Contexto Magazine - Third Edition by Priscila Bellini

contexto 3rd edition

October 2013

From Russia With Love 1

photo: kirill kaluginâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s facebook

Index #editorial

p.4

#illustration

p.5

#international From Russia with Love A brave woman in Afghanistan

p.8 p.12

#Brazil Catcalling, harassment and enpowering

p.17

#opinion Musician - love your work or get another job

p.21

#proseandpoetry

p.24

#photocontext

p.25

#editorial

To democracy, with love

ne of the biggest challenges for democracies is to ensure the respect for political and cultural expressions of all people, of all the groups. People who daily face homophobia, sexism and other prejudgments know how much these problems are expressed in daily attitudes. The jokes, the comments... It all reflects the logic of oppression. In this edition of Contexto magazine, you will find details about the situation of homosexuals in Russia, photos of graffiti in Germany today, amazing drawings and illustrations by Caio Timoneiro, and opinion about the research about street harassment “Chega de Fiu Fiu”. In addition, an article about the quality of music today and the story of Malalai Joya, Afghan human rights activist. All articles are written and reviewed by members of the staff of the Contexto magazine. We must always thank Qatar Foundation International for the amazing support and thank people involved in the project, directly or indirectly. Contexto is also a project to bring more social equality and gender. Priscila Bellini

Editor in Chief

Seja bem-vindo à Contexto! Welcome! Ahlan wa sahlan!

The Team Editor in Chief

Priscila Bellini Journalists

Júlia Dolce Marcelo Renda Priscila Bellini Tiel Lieder Poetry

Jaqueline Araújo Illustration

Caio Timoneiro Design

Fernanda Tottero Photography

Victoria Azevedo Translation

Priscila Bellini

#illustration

Caio Timoneiro is an artist from S達o Paulo who studied Arabic at BibliASPA. His work includes illustration and graffiti, using different techniques and art.

#international

From Russia with Love

(Preferably between a man and a woman) By Júlia Dolce

The changes in Russian legislation gain worldwide repercussions. The country which has the largest territory in the world is known for annihilating opponents with its harsh winter and for the “matrioshkas” also has a history of oscillating intolerance when it comes to sexuality. Since the ban of homosexual practices in certain regimes of the Tsarist Russian Empire, and the “freedom” for homosexuals in the initial stage of the Soviet Union, and the criminalization of homosexuality during the Stalinist government, culminating in the repressive policy of Vladimir Putin, in a democratic context in which Russia is a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Recent laws determined by the Superior Court of Moscow restrict LGBT rights even with the last decriminalization of homosexuality in the Russian Constitution of 1993 and the removal of the term from the list of psychological disorders in 1999. Although not anymore considered illegal, homosexuals do not have any 8

legislation that protects them from discrimination and harassment, resulting in the possibility of creating laws such as the ones that were promulgated in 2012 and 2013, respectively: the prohibition of any gay parade held in the next 100 years and the prohibition of “propaganda of non- traditional sexual relations.” Both seem not to be a violation of Human Rights for the current president, Putin, which ensures equality among citizens: “The people of non-traditional sexual orientation are not harmed professionally or in their salaries.” However, the activist Anastasiya Smirnova, from the Russian human rights group LGBT Network, disagrees: “The law itself is not a threat with regard to its practical application. But it is a major threat in relation to the type of opinion that it encourages and creates”. The recent events in the country do not exactly represent a situation of tolerance. Since the promulgation of anti-gay propaganda law, signed in

firstpost.com

the Duma (lower house of the Russian Parliament), on June 30, with 436 votes, the rise of homophobia and violence against homosexuals has been clearly observed. The measures are part of the conservative shift of the current government of Putin, re-elected in May 2012, and are intended to protect minors from the “threat” by a non- traditional sexual orientation. Fines ranging from 4000 to 1 million rubles, depending on the characteristics of the offender (person, public authority or entity) can be considered the least of the problems of the LGBT community, which has suffered persecution and attacks by extremists and neo-Nazi groups, and the brutality of the Russian police during the demonstrations. Recently, international attention turned to the group Occupy Pedophilia, led by the famous Russian Neo-Nazi Tesak “The Hatchet” Martsinkevich, which disseminates in social media (like Russian version of Facebook, the Vkontakte) and on its official website, where videos of its members appear interrogating and torturing homosexuals after attracting them with false announcements of meetings. The videos are disturbing and can be easily found on the internet, as well as comments of approval of violent acts. The actions called “safaris” are sold for 250 rubles (£ 18), so that anyone can participate in the “game against criminals.” The justification for such violence, repeated by members of the Occupy Pedophilia is the “inevitable” link between pedophilia a n d h o m o s e x u a l i t y. A c c o r d i n g t o Martsinkevich, “pedophiles and gays are the same thing. They represent the degradation of human beings. “

In July, human rights groups denounced the neo-Nazi group for the death of a gay man from Uzbekistan. The photos where the young man appears bloodied, in the profile of the Occupy Pedophilia, were not enough and its members were not arrested yet. Most victims do not report offenders to the police because they fear the reprisals, since the government and the media seem to be on the side of intolerance. In April 2012, a Russian television anchorman, Dmitri Kiselev, was nationally applauded after saying: “I think only imposing fines for gay propaganda among adolescents is not enough. They should be prevented from donating blood and sperm. Their hearts, in the case of a car accident, should be buried in the ground or burned as unfit for the continuation of life.” The video with this quote can be found on Youtube.

Homophobic Russian poster with the words: “Step on a gay as shit.”

International activism Despite the feeling of being trapped in a country in which the powers seem to conspire against their existence, members of the Russian gay community have relied on one important attention of international activists, who have organized several demonstrations in support of LGBT rights in Russia. The last great wave of worldwide protests against the country was related to the arrest of members of the feminist punk rock band Pussy Riot for a concert in the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, in March 2012, by religious intolerance and vandalism. Currently, the member of the band Nadezhda Tolokonnikova is on hunger strike because of the maltreatment which she is being subjected in prison. Meanwhile, LGBT activists around the world join forces against the Russian conservatism and homophobia. London brought together hundreds of people at a rally on 10 August in front of the residence of the British Prime Minister David Cameron. The demonstrators demanded that the government forced Russia to repeal the homophobic law. Unfortunately, the amount of the Russian gay community protests decreases proportionally to the increase of the fear of repression. The militant Kirill Kalugin, who held alone a protest over a military holiday in St. Petersburg, where he was attacked by soldiers after shouting slogans against homophobia, says in an interview for Contexto magazine his experiences and opinions on the situation of homosexuals in the country. Kirill is easily found in social media. He has a profile picture colored that easily catches attention, with his red hair and banner with rainbow gay flag. 10

When asked about the situation of homosexuals before the restrictive laws recently approved, the activist said that the LGBT community was in an information vacuum, since “the issue was not specifically discussed and homophobia was expressed simply by the rejection of what was common” . However, the change in legislation was followed by a “homophobic hysteria, in which any man could be assaulted for wearing too tight jeans or pink shirt.” On his Facebook profile, Kirill has posted reports about the prejudice that he has suffered from many people, as well as the nights when he was banned from gay clubs in his hometown, St. Petersburg. Regarding the attitude of the policemen, Kirill stated that the crimes carried out by extremist groups have not been investigated. “Maybe the cops are not all homophobic, but are afraid of losing their jobs (in condemning the perpetrators).” According to the activist, public demonstrations remain constantly organized, but in a discreet way, especially through online petitions. About expectations for the future, Kirill believes that the situation of human rights in Russia will remain pitiful while the current regime does not change. “Putin is trying to show independence from the West, which is a lie. During the last G20 meeting, we (protesters) organized peaceful meetings, due to the large international pressure - because the government was afraid of a scandal.” Activists met with President Obama, who supports the cause and criticizes the anti - gay advertising law. Besides the U.S. president, other personalities have shown support for Russian LGBT community. Singers such

as Elton John, who wanted to make a concert in Russia in honor of the community, faced a possible cancellation of the performances in the country, required by a group of Russian parents who claim the illegality of the presence of gay musician. The singer Cher refused, in protest against intolerance, the invitation to perform at the opening of the Winter Olympics 2014 in Sochi city, and the Russian athletes Kseniya Ryzhova and Tatyana Firova, who won gold medals in the event at the World Athletics in Moscow, celebrated the victory with a lesbian kiss, also in support of homosexuals. The Winter Olympics has been used by activists as a response to new legislation, through the call of boycotts, protests and even the transfer of the Winter Games to a place where human rights are respected. That’s because, in addition to national outrage with the financial issues involved in the implementation of the Olympic Games in Sochi, the militants

have been informed by the Minister of Interior of Russia that “antigay laws” of the country would be applied during the Olympics, including athletes and foreign spectators. The possible boycott of the Winter Olympics was commented by many international leaders, increasing Putin concerns. The Russian president said once more, without seeing any contradiction in his own speech, that there are equal rights between heterosexuals and homosexuals in the country: “You may be absolutely sure that during the realization of major sporting events, the Olympic Games in particular, Russia will strictly abide by the principles of Olympism, which does not admit any kind of discrimination, nor because of nationality, gender or sexual orientation.” Meanwhile, the Russian LGBT community remains under constant threat and seeking space to fight for their rights.

Kirill Kalugin

Kirill Kalugin protesting during holiday Russian military, moments before being attacked by soldiers.

A brave woman in Afghanistan

By Tiel Lieder

The activist Malalai Joya has survived seven attempts to fight for women’s rights and against the criminal U.S. invasion in Afghanistan.

“

You could end up with the flowers, but the spring will never stop coming.” In the verses of the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, the Afghan activist Malalai Joya (http://www.malalaijoya.com/ dcmj/) finds inspiration to continue her struggle for Afghanistan, a country which was the victim of wars, invasions, corruption, sexism, prejudice. Violence. C o n s i d e re d o n e of t h e 1 0 0 m o s t influential people in the world by Time magazine, and one of the 100 most prominent thinkers by Foreign Policy magazine, Malalai is, above all, brave. To keep unmasking the intentions and consequences of criminal occupation by the U.S. since 2001. To continue denouncing the atrocities, rapes, indiscriminate murders, persecutions to women, but also to her people, often by her own countrymen. To expose the daily tragedy of this ancient country whose ability to resist and to redo is remarkable. These reasons make the struggle of Malalai Joya worthy of applause. “I’m not afraid to die soon, if it is to advance the cause of justice. The grave can’t silence my voice, because there are others who remain after me”, she said. “One day I will get killed, but they will not be able to kill my words. Two bodyguards and I went to the hospital - and the more death threats, more determination and courage I have.” 12

Being located on an ancient commercial and military route, Afghanistan was the target of legendary invasions, from Alexander the Great to Genghis Khan, and also invasions led by three of the largest “global intervenors” of the past 150 years: the British Empire, the Soviet Union and the United States. Just as the history of her homeland, the trajectory of Malalai is also impressive, overcoming fear, leaving behind her dreams and desires that some women have, at the age of 35 (and at any age...), devoted to be the spokesman for her people. She paid a high price for it. To bring freedom to the oppressed of her country, she abdicated from her own freedom. She does not sleep more than a day in the same house. She is always accompanied by two bodyguards and already was the target of seven attacks. And even being a mother of a boy, she doesn’t think about quitting to denounce the absurd situation that prevails in Afghanistan for many decades, and especially since the U.S. invasion in 2001. “Every day I face death, and when I go out there I hope to return alive. This is not a peculiarity of mine, but of all my people, but I still denounce these crimes. I hope this fame I got help in the future of my country, because I believe in the cause”, she said recently in an interview for the journalist Thiago Tufano, from Terra.

telegraph.co.uk

Refugee since her childhood, Malalai was born on April 23, 1978, four days before the invasion of Afghanistan by the former USSR. “One of my earliest memories is to cling to the legs of my mother while police invaded our house, looking for my father. They turned everything upside down in search of clues, emptying drawers, ripping and destroying pillows,” she said in an interview with Mehid Hasan, a reporter for the British magazine New Statesman. During this period of exile, she lived in Pakistan and Iran, and then returned to her native country and became a teacher during the Taliban regime. She created a clinic for women and, later on, was elected deputy in 2003 and 2005, in a country where elections have as their “symbol” the phrase “it is not important who is voting, but who counts the votes.” As an elected member of the Wolesi Jirga, Malalai made several criticisms of congressmen, and she was beaten and banished from Parliament. After criticizing, in a television interview,

the Taliban and the current President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai - who, not coincidentally, before assuming the presidency, worked in the U.S. oil company Unocal, the same that is participating in the creation of the pipeline which will come from the Caspian Sea to the West through Afghan territory - was banned again from Parliament. After her legislative activities were suspended, she wrote a book, with Canadian writer Derrick O’Keefe, with the title of “Raising My Voice”. Malalai visited Brazil in August, when she presented a lecture with the Brazilian Helena Hirata, the Australian Ariel Saleh and Filipina Jean Enriquez, during the first day of the 9th International Meeting of the World March of Women, held in Latin America Memorial in Sao Paulo. During the event, she uttered strong words: that the Taliban was created and funded by the U.S., the Congress of Afghanistan is dominated by traffickers and “selected people” and that poverty 13

malalaijoya.com

Malalai speaks in parliament.

affects 80 % of the population of her country, leading mothers to sell their sons and daughters for $ 10, and that the country’s second most corrupt in the world. She also spoke about the “warlords”, who profit from drug trafficking, a problem that has grown exponentially since the September 11, 2001: before 2001, Afghanistan was responsible for 20% of the production of poppy (the plant from which derive heroin and opium), the nation today accounts for about 90% of world production, and “women and children are the ones who consume the drug locally.” “The Afghan president not even goes to the bathroom without consulting the White House. The United States created the Taliban and these dealers, they are the godfather of these movements. I speak explicitly that the United States established it and they currently invest money there and send resources to maintain these dirty interests. The tree of liberty in Afghanistan is being watered with blood.” To Malalai, the Obama administration is more dangerous than George W. 14

Bush, because, at the same time that they want to “end the war”, they intend to install nine permanent military bases in Afghanistan. “The so-called international community has given more than $ 65 billion and it all went to the pockets of traffickers. Who has to be criminalized is the White House, which has been there for 11 years practicing war crimes. Barack Obama is the second Bush and even more dangerous than Bush himself. Therefore (occupation) is facade. In Afghanistan, they are urinating on the bodies of civilians, for example. Democracy does not come by military invasion, invading weddings and parties; it comes precisely with hospitals and education.” What Malalai told the reporter from Terra, she had previously stated in an interview with Mehid Hasan, for the New Stasteman in 2010: “Those who supported Obama as a hope for change should have reviewed his past. During his time in the U.S. Senate, he voted for two wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, voted for the Patriot Act, refused to support a bill for singlepayer health care, supported the death penalty and so on. He came to power with corporate supporters. They want him to continue militarism and Obama obeys. I hope Obama is a lesson for the people of the United States, since the current political system remains the same, no president, white or black, will bring any big ‘change’. At best, they will cause some esthetic changes, nothing else.”

Totally hopeless about the upcoming elections in Afghanistan, considering that the U.S. will define the winners, who she calls “puppets of the White House”, Malalai follows with her project, funded by people who have suffered and are suffering with the successive wars that plague the Afghanistan. The Afghan activist sees the demonstrations that had its peak in June and July in Brazil as an indication that the country is on the right track. H o w e v e r, s h e b e l i e v e s t h a t B r a z i l needs to “go the way of Libya and Egypt”, and even of other nations such as Cuba and other Latin American countries such as Venezuela and Bolivia. “That would have a big impact on countries who live in war, like Afghanistan.” Malalai defends the rights of women, but, above all, protects the rights of human beings. “Feminism talks about equality and not superiority. It is as if society was a bird with two wings, one is male and one is female, flying together.” Despite the fears, fatigue, doubts, Malalai follows giving interviews around the world. Supporting causes such as the Palestinians and people like Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning, who defy the “rotten powers” and that now pay the price for it . His voice is the voice of all of us who want a world without war, without sexism, no lies, no dictatorships, nor empires. “I’m afraid I will not live to see freedom in Afghanistan and lead to a happy life for my people. To see a democratic and fair society. But I have great hope that my country will eventually be free, democratic and prosperous, and that this can be achieved by women

and men. Over the past 30 years of conflict, we lose everything. But such difficulties have taught us many things. The political consciousness of our people and some clarification were raised, and therefore no longer accept the domination of domestic and foreign invaders or criminal forces. This is a great achievement in the struggle of the Afghan people for liberation and gives me hope for a bright future.”

malalaijoya.com

Malalai Joya speaks at protest in Halifax - Canada

#Brazil

Catcalling, harassment and enpowering By Priscila Bellini

I’m not sure if you’ve gone through this kind of situation. If you are a woman, there is 99.6 % chance of having passed, according to the survey made by website Think Olga - and there are other alarming data in the research. The harassment suffered by women in public places is nothing new, and this is no excuse to not to talk about.

I will not criminalize H o w c o m e st op p in g t o an alyze something is censoring or criminalizing it? It is not. The research brought statistics which show that almost 8000 women answering regarding important aspects such as harassment in public places. The idea of “hooking up” (sic) is not there, once it is assumed that there is a mutual interest, it assumes that you face the person as an individual and not as an object. You and I exchanged glances, you try to start a conversation and then we spent the night together - and I wanted so and I showed interest, for sure. You go to the girl at a party and she doesn’t want it, she doesn’t show any interest. What do you do? Go away? Exactly. The research also brings data on women who were grabbed, 82 %, and this and other behaviors that reproduce the same speech in different ways – this is what we’re talking about. We’re talking about 16

patriarchy, oppression, harassment and we find it all “normal” and should not be discussed. The research provides data that should make you, man or woman, stop and rethink your attitude and analyze if the results make sense. And it does, since we leave in such a sick society. It makes sense for a logic of oppression of women that isn’t new, it makes sense because it is just another relation of oppressed versus oppressor. Reacting to provocation and harassment like this might lead to extremely dangerous situations. The girl says she doesn’t want to go out with the guy in a club and she is assaulted – until the aggressor breaks her arm, for example. What to do in a situation where the structure oppressed versus oppressor is consolidated at this point? We try our best to respond to behaviors that we classify as abusive, on the street, at work, at any educational institution. Many of us fail and are intimidated by the attitude and behavior of those who come to us with the comments posted in the survey (and other even more absurd). Others suggest that women have to express their desire in the same way as well, giving the award to the oppressed to change their behavior and incorporate the attitude of the oppressor. We must stop to analyze the arguments used by those who see these “pick-up lines”, catcalling and “teasing” in public places as something harmless and normal. Besides encouraging the empowerment of the oppressed, it is necessary to make this typically oppressive attitude to be discussed.

“But she dresses like this, she wants it...“ No, she doesn’t. You can find her beautiful, wonderful, “sexy”. If she wants to dress in a certain way, you have nothing to do with it. What does legitimize you to say that you think about her body? It isn’t the bare manifestation of desire, it isn’t a “natural right” to go around giving bodies (bodies only, without concern for the individual) that pass a “comment” about your “evaluation”. It causes the absurd increase of sexual violence. It makes men rape “even” when they’re married to the person. It isn’t only the catcall, it is a whole system. There is a gap in the speech of those who defend catcalling, pick-up lines and harassment: it doesn’t say that it also serves as an excuse for the disgusting comments day to day, and which also serves to reinforce the idea of woman as an object, an object to be evaluated. Rated and exposed, of course, look how hot she is! Oh, that short dress! The justification of the dress also falls on the old argument used in the situation of “she teased him” and “she deserved it” in cases of rape. You do not get to that extreme, of course. You never come, you respect (?) that girl. She is raped by another guy, for sure. Not you. She dresses to tease you and she wants the kind of reaction that you naturally have, it’s normal, everyone has this same reaction. And “some of them” love to be called “hot”, according to the same argument. It is not acceptable that to make really clear your masculinity, it involves harassment against someone’s body said loudly, almost shouting. And if there are women who only feel good when they receive the evaluation from

a stranger while walking down a street, they are far from the majority and we have another problem.

Another context Based on this topic, some comics by Deena would not make any sense - after all, a burqa, niqab, chador prevent such behavior. However, there’s the same shitty speech in favor of domination, in different places.

“It’s a matter of desire and expression of interest” Oh, if it was only a matter of desire... The catcalling and harassment are just a few more statements that you have the “right” to expose what you found beautiful. A beautiful thing, an object. You do not care whether to issue a judgment on that woman will affect it positively or negatively, and do not care about the existence of the woman as an individual who has a past, a way to react and may 17

already have heard worse stuff on the street. Believe it or not, these comments are not the greatest joy in our days - on the contrary, the overwhelming majority of women said they do not like it. At this time, it is necessary to remember that most of us women hear these comments since early age (when we are 12 or 13 years old), spoken by much older men, in most of the times, which intimidates many of us. This does not mean you can’t find someone beautiful. But the act of speaking it (shouting it out very loud, in many times) is the privilege, from the moment that only a cisgender man (whose gender is the same as that assigned to them at birth) and straight can put into words and express desire, or evaluation. Not only the women you call “hot” on the street, but the ones you call “fat”. The same straight man feels the urge to say that any person who is in a public place is beautiful and has a body like this or like that. At the time of catcalling, in a square, a street, an avenue, you say your opinion and it’s all very well, thank you. What can’t be forgotten is the part of the privilege that supposedly legitimizes the practice of a group with certain characteristics to do such a thing. The gay man, in turn, does not feel safe to keep the logic of “it’s just a manifestation of my desire / interest” under the risk of situations that we know so well, as the case in which gays were beaten with lamps in Avenida Paulista (even if, in this case highlighted, there was no catcalling or something similar). The woman, in turn, would certainly be considered a slut, in similar situation, 18

for many people from this privileged group, as may be seen in many other situations: dressing a short skirt, etc. This manifestation of desire is only available to a certain group. The transgender woman, gay, lesbian can’t and shouldn’t express that, because most of the reactions wouldn’t be very friendly. After all, have you ever seen “these people” talking about “this kind” of thing? The reactions would be a comment, a certain tone of astonishment, a physical aggression. If this happens repeatedly, as often as it occurs in “demonstrations” as the spontaneous heterosexual man, the situation would change.

“Men also suffer from it” Sexism also affects men, and this is nothing new for a good part of feminists. Since childhood, the boy learns that men do not cry, that men need to show how manly is that certain behavior are – even when it’s abusive, yet fully acceptable. Look at that beautiful woman walking on the street! It is not only in the family, but at school, and this behavior is also shared by classmates. In other cases, even at the school, the staff uses the same speech. The pressure for the boy, from the beginning, is linked to expected behaviors and also causes distress or the need to act like this, as a way of affirming their suitability to society, to prove their manhood. In behaviors classified as harassment, the man sees the right to expose his evaluation, as has been said. The same man who, since childhood, heard that this behavior would be more than one of the natural ways to demonstrate his masculinity, especially in public. After all, taking the “initiative” is a typical manly behavior - and to express what you think of that woman at any given time, being it positive or negative, to show to other people the behavior seen as manly. And what about the pressure to do this, to not be considered a loser by friends? If you still think it’s a good way to establish a relationship with the person and interact, which should not be suppressed... Well, a good portion of women goes against this view - and this way of interacting will not work, and will only bother these women. When expressing your desire and evaluation

of a person are so annoying for so many people, you must stop to think about it and women in general suffer from it, even when you have a “different intention”. Although “the other person” is the one who does it, every woman have a story to tell and have seen it dozens of times, since their childhood. Rethinking it is not censorship. Let’s not criminalize catcalling. After all, we only ask for good sense (and respect).

#opinion

Musician- love your work or get another job By Marcelo Renda

You certainly heard someone to say that a musician does not make money. In fact, there are few who manage contracts with record companies and sponsorship of traditional media, but many musicians make a living on music, with great examples, such as Jorge Mário da Silva (Seu Jorge), who was homeless for three years, and finally left it thanks to his songs. Also worth mentioning the musician, craftsman and wanderer Ventania, who lived for two decades making money with the help of his music, in different Brazilian states. In 1932, the greatest icon of Brazilian samba, Noel Rosa, went to a radio show, led by Francisco Alves - “O Rei da Voz” - to compete for a prize. The challenge was composing a samba there, at the exact time, live. At that opportunity came the samba “Estamos Esperando”. Cartola also participated in the same show, and presented to the world, with Noel, the song “Qual foi o mal que eu te fiz?”. But even before that (and before!), exactly in 1816, one of the world’s best known songs was written to pay a debt. Nothing less than the opera “Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville) was composed by Gioachino Rossini in less than two weeks. Many people ever heard (and sang!) the aria “Largo al factotum”, where the character Figaro insistently repeats his name. Briefly, musicians always sold their art. But it is getting worse.

Sell Out! It’s an English expression for bands or artists who abandon their style, and 20

Cartola

Ubirajara Derttmar

become “only commercial”. And this is a reason to believe that artists are less involved with their compositions, going against their principles or even abruptly changing many aspects, so that they have greater commercial acceptance. The album “ Metallica”, known as “The Black Album” - featured major changes in the band’s musical style, which many considered as selling out with fast riffs, guttural and complex melodies, such as “Whiplash” and “Battery”, marks the previous albums were replaced by more melodic songs and theoretically more commercial, like “Enter Sandman “ and “Nothing Else Matters”. Despite the criticism of some of the fans, the disc has reached, since its launch in 1991, the mark of 28 million copies sold, currently occupying the 26th place among the best-selling albums of all time. Other rock bands, some of the most accepted by the public, are also considered more commercial, such as Green Day, Simple Plan and Avenged Sevenfold . In Brazil, a famous case of sell out includes the rapper Emicida, who early

in his career had a speech against the control of the major media, but recently joined the system and made participation in programs such as Altas Horas and TV Xuxa - all that are part of Rede Globo. Some rappers, such as Cabal and Nocivo Shomon, even wrote songs condemning this attitude of Emicida. Almost every band with a huge time on the road changes its style a little during the years and the different works, looking for their maturity - and this is perfectly normal. But it is difficult to accept that the music completely changes from one album to another - it stops being passionate, and seems to be created just to sell. Every musician should rather be recognized for his or her work and earn from it. But in a style such as rap, when a singer takes the role of idol and serves as an example for many young people in the suburbs it can’t be correct to set aside the character and ideologies. However, even worse than adapting music for it to be sold, is treating it as a business from the beginning, as happens, for example, with the singers launched by Disney in the last decade. And there are many: Hilary Duff , Selena Gomez, Demi Lovato, Vanessa Hudgens, Miley Cyrus, Ashley Tisdale, Jonas Brothers, Julie, Taylor Swift, etc. It all composing and producing countless songs similar in subject, melody, structure...

The songs have never been so simple! Anyone who plays an instrument can confirm: the popular songs of our time are relatively easy to perform, if it’s on guitar, keyboard or any other instrument than the older popular songs.

Increasingly, the wealth of compositions has been losing quality, and the songs are more alike, more repetitive. And that goes for both the international scene as for Brazil. Outside, pop artists with remarkable composition of very low quality, such as Nicki Minaj and Miley Cyrus, and their songs (apparently) are not enough to hold the audience’s attention if they’re not repetitive. Along with this, come clearly commercial bands such as RBD, Jonas Brothers and One Direction, which have only one purpose for their music: profit. And along with that comes the simplicity of ordinary compositions: the rhythm of pop music is always very similar, and most of the compositions of bands can be summarized as four chords in a guitar, and have very few instruments. In Brazil, it is not much different. An entire generation of artists recently launched are in favor of this repetitive profile for music. They all have great influence in the media, all with great support from Rede Globo: Naldo, Anitta, MC Koringa... And they are now being idolized. The video for “Show das Poderosas” already has 59 million views on Youtube in four months, and the singer’s Facebook page has surpassed 4 million likes. In one of today’s most popular rhythms, the “sertanejo universitário”, we see again the four chords. Lyrically, there’s no need of any comment, but it worthies mentioning some of the refrains we hear playing there: Tchê - tchê - re-re - tchê - tchê... Extreme simplicity and repetition.

should prevail, whether rock, samba or your other style. Do not treat art as some monotonous and repetitive work. Besides the love of music, notable Brazilian composers like Noel Rosa, Cartola and Vadico were also proficient poets. They also had one of its unique management tools - mandolins, guitars, pianos. So, dear musician, take time to your music studies and also study poetry. When creating a new melody, do so to challenge yourself. Love your work, or get another job!

MancheteAtual

Anitta

Solução? It is the public who decides the fate of an artist. If one is not heard - it does not sell. They disappear from media. Given the current scenario, one appeal to musicians and music lovers: do not give fame to commercial songs! Avoid the most playing them and they won’t be that sold. Whatever style of music you prefer, there are songs made with care and dedication. Just a search on the internet makes it much easier. It is the only way to increase again the quality of popular music! Not every song that has to be complex, and, of course, the artist can sell his art. But we got to a point where in many cases the art is gone, and it left only trade (and that’s pitiful). The love for music 22

#proseandpoetry

Being a poet Your life being discovered Being the streets Being yours Being thine Cultivate the nothing Underscoring the beyond Against everything that once disappears The liquid dries The veins spill Blood vessels pour out Being the poet Being strong And have poise Being the path Being the north Polar Or square Rectangular, whatever At least one Coordinate

Jaqueline Araújo studies Building

No center Not even Thread A nightly breeze A guide You’re life You’re all You’re the cure that silences The ditch and the grave You’re the feather’s weight You’re the smooth vein

and Construction at Liceu de Artes e Ofícios de São Paulo. She writes, reads and breathes poetry.

#photocontext

Graffiti in Germany Victoria Azevedo studies Journalism at PUC-SP and loves photography. During her trip to Europe, she photographed graffiti in Berlin.

contexto