Against order?

Urban culture and stigma in Rio de Janeiro

Abstract

Considering the continuity of the slum as “social problem” in the city ordinance, the interaction between favela residents and non residents becomes important point for the issues discussed in this article. In this case, it is interesting to understand, as from events occurring in situations of face to face interaction formed representations of certain groups. This article reconstitute events in the 90s, realizing that this period is an important break with previous views on slum dwellers in the city and suburbs of Rio de Janeiro, especially the construction of the “funkeiro” as the enemy of urban order. The concept of stigma is central to the arguments that will be presented. The article is based on document analysis, interviews with patrons, artists and slum dwellers to understand how the construction and subsequent criminalization of funkers was decisive actions of the Secretariat of Public Security of the State of Rio de Janeiro in the 90s and early 2000s.