CULT 320, Fall 2014

1. CULT 320:
Globalization and Culture
Kara Heitz, 10/02/2014

2. “City of God” Questions
• Story/narrative in the film itself (description)
– What do you think are the central themes of the film?
– What larger issues associated with globalization, capitalism, and industrialization are
affecting the events that go on in the “City of God” favela?
• Global cinema industry (production, regulation)
– How/why did this film find distribution beyond Brazil?
– Why would the Cannes Film Festival choose to screen this film? Why did Hollywood (i.e.
the Academy Awards) pick this film for awards?
• Global audiences (consumption, identity)
– Why do you think this movie was so popular outside of Brazil? Why did it win so many
awards?
– What do audiences get out of watching it? What is fun and pleasurable about viewing
the movie?
– Does the film bring attention to the horrible conditions of favela life or glamourize the
violence and life of a “hood” (or both)?
• Favelization website (representation)
– Why do you think the favelas have come to be used to represent “Brazil” in global
culture products? What are the ethical issues associated with using favelas in film,
fashion, design, etc. (especially luxury products)?

6. Favelas in Brazil
• Favela: “A predominantly residential area, characterized by
occupation of the land by low-income populations,
precariousness of urban infrastructure and public services,
narrow and irregularly aligned roads or passage-ways, plots
of irregular form and size, and unlicensed constructions
that do not conform to legal standards” (Rio city
government definition)
• 6% of Brazil’s population live in favelas
– ~70% of favela residents are black or “pardo” (multiracial)
– In all of Brazil: 47.7% “white”, 43.1% multiracial, 7.6% black
• City of God current has ~38,000 residents
– 6 million people in Rio (12 million in metro area)
– 1.4 million live in favelas

7. “City of God” through the lens of:
• Bauman’s “tourists and vagabonds”?
• Postcolonialism?
• Neoliberal globalization?