CORPORALITURAS: Performances Artísticas e Intelectuais de quem faz do corpo poesia

Abstract

This thesis investigates the poetic dimension of Black Deaf literature through the theory of “corporalitura”, a central concept that articulates the body and literature as the primary field of expression. The research is structured around the analysis of the poetic and performative works of poets Edinho Santos and Gabriela Grigolom, whose creations and performances challenge the boundaries of traditional literature by integrating sign language (Libras), gesturality, and bodily movement into poetic discourse. Consequently, it was necessary to redefine the conception of poetry, traditionally linked to Portuguese and oralism. The thesis is organized into five chapters that explore different facets of Black Deaf literature, with an emphasis on “corporalitura”, which posits that the body is not merely a vehicle of expression but also the literary medium itself. The first chapter examines the intersection of racism and deafness, reflecting on the historical impact of the Milan Congress (1880) and its consequences for the visibility and recognition of Deaf culture in Brazil. The second chapter focuses on the work of Edinho Santos and Gabriela Grigolom, exploring how their performances in Slam poetry employ sign language and corporeality to affirm Black and Deaf identities, creating a poetics of resistance. The third chapter delves into the theory of “corporalitura”, analyzing the fusion of sign language and performance and detailing how these elements are organized in the works of poets Negabi and Edinho Santos, transforming the body into a space of resistance and cultural affirmation. The fourth chapter highlights the confrontation of gender, racial, and Deaf oppression in the work of Gabriela Grigolom, emphasizing her role as a political and artistic body and her contribution to the Black Deaf feminist movement. Finally, the fifth chapter is dedicated to analyzing the works of Edinho Santos, focusing on his performative poetics that subvert the stigmas of deafness and Blackness, redefining deafness as a legitimate and empowered identity rather than a deficiency to be corrected. Thus, this research proposes a new way of understanding poetry and Deaf literature, integrating theory, body, performance, and identity, offering a significant contribution to the reconfiguration of social and cultural narratives in Brazil.