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| A congregation based in Rio de Janiero worshiping and head banging (The Guardian) |
By: Daniela Ochoa
In Sam Dunn’s “Global Metal”
documentary Carlos Lopes says that heavy metal in Brazil basically becomes a
religion to a lot of Brazilians. Heavy metal came right after Brazil’s
dictatorship ended, and it was there for people who wanted freedom of speech
and democracy. I am very curious as to what extent people actually “worship”
heavy metal music in Brazil. The word “religion” comes from the Latin word
‘ligare”, which means to bind or connect. This connection can be seen between
Brazilians and heavy metal. Christianity, more specifically Roman Catholicism,
is the largest religion in Brazil. According
to Katrina Lavender, an anthropologist from the University of Southampton, “Globally, people unite to watch
metal concerts. The unity of the metal subculture in concert attendance is
similar to that of a religious pilgrimage” (Lavender). She also references Sam
Dunn’s and mentions, “In the film ethnography of Sam Dunn, Flight 666, fans in Colombo attended an Iron Maiden concert in a
comparable fashion to the way some religious practitioners attend worship
services” (Lavender). In the same vein, many Brazilian fans quit their jobs and
homes to travel hundreds of miles through jungle to see the band perform. These
actions show how the subculture is like a religion, and the attendance of
concerts is a modern form of pilgrimage, a spiritual journey” (Lavender). This pilgrimage can be compared to Mecca for those
who are Muslim. Heavy metal is so
idolized in Brazil that there is even a church of Iron Maiden: “Church of Iron
Maiden in Brazil by pastor Marcos Motolo, in which he performs sermons around
the morality of Iron Maiden lyrics, regarding himself as Father Iron Maiden” (Lavender).
Many heavy metal groups
include religion in their music but not necessarily positively. They like to
challenge the beliefs of mainstream religions, mostly Christianity, and their
legitimacy. Religion is a constant theme in a lot of heavy metal even though
most bands are not religious themselves. Heavy metal in Brazil is heavily
idolized and maybe to the point of making it a religion.
References
Lavender,
Katrina. "Heavy Metal As Surrogate Religion – Exploring The Metal
Subculture (Katrina Lavender)". Esthesis.Org, 2018, http://esthesis.org/heavy-metal-as-surrogate-religion-exploring-religious-aspects-of-heavy-metal-subculture-katrina-lavender/.
Accessed 3 Nov 2018.
Dunn, Sam.
“Global Metal.” IMDb,
IMDb.com, 20 June 2008, www.imdb.com/title/tt1249171/.
10 comments:
I find this interesting because I did not know heavy metal was so idolized in Brazil. I knew it was very popular of course but did not know it involved religion.
I would have never thought that heavy metal was a big thing in Brazil. I'm not quite sure what I thought Brazilians listened to, but this wasn't it. Not that its a bad thing. It's just really interesting.
-Kyla Thomas
Its amazing how Heavy Metal is so popular in Brazil, that there's a church that preaches and promotes it as well.Im not a big fan of Heavy mental but id love to visit and find out more about their choice of music.
-Jasmine Busby
I like a they are expressing their selves through it, it's interesting seeing that they idolize heavy metal, i dont hear about it all here in america.
Lavonza Marshall
I am wondering if including heavy metal in religion was seen as a way of challenging its belief system , does that mean those who quit their jobs share this same thought process? Or, do they really just enjoy the music?
Joell Davis
I didn't know that Brazil was really into Heavy Metal. When I think of music of music from Brazil I think of pop, reggae etc. I like their dedication to express how they feel about Heavy Metal. I never thought of anyone worshiping music
heavy meatal is important to the Brazilian culture and has been around for years for generation great article about metal music
Reuben Nichols
I was so surprised reading this post because I had no idea that people from brazil or any country in south America listen to heavy metal. I thought they type of music was only one type of music that every one listened to. You also that people worship those type of things which I found to also to surprising. Do you know if the heavy metal songs sang by the people there would be accepted in American heavy metal groups?
Reuben, that's an interesting question. The answer is yes. As Sam Dunn explains in his ethnographic film, Global Metal, at least one Brazilian metal band is well known and accepted globally.
I don't understand why would people talk bad on there on religion and why they think it's okay to do that ? Why is heavy mental so big in Brazil?
-Jaden Clark
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