The document discusses the representation of ethnicity, specifically Brazilian ethnicity, in the film City of God. It notes that the Brazilian people are often portrayed negatively, associated with gangs, and have to cope with high crime and violence. However, some positive representations also exist, such as a community celebration scene. Overall, the representation focuses more on poverty, crime, and gang conflicts rather than the happier community spirit one might associate with Brazil. The audience is left with an impression that Brazilians live in constant gang-related crime and violence with little opportunity for positive change.

1. Representation of Ethnicity

2. How is Ethnicity (Brazilian) Represented?

 The people are generally portrayed in a very negative way, with the
majority of character having negative features, and nearly all of the
‘good’ or better characters dying.
 People within the favela are closely associated with gangs, this has a
negative connotation as the gangs highlight conflict between same
race.
 The people are tougher than most though, as they have to cope with
a high level of crime and violence. This is a positive thing, but the
way they adapt is not always positive – Knockout Ned is a good
example of this with the change from working an acceptable job, to
joining the gang, to breaking the one rule.
 Benny’s leaving party is another example of a positive
representation, as we see the whole of the favela come together as a
community and celebrate – this is likely to be what the audience
expect to see when thinking about Brazil. Yet this this event is
ruined by drug related violence

3. Good scenes

 The opening scene allows us to absorb aspects of the Brazilian
culture that the audience may be unfamiliar with.
 The motel scene shows the difference between rich and
poor, and that the people of City of God are most definitely in
poverty.
 The scene where Knockout Ned breaks his one rule – a good
portrayal of how City of God changes it’s people.
 The scene where Knockout Ned is shot by a child in his gang, a
negative representation of the people, revenge and same
gang/race conflict.
 Benny’s leaving party, this challenges the general theme of the
film but coincides with what the audience expect from Brazil.

4. What might be challenging about the
representation of Ethnicity (Brazilian)?

 The City of God representation of ethnicity is not the
one we see as outsiders to Brazil.
 We would expect to see a happier community
thinking about Brazilian festivals – the great
community spirit.
 Overall there is a poor representation of positive
ethnic change.

5. What the audience take from this
film about Ethnicity (Brazilian)?

 They would probably think Brazil and Brazilians
weren’t very nice people and that they were
swamped with gang crime (Carrot’s gang, Li’Ze’s
gang and the runts) Gang crime appears inescapable
and is the highlighted with in the favela.
 Character use racist language towards each other
even when they are the same race. The police use
words like ‘niggers’ to describe those who they are
trying to catch.