Critical Brass: Street Carnival and Musical Activism in Olympic Rio de Janeiro

This ethnography explores political activism of carnival brass bands in Brazil.

Critical Brass tells the story of neofanfarrismo, an activist musical movement in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil shifted from a rising country to one beset by crises in the 2010s. Though middle-class, neofanfarristas adapted carnival theories to advocate for a more democratic city. Author Andrew Snyder argues that festive activism can promote alternatives to neoliberalism, but faces limits and contradictions due to diverse inequalities. This research is conducted by Salwa El-Shawan Castelo-Branco, Professor Emerita, NOVA University of Lisbon.