Ageism and samba school:

representation of old age in Marquês de Sapucaí

Abstract

Given the adversities caused by increasingly explicit ageism in society, especially after the recent experience of the Covid-19 pandemic, the purpose of this article is to discuss the representation of old age in some emblematic samba school parades in Rio de Janeiro. When analyzing representations of elderly people in sculptures from these parades, starting in the 2000s, the work discusses notions of identity and memory. The shuffling of narratives, new cuts and the understanding of the importance of carnival permeate this object, which makes us think about cultural identity as a connection to the social collective, or the creation of a sense of belonging – which leads us to present, among the results, a reflection on the impacts and transformations of culture on old age, according to the popular manifestations of the Rio carnival. In this way, it is concluded that cultural forces remain at their maximum emphasis, that of being present as a form of social connection and belonging and organizing powers.