Art as a tool for discoursing memory and resistance: the case of the Military Regime in Brazil

Abstract

This article examines the dispute over memory during the Brazilian civil-military dictatorship (1964-1985), with an emphasis on art as a tool of resistance. The primary issue is how artists and intellectuals confronted censorship and repression, while keeping alive the memory of those who fought for democracy. The goal is to analyze the contribution of art, particularly in the documentary Cadê Heleny?, which portrays the journey of activist Heleny Guariba. The research is justified by the importance of preserving collective memory. The methodology used is the qualitative analysis of significant fragments from the documentary, linking the relationship between memory politics and art, highlighting some intrinsic potentials of documentary cinema. The results show that art not only represented the protest against injustices but also shaped collective consciousness, contributing to democrati-zation and justice efforts in post-dictatorship Brazil. The approach explores documentary cinema as a tool of resistance, offering an alternative narrative to the official history.