Tingir de permanência o efêmero: as representações da cidade brasileira nos guias de viagens estrangeiros (1880-1930)

Abstract

This dissertation aims to analyze foreign travel guides and diaries about Brazil published between the 1880s and 1930s. The purpose of examining this body of literature is to investigate the dominant representations of Brazilian cities in these accounts. This is made possible by the fact that, by the late nineteenth century, travel literature underwent significant shifts in its approach: beyond emphasizing commercial and diplomatic aspects or describing the country's natural landscape, cities and their built environments became central subjects of observation and narration. The remarks on the most significant aspects of the urban landscape—recorded over the course of months or within just a few hours—offer insight into the transformations Brazilian cities underwent during this period. These include modernization efforts, the demolition of colonial urban structures, and the introduction of technical infrastructure, among others. Rather than dismissing these accounts as mere clichés or interpreting them as unidimensional narratives, this dissertation seeks to highlight their status as transcultural texts. The travel guides, therefore, trace a dichotomy between the enduring architecture and urban practices of the old city and the emergence of a modernizing landscape.