Cultural Dilemmas behind Strategy: Brazilian Neighbourhood Movements and Catholic Discourse

Mass Consumption and Urban Contest in Brazil: Some Reflections on Lifestyle and Class

“…Elsewhere (Banck, 1990: 84-85), I take John Friedmann to task about the supposed popular neighbourhood dwellers' 'existential rationality' which opposes capitalism's 'hyper rationality' (Friedmann, 1989: 218-219). I think Hannerz's root metaphor of 'creole culture' points toward the creative reworking by 'locals' of cultural flows of the global centre, not mirnicry.…”

Between ‘traditional’ and ‘new’ Catholic church religious discourses in urban, Western Mexico

“…However, the case of evangelisation in some colonias populares shows a way in which these theological principles, once applied to local practice, change. The labels of 'new' and 'traditional' Church are used, in CEBs discourse, to construct a notion of the 'other', as opposed to the 'self ' of the CEBs (Banck, 1989;Todorov, 1984). However the 'other' and the 'self ' are not always internally homogenous and so sharply separate.…”

“…Devil is part of a discourse related to human suffering, and to the definition and boundaries of human and non-human agents (Parkin, 1985: 11, 12) and is part of both moral and ontological language (Pocock, 1985). In the case of the CEBs, el Diablo is associated with the 'other', outside of the community, embracing notions of capitalist exploitation, and of individualism versus notions of brotherhood and solidarity (Banck, 1989). It is also a form of thinking, an attitude to life which incorporates egoism or selfishness: it is 'pensar en uno mismo' (think about oneself ).…”

“…. The CEBs are groups of biblical interpretation organised at the street level based on 'residential vicinity and local knowledge'(Banck, 1989: 13) and they are inspired by principles of the Theology of Liberation (see below).Between 'traditional' and 'new' Catholic church …”