Tropical Reality

Abstract

Since the 1960s, Tropicalism has become much more than one of thefinal modernist/or first post-modern vanguards – as is so often said.The movement took hold as an efficient and reiterated form of dualist“reasoning” through which to define Brazilian culture and steer itsproduction (both aesthetically and politically). The article aims totake the present moment of triumph (and crisis) in the Tropicalistlogic as a platform from which to analyze the history of the processthat launched Tropicalism into the heart of the contemporary culturaldebate in Brazil and abroad.