From head to toe: the aesthetics of cangaço

For decades, the cangaceiro has populated the collective imagination. Although some see him as a hero, others as a bandit, there is a consensus when we ask anyone to describe the appearance of a cangaceiro, a key element of Northeastern culture, the object of countless studies, writings and the most diverse artistic representations. The popular imagination solidified a certain aesthetic, unmistakable and inseparable semiotic elements of figures such as Lampião, Corisco and Dadá.

In the midst of a vast universe of productions about cangaço, it is difficult to imagine any bias that has not yet been addressed. And that is exactly what Luciano Bonfim does, who brilliantly embarks on a hitherto unexplored path, something that for a less competent researcher could lead to a mere exercise in academic dilettantism. In the case of this book, we are gifted with a very pleasant text and permeated by profound reflections based on a vast theoretical-methodological knowledge.

From head to toe: the aesthetics of cangaço leads us to think about cangaceiros beyond traditional dichotomy and Manichaeism. We can see that there was a whole imagery construction promoted by the cangaceiros themselves, who competently adapted fashion, music, dance and other artistic elements at their disposal to a reality of deprivation, maintaining the aesthetics without losing the utilitarian character.