Vai Malamandra Image Analysis

1) According to the androgynous model Goan Fragoso, who appears in Anitta’s “Vai Malandra” music video, the imagery from the video expresses “attitude, feminine empowerment, sorority, diversity, LGBTQ representativeness, trans visibility, contestation of aesthetic standards, respect, love, unity and solidarity” (G.oan). Brazilian popstar Anitta takes on the role of a favela housemother, transcending the poor communities of the favelas of Rio into imagery of bold colors, beautiful women and men, sexuality, uniqueness and inclusivity. This image from her music video represents women of all types, and yet, debate and backlash has arisen. Ditching her once popularized, white-like qualities, Anitta has embraced her mixed background, producing an image to better represent her blackness. While she has every right to re-tailor her image to fit her mixed background, her change of appearance has left people wondering who is Anitta and what is she actually trying to do? Despite Brazil’s declaration of maintaining a racial …show more content…
Much like the film clip from Vai Trabalhar Vagabundo we witnessed in class, Anitta has transformed into the role of a sexual deviant, manipulating the men and maintaining control in a patriarchal system by the use of her ass. This is where Anitta confirms the description of the malandro, as she doesn’t require help from the men, but the men are in the video to please her and focus upon her sexuality. With this bold engagement of an overtly sexual performance, one has to wonder if this over-sexualized image exploits women and the favelas in some shape or form. Is Anitta confirming women should be viewed in this sexual manner? Should trans women, queer women and/or black women be sexualized with such ease and no consequence (similar to other periods in history)? Anitta makes this sexuality (and exploitation) appear so acceptable and