Representação da homossexualidade e da negritude na telenovela A Próxima Vítima

uma reflexão crítica na historiografia da teledramaturgia brasileira

Abstract

The telenovela A Próxima Vítima, written by Silvio de Abreu, produced and broadcast by TV Globo in 1995, brought to light central issues regarding the representation of homosexuality and Black identity on Brazilian television. The production was groundbreaking in portraying, for the first time, an upper-middle-class Black family, breaking with stereotypes historically present in national television drama. Additionally, it included the character Jefferson (played by Lui Mendes), a young homosexual facing prejudice and social challenges. To understand the impact of these representations, this article engages with the perspectives of George Reid Andrews (1998), who examines racial dynamics in Brazil, Douglas Kellner (2001), who explores the media as a field of ideological and cultural disputes, and Joel Zito de Araújo (2004), who analyzes the invisibility and stereotypes of the Black population in Brazilian media. Based on these theoretical references, the analysis investigates how A Próxima Vítima contributed to the debate on diversity and inclusion in the media, considering its advancements and limitations. The study also assesses the telenovela’s reception by the public and critics, reflecting on the importance of television drama in shaping social imaginaries and fostering discussions on identity, race, and sexuality in Brazil.