Language As Art Object: Africa in the Museums of the Portuguese Language--Brazil and Portugal

Abstract

A língua portuguesa é um patrimônio contencioso. Este ensaio apresenta o resultado de um trabalho de investigação comparada entre o Museu da Língua Portuguesa, em São Paulo, e os projetos de museus homólogos em Lisboa. O foco da investigação é a representação da África na meta-narrativa da língua portuguesa, em uma nova e potencialmente inovadora esfera, a das Artes. O ensaio procurará identificar as instâncias de continuidade e reconfiguração do império na imaginação da África no âmbito destas iniciativas de musealização do patrimônio imaterial (trans)nacional.This essay sets out to analyze the vectors of continuity and reconfiguration of the Portuguese empire in the narratives of the Portuguese language in its two hegemonic spaces, and within a new sphere, that of the Arts. It will explore the language narratives as they materialized in the Museu da Língua Portuguesa in São Paulo, and in the convoluted trajectory of its homologous museum's projects in Lisbon. The main focus of this comparative analysis is how Africathe one that belongs to the contemporary Portuguese and Brazilian imaginaries-has been represented in these museums. The object of analysis is therefore the imagination of Africa in Brazil and Portugal. Introductory NoteOn December 21st, 2015 the Museum of the Portuguese Language in São Paulo was partially destroyed by a tragic fire, which cost the life of a firefighter. Since then it has remained closed.