Do almofadinha ao sportmen: estéticas masculinas e suas representações na revista O Cruzeiro (1928-1931).

Abstract

Aiming to analyse masculine aesthetic representations in the magazine O Cruzeiro, from the year 1928 to 1931, the current research has its basis on the field of Cultural History – or New Cultural History, taking into consideration the possibilities allowed by it, due to the new thematic advances on historiography. The study is composed by three chapters that will discuss the disposition of the magazine, the clothing’s model, as well as the model for the men’s body and face of the time. The dissertation will deal with issues concerning representation in the magazine O Cruzeiro; pointing out the formation of an ideal of masculine aesthetics which was inserted in the imagination of men from that period. Besides the aesthetic issue, masculine stereotypes will also be presented that seemed to stand out – the preps, the military men and the jocks – and the outcasts – the ones considered ugly and seen as comedic, such as the hicks, also the idea of the black and miscegenation, as the racial theories were gaining new heights during the period that was studied. It is understood that the political and social issues influenced the composition of the ideal masculine aesthetics, and thus, the ideas of modernization, hygiene, eugenics and sanitation of the Brazilian society will also be discussed, its application on the connections among masculinity, virility and aesthetics as well. Finally, we highlight authors such as Roger Chartier – to discuss Cultural Representation – and Michael Foucault – to look into the ideas of Body, Discourse and Sexuality – who constitute the theoretical and methodological core of this research.