Temporality and social values in “Geni e o Zepelim” by Chico Buarque

Abstract

This article proposes a reflection about the construction of the time, the value and the prostitute in the song “Geni e o Zepelim” by Chico Buarque. From the analysis of the discursive level of the text, it is possible to recognize that there is a play between the different voices of the actors of the enunciate, namely, the narrator, the city, the zeppelin officer, and Geni, as well as a change in the use of the enuncive and enunciative temporal systems. In the narrative level occurs a double manipulation of the officer and the city towards Geni, who is forced to sleep with the commander in order to avoid the announced bombing. Even after completing the performance that had been assigned to her, the lady receives a negative sanction from the city. The end result of the sequence of narrative programs is Geni’s reification. Finally, from the point of view of the tensive structures, the discourse is organized in terms of continuity and discontinuity. On the one hand, the zeppelin officer’s arrival can be interpreted as an event, on the other hand, the habitual prostitution of Geni is characterized as an exercise. In general, “Geni e o Zepelim” demonstrates that the figurative and thematic role of the prostitute is invested with a negative or positive axiological configuration as a function of time and social interests at stake.