Favela Aesthetics: The Representation of the Rio de Janeiro Favela in the Visual Arts

Abstract

This thesis discusses the representation of the Rio de Janeiro favela in the visual arts through a focus on three case studies: Pedro Lobo, Vik Muniz and the Morrinho Project. This is linked to a broader discourse on the representation of so-called “other” or “subaltern” groups in society, building on theoretical accounts from the disciplines of art history, literary studies and social anthropology. It is discussed how the case studies define their position as part of the cultural field, which is presented to build on broader societal power structures, through a combination of aesthetic and social goals. The tension between the commodification of culture and culture as a site of resistance, two approaches that have gained scholarly attention in recent decades, are central to the examination of this position. We will explore the idea of culture as resource, formulated by George Yúdice, and argue that artists that reflect on their own position within the broader, commodified favela imagery as well as define their economic, political and/or social utility through their aesthetic substance are the most successful in challenging the stereotypical images that present the favela as “other”.