Figures of the Modern in Brazilian Theater

This article investigates the different nuances of the term modern in Brazilian theater criticism, seeking to map the main variations and their implications for the analysis of the drama in Brazil. Through examination of materials from press pages and books of the 19th and 20th centuries, studies dedicated to the history of Brazilian theater, and remarks on the concept of the modern made by researchers like Hans Robert Jauss, this text seeks to present the widespread use of the term, applied to different productions in the Brazilian theatrical context. Consequently, we propose to reflect on the modern in Brazilian theater as a fruitful inquiry into the various aesthetic influences that transformed the country’s stage and dramaturgy.