Alterated Identities in Brazil: From the Samba Culture to the Sertanejo Culture

Abstract

Cultural references regarding Brazilianness have generally been associated with samba, carnival, colors, and an aesthetic compendium typical of a pre-modernity recreated in cities like Rio de Janeiro or Salvador. A foreign observer would like to see in these lands references that would transport him to Antônio Carlos Jobim’s “The Girl from Ipanema” song or to identity traits that would indicate a ‘tropical Brazil’ related to people dancing in the rhythm of samba and bossa nova, and Copacabana beach. However, many socio-cultural changes progressively impacted the consumption of musical and aesthetic styles among Brazilians. Changes concerning musical styles’ preferences led to significant cultural changes that would modify the notion of Brazilianness imaginary in the first decades of the 21^st century. The present paper addresses this eventual cultural and aesthetic references change, showing with decisive force what has been called ‘sertanejo culture’ in Brazil.

Keywords: Brazilian culture; Cultural identity; Samba culture; Sertanejo culture; Musical styles.

DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/12-18-04

Publication date:September 30^th 2022