Em busca de uma poesia universal: Murilo Mendes na Itália (1957-1975)

Abstract

This doctoral dissertation is the result of an analysis of five books published during poet Murilo Mendes s Italian phase (1957-1975). The goal was to identify influences of Italian Literature and Art in the poet s work. While in Italy, the poet worked as a university teacher and wrote quite profusely as an art critic. He also wrote two books in Italian. The first two books analyzed (Retratos-relâmpago and L occhio del poeta) are collections of his writings on artists of different contexts, times and countries, from music to the fine arts. These texts are a mixture of poetry and prose and the result of Murilo s greater intimacy with critique and theory. In his poetry, he would use the same tools, motifs and techniques, and some of these elements (especially lyricism, autobiography and social critique) can be found in his last poetry books (Siciliana, Convergência and Ipotesi). In Italy, Murilo s poetry becomes universal, following the ideas of Essencialism to break the barriers of space and time. His network of references explodes, and it seems like a last and desperate measure to save Art and Tradition from the catastrophe brought about by the modern society