Dogma, tabu, pânico moral

The soap operas Pecado mortal (2013-2014), by Alexandre Avancini, and Topíssima (2019), by Rudi Lagemann, from TV Record, A dona do pedaço (2019), by Amora Mautner, from TV Globo, as well as in cinema O filme dos espíritos (2011), by André Marouço and Michel Dubret, As mães de Chico Xavier (2011), by Glauber Filho and Halder Gomes, and Deixe-me viver (2016), by Clóvis Vieira, form a group of productions that addressed the controversial and avoided topic of abortion over the past decade. The comparative analysis of these productions in the face of a historical contextualization exposes the close connection between the media culture and the growing participation of religious groups in the National Congress, at a time of local and global political setbacks in the welfare state. In addition, they import and adapt the soft power formula that Hollywood disseminates in line with the political dynamics of Washington and its evangelical lobbies. To varying degrees, these productions encourage embarrassment and guilt in women when faced with the possibility of terminating a pregnancy, in ways comparable to those of melodrama and horror film genres. Their plots support the agendas promoted by the evangelical caucus in politics, which aim to criminalize all types of abortion.