Exploring images of otherness through cinema: Analysis of counter-visualities in Portuguese films

Isabel Macedo; Luiza Lins; Tiago Vieira da Silva; Rosa Cabecinhas

Isabel Macedo Communication and Society Research Centre, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
Luiza Lins Communication and Society Research Centre, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
Tiago Vieira da Silva Communication and Society Research Centre, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
Rosa Cabecinhas Communication and Society Research Centre, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

Keywords: social representations, art, cinema, otherness

Abstract

In the contemporary context, where cultural flows intensify, studies on images of otherness can play an important role in reflecting on imaginary dimensions of social representations, as well as in contesting the multiple axes of exclusion. Cinema can be a privileged arena for such studies, as it is situated between the plural universes of media and art, reflecting and often anticipating the trends of its time. In this paper, we analyse the role of cinema as a space for the construction, reproduction, and (re)construction of social representations of identity and migratory experiences. We performed an exploratory analysis of all publicly funded film production in Portugal from 2018 to 2022. In the 359 film synopses analysed, the absence of important terms such as “racism” or “social discrimination” stands out, even in films that address displacement experiences and inclusion difficulties. However, we identified counter-hegemonic images and narratives among the productions, especially considering identity representations. Three films were selected for in-depth analysis: Fruit of Thy Womb, by Fábio Silva (2021); Bustarenga, by Ana Maria Gomes (2019) and Nha Sunhu, by José Magro (2021). In the analyses, we discussed the “language of images” and how the productions portray issues such as intercultural and intergenerational dialogue, gender stereotypes and racism, considering factors such as distance, angle, and gaze. We highlight the importance of greater visibility for films like these, capable of expanding the discussion of important social issues and combating the asymmetric circulation of stories and memories, a crucial factor for social change.

Author Biographies

Isabel Macedo, Communication and Society Research Centre, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

ISABEL MACEDO is an Assistant Researcher at the Communication and Society Research Centre (CECS), University of Minho. Holds a PhD in Cultural Studies, graduation, and a master’s degree in educational sciences. Her current research critically engages intercultural communication and decolonial perspectives to explore the challenges of contemporary migrations and the representations conveyed by cinema. She is Co-PI of the project “Migrations, media and activisms in Portuguese language: decolonising mediascapes and imagining alternative futures” (MediaMigraActs, FCT, 2022-2026). ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4107-3997.

Luiza Lins, Communication and Society Research Centre, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

LUIZA LINS is a postdoctoral fellow at the Communication and Society Research Centre (CECS), University of Minho. She holds a PhD in Social Psychology from the Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB). She completed a PhD internship at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)/Spain, where she developed research activities with the Department of Social Anthropology and Social Psychology. She has developed research on intergroup relations, social representations, intersectionalities, prejudice and social identities. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6131-9264.

Tiago Vieira da Silva, Communication and Society Research Centre, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

TIAGO VIEIRA DA SILVA has a degree in Cinema and Audiovisual and a PhD in Communication Sciences from the University of Minho. He teaches the course Cinema and Audiovisual, at the Artistic School of Porto. He is a researcher at the Centro de Estudos Arnaldo Araújo (CEAA/ESAP) and at the Communication and Society Research Centre (CECS). He has researched and published on cinema (namely Portuguese cinema) and its relationship with identities and memory.

Rosa Cabecinhas, Communication and Society Research Centre, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal

ROSA CABECINHAS has a degree in Psychology (University of Lisbon), a master’s degree in social psychology (University Institute of Lisbon), and a PhD in Psychosociology of Communication and Aggregation in Communication Sciences (University of Minho). She is a professor at the Department of Communication Sciences of the Institute of Social Sciences of the University of Minho and a researcher at the Communication and Society Research Centre (CECS). Her main research interests combine intercultural communication, social memory, social representations, social identities, and social discrimination. She is the PI of the project “Migrations, media and activisms in Portuguese language: decolonising mediascapes and imagining alternative futures” (MediaMigraActs, FCT, 2022-2026). ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1491-3420