Peripheral poetics and soirées: alternative literary circuits in Salvador

Abstract

The objective of this article is to analyze how contemporary Brazilian literature has been impacted by the peripheral poetics that emerge through saraus. The peripheral saraus of Salvador have brought to the center of the literary scene spaces and subjects that were previously marginalized and not seen as protagonists in literature. From this movement, questions about the status of the literary have begun to be raised by writers and critics. How has this insertion transformed contemporary literature in the 21st century? In recent years, the city has experienced an unprecedented literary creative flow, driven by the dissemination of saraus in the peripheries. These cultural initiatives, born from the collective mobilization of peripheral subjects, have reconfigured contemporary Soteropolitan literature since the 2000s. Marginalized spaces and voices gain prominence, contributing to a more plural, dynamic, and inclusive Brazilian literature. Saraus, and later slams, bring forth new forms of poetic creation and appreciation, where body, performance, and the audience become essential elements. The presence of the audience in this context is not merely ancillary; it serves as a thermometer that directly influences the poet's creation, transforming the relationship between author and work. For the preparation of this article, a qualitative approach was chosen, allowing for an in-depth examination of the practice of oral poetry and its relevance in the context of contemporary peripheral poetry. Additionally, the research will be supported by a literature review of authors such as Garramuño (2014a), Tennina (2017), and Paz (2022), and complemented by ethnographic research. I adopt an ethnographic perspective.