Adventures of a Gringa

Carnival Controversy 2010

Every year, there's at least one controversy surrounding Carnival in Rio, and sometimes it becomes a big international story. But I'm beginning to think that this year's samba school in question, Viradouro, purposely engages in controversy for publicity. If that's the idea, they're certainly getting tons of press, even if it's bad press. In 2008, they were at the center of a bitter legal battle to use a float made of fake dead bodies with a Hitler impersonator on top; they lost, and instead used a float protesting what they perceived as censorship.

This year's Viradouro controversy is that one of the head honchos at the Viradouro samba school has put his seven year-old daughter in a role normally reserved for fully grown women wearing just enough to cover their private parts. Not only that, the role of the rainha da bateria, the queen of the drum section, is usually held by a model, actress, or local celebrity.

The story exploded in the US news today, since the controversy has now become a legal issue and has landed at the illustrious Rio family court, which will decide if the girl is allowed to be in the Carnival parade. Meanwhile, the story hadn't made even a blip in the Brazilian press, but since it was all over the international news, it will probably be in the headlines today or tomorrow.

So here's my take.

First of all, before even touching on the story itself, we have to look at how the story is being portrayed in the American media. The big media outlets, as usual, resort to sensationalism and stereotypes, which is not new but nonetheless irritating. You'll notice that they tend to recycle each other's work, and as a result tend to focus on several themes, repeating the word "sexy" to describe the Carnival dancers and their dances as "sensual." They're also quick to point out that Brazil still has a problem of sexually exploited children.

That brings me to my first point, which is that American beauty pageants for children, in particular those for very young girls around 7 and under, are completely exploitative and in my opinion tend to sexualize little girls. It's truly ridiculous that a story like this would create such an outcry in one of the child pageant capitals of the world (though to be fair, Brazil is also really big on pageants, and Brazilians dominate the kiddie pageants in the Americas). To use those obnoxious stereotypes of the oversexed Brazilian women adds insult to injury.

The next point is that some argue that a child can't handle the very long hours, the physically difficult task of dancing, and the summer heat. What the American media failed to do was any background research on the matter. Every year there is a Carnival parade for children at the Sambadrome, when they all get dressed in costumes and dance and sing with kid's samba schools. I chaperoned one year, and while I agree the avenida is long and the weather is hot, the hundreds of kids who perform each year handle it just fine.

It seems the father thought it would be a cute idea to put a child in the role of the adult so that people would oo and ahh over how cute she is (because she's adorable), not to place her in the traditional role of a grown up samba dancer. That is, instead of using the usual beautiful model, he'd use a gap toothed kid to win over the judges. After all, Carnival is the time when the world stands on its head: black is white, rich is poor and up is down. So, in his logic, why not switch up Carnival itself by putting a little kid in the place of an adult?

That said, I understand the controversy. It is a little weird to see such a tiny girl doing some questionable moves, and her parents seem like the stage parent types (growing up as a dancer, I've met far too many). The question does arise, where do you draw the line?

But as far as the courts are concerned, unless the media stays on top of the story, there's a 50-50 chance the case will be expedited before Carnival, which starts next week. As we know all too well, the Rio courts, especially the family court where the case has landed, is very slow. So unless the samba school leadership decides against having the girl dance with them, it seems like a distinct possibility that she'll be performing for Carnival. If not, the school may have to bust out the censorship float again.

What's your take?

My, your house smells so Brazilian!

Thank you to Daniela for bringing this to my attention.

Apparently, Febreze has launched a new line of exotic scents in their Air Effects sprays, which include Hawaiian Aloha, Morrocan Bazaar, and last but not least, Brazilian Carnaval. The aforementioned Brazilian Carnaval spray is purported to be "the airy scent of lush green açai berry palms that billow in the Amazon winds."

Oh god, where do I even begin?

 

Though Brazil is best known for the Amazon and Carnival, they have very little to do with each other. There is a Carnival celebration in Manaus, the capital of the state of Amazonas, but there's a Carnival celebration in every major city in Brazil. The most famous celebration is in Rio de Janeiro, which is hundreds of miles from the Amazon.

But I think the most important thing is what the "Brazilian Carnaval" really smells like. Based on my experience last  year, it smells like sweat, BO, cigarette smoke, beer, grilled meat, and piss.

I guess "Sweaty Armpit" wouldn't sell quite as well as "Brazilian Carnaval."

i couldn't resist.

This story showed up in my Google Alerts and I needed to post it immediately.

I really respect innovative ideas for ending Brazil's problems, I do. We need more of them. But what we don't need is someone who really has no f-ing clue what he's talking about trying to export his California new age nonsense to Brazil.

From the AP, August 5, 2008

"Rio de Janeiro, Brazil -U.S. movie director David Lynch says transcendental meditation is the cure for Rio de Janeiro's rampant violence.

Lynch says he hopes to meet with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to discuss the possibility of offering mediation studies in Brazil.

The director of "Blue Velvet" and "Mulholland Drive" was in Rio on Monday to promote his new book "Catching the Big Fish: Meditation, Consciousness and Creativity."

He proposed bringing meditation studies to Brazilian schools and universities, and said such a move "would end the stress among youths and free the country of violence."

Rio de Janeiro is among the most violent cities in the world with an annual homicide rate of around 50 per 100,000 residents."

Why don't you go to Complexo da Mare and see how relaxed you feel, Dave?

googling

I have to say that I am quite pleased with myself when Googlers arrive on my "Top Ten Misconceptions about Brazil" page or my "Top Ten Reasons You Shouldn't Visit Rio de Janeiro" page with such searches as:

"easy to get laid brazil"
"buy drugs rio"
"where to go to get laid in rio"
"Carnaval del rio asses big"
"jewish women who like sex and speak english rio brazil"

I am perplexed when Googlers arrive on my blog from such searches as:

"peeing in front of a crowd"
"naked feathers"

I'm also perplexed by how many people have been Googling "rio gringa" and different variations from all over the US, Brazil, and the world--around 20 people a day. My faithful readers should know by now, though, that my blog can be accessed simply by typing in riogringa.com (I own the domain).

Google away, Internet!

overheard on Metro North

Three twenty-something suburban gringo men are discussing where in the world they'd like to travel.

Twenty-something Suburban Gringo 1: I was thinking Venezuela.
TTSG 2: The place I want to go the most is Brazil.
TSSG 3: Yeah, but I've heard soo many stories...like, you know...(ominous glance)
TTSG 1: I've heard it's not a good time to go, like, because of the crime.
TSSG 2: Well, I would be worried about getting lost, like, in the jungle.
TSSG 3: My friend is a flight attendant, and she said her favorite country she's ever been to is Brazil. 

[All ponder silently]

TSSG 1: So are you going to the game on Sunday?

New Page: Top Ten Misconceptions about Brazil

Gringos, in particular Americans, often know very little about Latin America and maintain grossly stereotypical misconceptions of Latin American countries, especially Brazil.

Here we go:

10. Brazil is one big rainforest! I can't wait to travel to Rio to see the leopards and anacondas.
Though about 60% of the Amazon is in Brazil, most of the major cities are in fact quite far from the rainforest. Though there are other forests, Brazil's cities are not in fact in the middle of the jungle.

9. Brazil is a tropical country, so no matter where I go, it will be hot and sunny!
Brazil is quite hot in the summer, but in the winter, the Southern states, like Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and even Sao Paulo can get quite cold. When it rains in the winter in Rio, it gets really cold because very few buildings have insulation. And as for the sun, it rains a LOT in the summer.

8. Brazilian women are all gorgeous! It's a pure schmorgasboard of ladies over there!
This is an age-old excuse used by gringos who drunkenly hook up with ugly Brazilian women. Well, Brazil is a major exporter of models, and there are lots of beautiful people, but I gotta tell you, there are just as many ugly people here as in any other country.

7. It's one big Carnival all over Brazil, year-round! PARTAY!
Carnival actually happens for a week each year in February, though you can see some samba school rehearsals during other parts of the year. Brazilians do value their leisure time and there's lots of nightlife in all the cities, but the actual Carnival revelry, complete with bands, parties, and costumes starts in late January and runs for a week or two after the real Carnival.

6. Brazil is in Latin America, where people don't care much about the law. It's totally legal -- or at least, acceptable, to do drugs. I hear coke is really cheap there, so it must be cool to buy it!
Drugs are in fact illegal here, despite their availability. Buying drugs in Brazil helps fuel the violence that plagues its major cities, so actually it's VERY unacceptable to drugs. And even being a gringo, you can get some jail time for getting caught with controlled substances.

5. I speak a little Spanish. Brazilians speak Spanish. I will totally be OK to communicate!
For the love of god, this kills me every time. Brazilians. speak. Portuguese. And though you can get by with a little Spanish, Brazilians really hate when you speak to them in another language assuming they will understand it, even if they do.

4. Most Brazilians are poor, so I'm not really expecting the same level of comfort and culture that I'm used to.
Though Brazil has a higher poverty rate than the U.S. or the U.K., it has a rapidly growing and significant middle class and a small but very, very wealthy upper class. Shopping malls are now a million-dollar business in Brazil, and major cities have five-star hotels and restaurants, as well as museums and concert halls. People don't live like Indians in most of Brazil.

3. Brazilians are so sensual. They're all nymphomaniacs, and all the women must be easy.
Prostitution is a problem here, partially due to its legality, partially due to the demand. HOWEVER, Brazilian women are not sluts, despite the fact that people here are much more comfortable making out with strangers than gringos may be. In fact, generally speaking, Brazilian women are a lot less sexually liberal than American women. Don't go to Brazil expecting to get laid, because you may be in for an unpleasant surprise.

2. Brazil is in the "Third World," therefore everything must be cheap!
Then you are in for a big shock. Especially now that the dollar is so weak, Brazil is incredibly expensive, for everything: food, hotels, transportation, clothes, books, electronics, gasoline...shall I go on? If you want to go somewhere cheap, go to Argentina.

1. Brazil is a country where anything goes, and the law doesn't really matter. I can do whatever I want, even if it's something I wouldn't normally do in my own country. I have more money than most people here anyway, so I get special treatment.

I'm shocked at how many people have this attitude, even if they don't think about it consciously. Though unfortunately, gringos are often seen as being "special" outsiders, that doesn't mean you have the right to break the law, do immoral things, or take advantage of Brazilians, and in one way or another, you will pay for your actions. This includes but is not limited to: destroying the environment to run a business, engaging in child prostitution, and smuggling, buying, or selling drugs.

ouch x2

I've been sending out my resume like crazy to do freelancing work. In what was basically a "no" response (better than a lack of a response at all, I guess), I got a double blow, even though the guy was clearly mistaken in thinking I'm Brazilian.

And just an FYI, gringo men -- this is not how you should address Brazilian women, because a lot of the time you may be implying that they are easy or exhibitionists or worse. Please. For all our sakes, have some respect.

"Fulanito forwarded me your email. Seems every guy in the place here knows you are from Brazil and are asking for photos, even though they know I can't ask you for that. Too funny, talk about a stereo-type. What is it about Brazilian women that creates that mystique? (I'm humming the Girl from Ipanema tune...)

Well, I like the part that says you are Westchester-based though living in Brazil. That's an "A" for creative writing. I did get a chuckle out of that......Actually, I'm looking for someone who has fashion and beauty chops, lives and breathes the Cosmo scene. I did enjoy the blog, however..."