

What is the theme of Basílio da Gama’s *Uruguai*?

Basílio da Gama's *Uruguai* is an epic poem that blends historical events with mythology. It tells the story of the Treaty of Madrid and the battle between Portuguese and Spanish forces and indigenous people. The work promotes the idea of the 'noble savage,' portraying indigenous people as honorable and pure, contrasting them with the corruption of colonial society.

What is the story behind Santa Rita Durão’s *Caramuru*?

Santa Rita Durão’s *Caramuru* is a poem about the Portuguese man Diogo Álvares Correia, who was shipwrecked on the coast of Brazil and lived with the Tupinambá tribe. The work reflects a Eurocentric perspective on indigenous culture, portraying Correia as a civilizing influence on the 'barbaric' indigenous people. It represents an important literary view of colonialism in Brazil.