Malandragem
Encyclopedia
Malandragem is a Brazil
ian Portuguese
term for a lifestyle of idleness, fast living and petty crime - traditionally celebrated in samba
lyrics, especially those of Noel Rosa
. The exponent of this lifestyle, the malandro , or "bad boy
" (rogue, hustler, rascal, scoundrel), has become significant to Brazilian national identity as a folk hero
, or, rather an anti-hero
. It is common in Brazilian literature
, Brazilian cinema and Brazilian music.
, and cunning and whatever other characteristics which allow for the manipulation of people or results, obtaining the best outcome, in the easiest possible way. Contradicting logical argumentation, labor and honesty, malandragem presupposes that such methods are incapable of generating good outcomes. Those who practice malandragem (o malandro) act in the manner of the popular Brazilian adage, immortalized by Lei do Gerson: “I must take advantage of everything.”
Together with the concept of jeitinho
, malandragem can be considered another typically—but not exclusively—Brazilian mode of social navigation; however, unlike jeitinho, with malandragem the integrity of institutions and individuals is effectively attacked, legally speaking, as malicious. However, successful malandragem presupposes that advantages are gained without the action being perceived. In more popular terms, the malandro dupes the target without him or her knowing he or she has been tricked.
Malandragem is characterized in the Brazilian popular imagination as a tool for individual justice. Facing the forces of perforce oppressive institutions, the individual malandro survives by manipulating people, fooling authorities and sidestepping laws in a way which guarantees his jeopardized well-being. In this way, the malandro is the typical Brazilian hero. Literary examples include Pedro Malasarte and João Grilo.
Like jeitinho, malandragem is an intellectual resource utilized by individuals of little social influence or the socially disadvantaged. This does not impede the equal use of malandragem by those of better social position. Through malandragem, one gains illicit advantages in gambling
, business, and in the totality of his or her social life
. One can consider a malandro the adulterer who convinces a woman of his false fidelity; the employer who finds a way to pay his employees less than what he owes; the player who manipulates his cards and wins the round.
But, despite this apparently egocentrical
of lying and malicious nature, a person who uses the malandragem is not exactly or nescessarily selfish though probably lazy, though not careless with the people around himself. The person that use malandragem to take advantage over another person, normally does not do it with the intent to harm the others people around themselves, but rather only to got their way out of a callous unjust situation, even if sometimes using illegal methods for this, thus making the malandragem a form of wit
, a typical plot device/characteristic of an antihero.
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 Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
term for a lifestyle of idleness, fast living and petty crime - traditionally celebrated in samba
Samba
Samba is a Brazilian dance and musical genre originating in Bahia and with its roots in Brazil and Africa via the West African slave trade and African religious traditions. It is recognized around the world as a symbol of Brazil and the Brazilian Carnival...
lyrics, especially those of Noel Rosa
Noel Rosa
Noel de Medeiros Rosa was a Brazilian songwriter, singer, and guitar/banjo player. One of the greatest names in Brazilian popular music, Noel gave a new twist to samba, combining its Afro-Brazilian roots with a more urban, witty language and making it a vehicle for ironic social commentary.Noel...
. The exponent of this lifestyle, the malandro , or "bad boy
Bad boy (archetype)
The bad boy, cad or bounder is a cultural archetype of a male who behaves badly, especially towards women.Being a promiscuous rogue may be as successful a reproductive strategy as the strategy of being a reliable provider. Evolutionary psychologist Professor Bill von Hippel claims that women are...
" (rogue, hustler, rascal, scoundrel), has become significant to Brazilian national identity as a folk hero
Folk hero
A folk hero is a type of hero, real, fictional, or mythological. The single salient characteristic which makes a character a folk hero is the imprinting of the name, personality and deeds of the character in the popular consciousness. This presence in the popular consciousness is evidenced by...
, or, rather an anti-hero
Anti-hero
In fiction, an antihero is generally considered to be a protagonist whose character is at least in some regards conspicuously contrary to that of the archetypal hero, and is in some instances its antithesis in which the character is generally useless at being a hero or heroine when they're...
. It is common in Brazilian literature
Brazilian literature
Brazilian literature is written in the Portuguese language by Brazilians or in Brazil, even if prior to Brazil's independence from Portugal, in 1822...
, Brazilian cinema and Brazilian music.
Characteristics
"Malandro" could be defined as someone who:- Never works and lives off scams; a con manConfidence trickA confidence trick is an attempt to defraud a person or group by gaining their confidence. A confidence artist is an individual working alone or in concert with others who exploits characteristics of the human psyche such as dishonesty and honesty, vanity, compassion, credulity, irresponsibility,...
- Is unfaithful and, sometimes, aggressive towards women;
- Leads a bohemianBohemianA Bohemian is a resident of the former Kingdom of Bohemia, either in a narrow sense as the region of Bohemia proper or in a wider meaning as the whole country, now known as the Czech Republic. The word "Bohemian" was used to denote the Czech people as well as the Czech language before the word...
life of only fun and pleasureHedonismHedonism is a school of thought which argues that pleasure is the only intrinsic good. In very simple terms, a hedonist strives to maximize net pleasure .-Etymology:The name derives from the Greek word for "delight" ....
; - Is lazy, sluggish;
- Cheats and deceives in order to prevail; a tricksterTricksterIn mythology, and in the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a god, goddess, spirit, man, woman, or anthropomorphic animal who plays tricks or otherwise disobeys normal rules and conventional behavior. It is suggested by Hansen that the term "Trickster" was probably first used in this...
.
Definition
Malandragem is defined as an aggregation of strategies utilized in order to gain advantage in a determined situation (these advantages are often illicit). It is characterized by savoir faire and subtlety. Its execution demands aptitude, charismaCharisma
The term charisma has two senses: 1) compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others, 2) a divinely conferred power or talent. For some theological usages the term is rendered charism, with a meaning the same as sense 2...
, and cunning and whatever other characteristics which allow for the manipulation of people or results, obtaining the best outcome, in the easiest possible way. Contradicting logical argumentation, labor and honesty, malandragem presupposes that such methods are incapable of generating good outcomes. Those who practice malandragem (o malandro) act in the manner of the popular Brazilian adage, immortalized by Lei do Gerson: “I must take advantage of everything.”
Together with the concept of jeitinho
Jeitinho
Jeitinho is an expression for the way of doing things by circumventing rules and social conventions. It is a typically Brazilian method of social navigation where an individual can use emotional resources , blackmail, family ties, promises, rewards or money to obtain favors or to get an...
, malandragem can be considered another typically—but not exclusively—Brazilian mode of social navigation; however, unlike jeitinho, with malandragem the integrity of institutions and individuals is effectively attacked, legally speaking, as malicious. However, successful malandragem presupposes that advantages are gained without the action being perceived. In more popular terms, the malandro dupes the target without him or her knowing he or she has been tricked.
Malandragem is characterized in the Brazilian popular imagination as a tool for individual justice. Facing the forces of perforce oppressive institutions, the individual malandro survives by manipulating people, fooling authorities and sidestepping laws in a way which guarantees his jeopardized well-being. In this way, the malandro is the typical Brazilian hero. Literary examples include Pedro Malasarte and João Grilo.
Like jeitinho, malandragem is an intellectual resource utilized by individuals of little social influence or the socially disadvantaged. This does not impede the equal use of malandragem by those of better social position. Through malandragem, one gains illicit advantages in gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
, business, and in the totality of his or her social life
Interpersonal relationship
An interpersonal relationship is an association between two or more people that may range from fleeting to enduring. This association may be based on limerence, love, solidarity, regular business interactions, or some other type of social commitment. Interpersonal relationships are formed in the...
. One can consider a malandro the adulterer who convinces a woman of his false fidelity; the employer who finds a way to pay his employees less than what he owes; the player who manipulates his cards and wins the round.
But, despite this apparently egocentrical
Egocentrism
Egocentrism is a personality trait which has the characteristic of regarding oneself and one's own opinions or interests as most important or valid...
of lying and malicious nature, a person who uses the malandragem is not exactly or nescessarily selfish though probably lazy, though not careless with the people around himself. The person that use malandragem to take advantage over another person, normally does not do it with the intent to harm the others people around themselves, but rather only to got their way out of a callous unjust situation, even if sometimes using illegal methods for this, thus making the malandragem a form of wit
Wit
Wit is a form of intellectual humour, and a wit is someone skilled in making witty remarks. Forms of wit include the quip and repartee.-Forms of wit:...
, a typical plot device/characteristic of an antihero.