The exaltation of the work of Machado de Assis and Clarice Lispector recalls the loss of two valuable television programs on literature
“The truly illiterate are those who have learned to read and do not read,” said Mario Quintana, poet, journalist and translator. Unfortunately, millions of Brazilians despise books.
For example, they prefer to take care of other people’s lives on social media. They are too lazy to read more than a photo caption. Many even have literary works at home, as decoration on the bookshelf.
With its strength, television can encourage the creation of new readers, however the initiatives are few. In fact, important spaces have been lost, such as the extinction of the program ‘GloboNews Literatura’ and the suspension of ‘Entrelinhas’ on TV Cultura.
But, suddenly, we are surprised by the contribution of two foreign women to the international promotion of our art of words.
First, North American writer and literary influencer Courtney Henning Novak, 44, posted videos on TikTok praising a classic, “Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas,” by Machado de Assis. “I think it’s the best book I’ve ever read.”
The testimony went viral on the video app, spread to other platforms, and generated press articles. It gave Courtney an invitation to come to São Paulo. This September, she participated in the Jewish Museum Literary Festival, panel discussions, and interviews.
A few days ago, it was the turn of Australian actress Cate Blanchett, 55, winner of two Oscars, to make headlines in Brazil and other countries when she praised the writings of Clarice Lispector at a press conference and when she received an award in Spain. “A simply brilliant Brazilian writer.”
Born in Ukraine, raised between Maceió and Recife, and living in Rio, Clarice is a phenomenon of quotes on the Internet. Many people use quotes from their books and interviews to show off their supposed erudition.
On the one hand, it is a source of pride to see two of our greatest writers recognized by influential foreigners. On the other hand, it is sad to note the need for this validation from outside – reinforcing the average Brazilian’s contempt for his own culture – so that more people here are interested in delving deeper into their work.
A provocation: why don’t the country’s most famous TV artists and influencers recommend books to their huge online audience? Probably because they don’t read or read very little. Posting the look of the day or the dance of the moment guarantees more ‘likes’. Mario Quintana, forgive us.
Source: Terra
Ashley Fitzgerald is a journalist and author at Gossipify, known for her coverage of famous people and their lives. She writes about a wide range of topics, including celebrities, influencers, social media stars, and public figures. Her articles are known for their in-depth analysis and unique perspective. She is respected for her ability to keep readers up to date with the latest news and trends of the famous people.
