If you’re still fiending for another documentary on Brazilian music check out Tropicália (2012), an in depth and intimate look at the Tropicália (aka Tropicalismo) movement of music, arts, poetry, theatre and film culture from the late 1960s. The Tropicália movement practice “cultural cannibalism,” a post-modern, remix approach to music, arts, poetry, theatre and film, taking from indigenous Afro-Brazilian music and culture, and mixing them with western styles, and the avant-garde. Tropicália artists played around with being on the fringe, but were not averse to being on TV (a new medium in the 60’s). Tropicália artists was Brazil’s counter culture, they were anti-right military rule in Brazil, but were also not fully down with Brazil’s leftists (who were against Tropicália artists using of the electric guitar, playing rock music and other U.S. /western forms of music). Tropicália artists were truly on their own; counter right and left, against all grains.
Some notable Tropicália artists (some featured in this documentary) are Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil (who later became Brazil’s first black minister of culture, serving from 2003-2008), Os Mutantes, Gal Costa, Tom Zé, and the poet/lyricist Torquato Neto. The mentioned artists and other Tropicália artists came together in 1968 to create Tropicália’s musical manifesto in the form of the album Tropicália: ou Panis et Circencis (Bread and Circuses). Tropicália artists were a voice for the young, idealistic, middle class Brazilian youth who tried to recapture Brazil’s folk music and art but also appreciated the new music and art movements coming from the U.S. and the west in the 1960s.
Tropicalia (2012) [English Sub]
