Cafuza, Mulata, Negra: body and memory in the discourse of brazilian beers

This article aims to undertake a discursive analysis of the label and advertising material of three beers sold in Brazil: the Cafuza beer, the Mulata beer and Devassa Negra beer. Starting from the regularity that binds and weaves the statements in question - the reference to the African-Brazilian woman - the objective is to present an analysis that considers the semiotic nature of these statements, and bring out their enunciation margins and its historical dimension. The purpose is to analyze the discursive thread that provides conditions of emergence, providing visibility to the scenario of enslavement still perdurable here as historical a priori, in a game of memories that echo through time. What we will see is the body of the black woman (also mulatto and black-indian woman) caught by a discourse that comes from the image of the female sexual slavery and reaches today its exacerbation, especially if we think of the (con)fusion established between the brand names of those beers and the women printed on their labels: products to be consumed? As a theoretical and methodological framework, this article will have as a starting point the discussions made within the French Discourse Analysis in the course of the 1980s. We will bring forward a discussion, although in general, on how emerges, in that decade, the concerns about a semiotic materiality of discourse, beyond the linguistic materiality. Anchored by this panorama, our goal is to work out new perspectives through its analytical application. It is the attempt to take the statement considering the different languages that comprise it, as well as to provide it with the historical density intrinsic to it, making it appear, in the light of the day, what was not visible immediately.

Female authorship Literature: Women in the history and in the memory

The purpose of this study is to analyze the process of Brazilian women’s search for equality, concerning cultural and social areas over five centuries. Oppression, submission and silence used to be common words for women during this period in the history. The extreme patriarchal system and the sexism in different areas of society prevented the female rights from expressing their opinions. This study process involved the research on significant articles, books and magazines related to gender equalities. The present achievements of women in the country are due to the work of feminist movements supported in Cultural Studies and Gender Theories that led women to represent an equal role in the society. As a result, women in the twentieth century got rid of the sexist oppression and besides producing remarkable writings, they improved their identities revealing themselves as skilful people able to contribute to the literary canon as well as diligent professional in education, politics and different areas of society in the postwar period.