Porous City A Cultural History of Rio de Janeiro (from the 1810s Onward)

Despite its famous image as a divided city—of wealthy high-rises and the surrounding, poverty-stricken favelas—Rio de Janeiro's culture is a product of profound interaction between classes and races. Bruno Carvalho focuses on one of the most compelling sites of Rio's cultural production—the Cidade Nova, or “New City,” neighborhood—which was razed during World War II for the construction of a grand avenue but is now being rediscovered as Rio prepares for the 2016 Olympic games. Carvalho examines literature, architecture, art, history, and music to show how once marginalized cultural practices—like samba music—have become emblems of national identity, and in doing so he rethinks the history of Rio and its importance to the establishment of Brazil's complex identity.