Em nome das UPPs: uma análise das representações midiáticas sobre a ocupação da favela da Rocinha

Abstract

The research draws your attention towards the narratives of the newspaper O Globo during the occupation of the Rocinha favela by official forces in November 2011. Intended to identify what kind of representations was reported by the media at special moment of city life, which coexists with the implementation of the project of Pacifying Police Units (UPPs) and the expectation to host two international sporting mega events: World Cup (2014) and the Olympics (2016). Analyzing media representations about the process of occupation, the goal of the research was to discover clues that help to think the impact of this political measure on the city and its inhabitants. It was possible to realize that, unlike what had been happening in recent decades, urban violence not presented as a matter of great interest to the newspapers, appearing only incidentally as occasional issues in a predominantly pacific context. Optimistic speech prevailed in relation to the city and its future. Accordingly, several matters reported on the success of the police operation, celebrating the replacement of police policy of confrontation by the actions of intelligence, which would have allowed the resumption of the Hill without a shot even being fired. Special emphasis was given to UPPs, systematically represented positively by the newspaper, residents, businessmen and specialists, who pointed out the project as a factor responsible for the wave of hope and optimism that surrounds the city. The UPP would be the element that would bring new meanings to the slums of the city. The aura of violence associated with slums was away, making disappear the fear that these spaces of the city historically cause in the general population. The UPP would be responsible for integrating slums in the city. The process of pacification of Rio slums, personified in the UPPs, would be the bridge that would allow the city to rediscover, to reinvent itself, retrieving the joy and self-esteem, leaving behind decades of pessimism and hopelessness. It was observed that during the search, the dynamics of media narratives broke with the previous pattern of representation of a violent city and has opted for an optimistic speech, albeit with occasional violent episodes.