The subversive kiss that subverts the small-screen

Abstract

Fictional televised serials, or soap-operas, a popular genre which has been highly successful in Brazil, has allowed greater autonomy for the national audiovisual industry, given that Brazilian T.V networks produce a significant part of the programming shown on prime-time (between 8:00pm and 10:00pm). Since the 70´s, Brazil has been exporting soap-operas to five countries including Latin-American and socialist countries. The persistence of elements of popular culture and the presence of original narrative elements from recognized forms, such as literature de cordel, vaudeville, radio plays, and modern novels have ensured the success of the soap opera in everyday Brazilian culture and in that of other countries. This article shows, by way of analyses of the circulation and consumption of audiovisual media, within the perspective of cultural studies, and feminist and gender studies, the media controversy in relation to the representation of gender, especially of sexuality in “female old age”. This occurs through the creation of plots and characters who assume their homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality and even, by dislocating content which belonged to the private sphere into the public domain which operates as well in the opposite direction, saturating the public space with themes restricted to the intimate sphere.