Do armário à tela global : a representação social da homossexualidade na telenovela brasileira

Abstract

The following dissertation intends to identify and analyze the social representation of homosexuality as a means of social identity in the Brazilian telenovela genre, beginning with the development of a methodological model for selection and analysis of recurrent audiovisual elements in this type of teledramaturgic production. Coming from concepts relative to the telenovela in the mass media context, and discussions on the formation of social identities of sexuality and genre, we present a reflection on how the telenovela presents and represents this particular type of social behavior. The theme of homosexuality, in its several nuances, was successfully identified in 39 telenovelas broadcasted by Rede Globo de Televisão, from 1974 to 2005. Among these, we selected Mulheres apaixonadas (Women in love) (2003) as our case for study, referring to the characters Clara and Rafaela. From the identification and analysis of recurrent audiovisual elements present in this production, we were able to produce two research forms, in order to apply a reception verification study in a focal group, formed by teenagers attending the second year of High School in Rio de Janeiro.