Diogo Mainardi
Encyclopedia
Diogo Briso Mainardi (born September 22, 1962) is a Brazil
ian writer, journalist
and TV commentator, mainly known for his articles in Brazil's largest weekly magazine, Veja
.
He was born in São Paulo
, where he finished high school. He went to London
to study economics at the London School of Economics
. Not managing to maintain a passing average, he quit in his freshman year, and never graduated. During that period, he met Ivan Lessa
, whom he regards as one of his greatest influences.
Mainardi previously lived in Venice
, where he met Gore Vidal
who heaped praise on him during a mid-1980s conference tour in Brazil. He has published five books: Malthus (1989), Arquipélago (1992), Polígono das Secas (1995), Contra o Brasil (1998), and A Tapas e Pontapés (2004). None of the first four - all novels - were successes, but his latest book, featuring excerpts of his political articles in Veja, has been proven a commercial success, though showing no improvement in his writing skills. He has also written two screenplays: 16060 (1995) and Mater Dei (2001). Both films were major box-office flops, something Mainardi regularly makes fun of in a self-deprecating manner.
Mainardi has been subject of controversy due to his elitist and far-right political positions. He often criticized Brazil's president, Luís Inácio Lula da Silva (2006-2010), and his party
. Particularly, he liked to insist in Lula's supposed lack of intelligence and finesse. In 2007 Mainardi wrote a book by the name Lula é Minha Anta (Lula is my tapir). (in Brazilian Portuguese slang, "anta" is an insult. When the tapir panics, it is said to run through the forest, trampling whatever is in its way. So to call someone an "anta" is to say that such person is like a stupid animal, who does violent irrational things and cannot be stopped by persuasion http://www.dicionarioinformal.com.br/definicao.php?palavra=anta&id=16249. Or, as Mainardi himself says in the book's earmark, "Lula is mine. Only I can call him ignorant and authoritarian"). Due to his abusive journalistic style and vitriolic comments against Lula - as well as towards those he sees as Lula's supporters - Mainardi has been sued for libel by various politicians and fellow journalists. Journalist Franklin Martins won a 30,000 reais (about 18,000 dollars) cause against him, this decision was subsequently thrown out on an appeal; journalist Mino Carta won a 35,000 reais (about 20,000 dollars) cause.
He is currently a member of a Sunday night cable TV panel show called Manhattan Connection, broadcast by the GNT
channel, a part of Globosat
.
Mainardi maintains a podcast available on the Veja website. He is married and has two sons. The older one, Tito, suffers from cerebral palsy
.
He regularly cites noted Brazilian intellectuals Paulo Francis
and Ivan Lessa
as his mentors.
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian writer, journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and TV commentator, mainly known for his articles in Brazil's largest weekly magazine, Veja
Veja (magazine)
Veja is a Brazilian weekly newsmagazine published in São Paulo and distributed throughout the country by the media conglomerate Grupo Abril. It is the leading weekly publication in the country, and one of the most influential outlets of the Brazilian press...
.
He was born in São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, where he finished high school. He went to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to study economics at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. Not managing to maintain a passing average, he quit in his freshman year, and never graduated. During that period, he met Ivan Lessa
Ivan Lessa
Ivan Pinheiro Themudo Lessa is a Brazilian journalist and writer of American descent. Born in São Paulo, he is the son of the journalist and writer Elsie Lessa and the writer Orígenes Lessa and the father of the British writer Juliana Foster....
, whom he regards as one of his greatest influences.
Mainardi previously lived in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, where he met Gore Vidal
Gore Vidal
Gore Vidal is an American author, playwright, essayist, screenwriter, and political activist. His third novel, The City and the Pillar , outraged mainstream critics as one of the first major American novels to feature unambiguous homosexuality...
who heaped praise on him during a mid-1980s conference tour in Brazil. He has published five books: Malthus (1989), Arquipélago (1992), Polígono das Secas (1995), Contra o Brasil (1998), and A Tapas e Pontapés (2004). None of the first four - all novels - were successes, but his latest book, featuring excerpts of his political articles in Veja, has been proven a commercial success, though showing no improvement in his writing skills. He has also written two screenplays: 16060 (1995) and Mater Dei (2001). Both films were major box-office flops, something Mainardi regularly makes fun of in a self-deprecating manner.
Mainardi has been subject of controversy due to his elitist and far-right political positions. He often criticized Brazil's president, Luís Inácio Lula da Silva (2006-2010), and his party
Workers' Party (Brazil)
The Workers' Party is a democratic socialist political party in Brazil. Launched in 1980, it is recognized as one of the largest and most important left-wing movements of Latin America. It governs at the federal level in a coalition government with several other parties since January 1, 2003...
. Particularly, he liked to insist in Lula's supposed lack of intelligence and finesse. In 2007 Mainardi wrote a book by the name Lula é Minha Anta (Lula is my tapir). (in Brazilian Portuguese slang, "anta" is an insult. When the tapir panics, it is said to run through the forest, trampling whatever is in its way. So to call someone an "anta" is to say that such person is like a stupid animal, who does violent irrational things and cannot be stopped by persuasion http://www.dicionarioinformal.com.br/definicao.php?palavra=anta&id=16249. Or, as Mainardi himself says in the book's earmark, "Lula is mine. Only I can call him ignorant and authoritarian"). Due to his abusive journalistic style and vitriolic comments against Lula - as well as towards those he sees as Lula's supporters - Mainardi has been sued for libel by various politicians and fellow journalists. Journalist Franklin Martins won a 30,000 reais (about 18,000 dollars) cause against him, this decision was subsequently thrown out on an appeal; journalist Mino Carta won a 35,000 reais (about 20,000 dollars) cause.
He is currently a member of a Sunday night cable TV panel show called Manhattan Connection, broadcast by the GNT
GNT
This article is about a Brazilian TV channel. For other uses, see Gnt .GNT is a Brazilian cable/satellite television channel. Originally launched as GNT: Globosat News Television, a news and information network. With the launch of Globo News, in 1996, the GNT acronym became meaningless, and the...
channel, a part of Globosat
Globosat
Globosat is a multichannel cable and satellite TV service in Brazil, created in 1991, after the creation of cable and satellite TV services. It has also operated a channel in Portugal, TV Globo Portugal, having earlier operated a similar channel, GNT Portugal, until 2006...
.
Mainardi maintains a podcast available on the Veja website. He is married and has two sons. The older one, Tito, suffers from cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
.
He regularly cites noted Brazilian intellectuals Paulo Francis
Paulo Francis
Paulo Francis , was a Brazilian journalist, political pundit, novelist and critic....
and Ivan Lessa
Ivan Lessa
Ivan Pinheiro Themudo Lessa is a Brazilian journalist and writer of American descent. Born in São Paulo, he is the son of the journalist and writer Elsie Lessa and the writer Orígenes Lessa and the father of the British writer Juliana Foster....
as his mentors.