Um Brasil mulato. Dionísio, Futebol e a Copa do Mundo da FIFA 2014
Abstract
Football plays a central role as a social glue in Brazil, uniting the nation through pride and sports fandom. However, as Roland Barthes points out, myths such as that of “futebol-arte” can be used to justify narratives of cultural exceptionalism that do not always reflect reality. Gilberto Freyre’s allegory, which associates Brazilian football with an imagined national ontology, has become an academic and cultural cornerstone, promoting the idea of a “mulatto futebol-arte” aesthetically distinct from its European counterpart. This narrative, rooted in the Apollonian/Dionysian duality, transcends academic circles and shapes social perceptions, distinguishing “truly Brazilian football” from other practices, even within the country itself. In 2014, the portrayal of a Dionysian, vibrant, and festive Brazil was used to project the nation as a tropical utopia ideal for hosting the event, attracting tourists and justifying the high costs involved.
