Sao Paulo Brazil

City Overview

São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil with a population of 44 million people. 

São Paulo might be considered the cultural center of Brazil, as it is home to many famous authors who have used the city as a basis for their stories. It is also home to many street artists who use the city’s history and urban design within their creations. 

São Paulo is also the largest region within South America as well as the largest Portugese speaking city in the entire world. Our city has also had its share of history shaping how it has become.

Many of the settlers who originally founded São Paulo were from Portugal. Known as bandeirantes (flag bearers) who  sought to improve their own lives back in Portugal through economic endeavors in the region. They made money through the slave trade (here the focus was on indigenous slave labor) and pushing into the interior of Brazil. They eventually also discovered gold and mineral wealth in Minas Gerais. 

Many Paulistas are of European descent with about one-third having African descent. The main religion in this area is Roman Catholicism. São Paulo is also home to the largest Japanese living population outside of Japan. Immigration from Japan took place in the late nineteenth century and focused on the coffee industry. São Paulo has an extremely wide range of demographic races. Those being Italian: 6 million people, Portuguese: 3 million, African(Joao): 1.7 million, Arab: 1 million, Japanese: 665k and Other: 400k.

Currently, the economy of São Paulo is extremely diverse, including high tech,  banking and finance, as well as global trade. There is a sizable middle class population.

In  2018, there was a political shift from the democratic Worker’s Party (PT) to the Social Liberal Party under current president Jair Bolsonaro. Former president Dilma Rouseff was impeached for manipulating public accounts and many political leaders, including Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who had taken her seat were convicted for corruption. 

São Paulo is the economic powerhouse in Brazil and has the largest GDP 16,740 in South America. The economy of the city is based on the service industry where the employment rate has steadily increased 2.3% from 2005 to 2019. Conversely, the employment rate of the agricultural industry is in decline, plummeting 10.5% from 2005 to 2019. Exports and imports have also risen dramatically in the last fifteen years. São Paulo has industrial sectors in automotive vehicles, food, and oil production, such as sugar, diesel, gasoline, and fuel oils. Brazil is still recovering from an economic recession that occurred in 2015 and 2016 where the inflation rate dramatically rose due to the social welfare program that lowered the commodity prices. The same year, political corruption in government officials and private companies imposed sanctions on those firms, which hampered the growth of businesses and contractors. 

The most popular mode of transportation in São Paulo was the usage of buses in the 1990’s. Roughly 75% of São Paulo’s population used buses to accommodate their transportation needs. There is also a lot of traffic due to the fact that approximately 37% of the population used cars to travel. Originally, the São Paulo Metropolitan region was very crowded and increased the emission of pollution. However, when São Paulo implemented the construction of the Metro Line 4 in 2002, it allowed travelers to reach their destination in an efficient and safe manner.  Moreover, Metro Line 4 accelerates the rate of urban mobility along with transporting more than 750,000 people per day. The Metro Line 4 was designed to accommodate 1 million passengers and it incorporates a driverless heavy capacity metro in South America. Based on previous research, there was an increase in passengers taking the train as well. According to more recent research, driving has dominated for the middle and upper class.

São Paulo is distinctive in its prospering economy, consumer market, unique location, and quality of life. Beside other Latin American cities, São Paulo has the largest economic and industrial center of the Southern Hemisphere. Moreover, the city alone accounted for 31% of Brazilian’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Thus, São Paulo is known to be the most wealthy and populous state of Brazil. An interesting fact about São Paulo is that it is the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere. The city is bordered by four states, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná and Rio de Janeiro. More specifically, it is situated on the plateau of the Brazilian Highlands and is located on the shallow basin, in between low mountains. According to the article, “Paulista Agency of Promotion of Competitivity and Investment,” São Paulo has one of the best national performances regarding living conditions. The dynamism and energetic social life is prominent in São Paulo. The city has more than 12,000 restaurants as well as numerous clubs and pubs throughout the city. Thus, it is a main attraction for tourists to visit.

Due to this rising employment of the service industry, João has decided to study Information Technology at the University of São Paulo. With the rising number of employment in computer technology, he wants to learn computer skills and become a software engineer. As a lower-middle class citizen, he strongly wants to make way into the upper-middle class so he can acquire higher living standards to meet basic demands of living. He is planning to move into one of the newly constructed social housing in Heliopolis, due to the lack of infrastructures such as proper electric instant water heating units, sewerage system, and internet provider that are unavailable at his current house. 

Our character João, who is a supporter for the PT also voted for Jair Bolsonaro because he believed that the social liberal party would improve the fallen economy after the Brazilian economic crisis of 2015-2016. Currently, Bolsonaro has changed the tide of the political climate into a more conservative, pro-market approach, loosening restrictions on gun ownership, and calling it a preventative crime measure. His government is divisive and made up by former military officials and radicals who propose ideological government.

Part Two: Character Overview

Most of the information we used based on our character came from our class interviews [see urban dwellers], supplemented by other research. Our character’s political paths and ideals are a major part of what builds his backstory. His views are based on what helps him in his life and betters his life within São Paulo. Our character is of Afro-African and European descent [referred to as mulato].  

Our character’s name is João, who is a male college student who lives within the city of São Paulo.  He affiliates with the lower/middle class given the history of his family and how they were able to start moving up the social ladder. He goes to school at the University of Sao Paulo and studies Information Technology. He lives with his Mom, Dad, and 2 younger siblings. 

 João’s family migrated to São Paulo  from the rural and poorer Northeastern state of Pernambuco. His family came to São Paulo before he was born. They experienced the urbanization that occurred from the 1950’s to the 1980’s.

Agricultural businesses like Sugar Mills were prominent in Pernambuco, but many farmers lost their jobs and their land to wealthier farmers.  His family was one of many who left northeastern Brazil to move to the city for work. 

Metallurgy was the fast growing business sector in the 1960’s, and João’s father worked as a metal worker working in small workshops. Joao’s mother worked in the textile industry, and then eventually as a domestic worker who helped out different households. Although João’s parents were low-skilled workers and started out poor, they were steadily and gradually able to save money which allowed them to buy land and a house in Heliópolis.

In order to understand João’s political views, our group researched scholarly articles and newspaper. João leans towards the workers party, since university students and the working classes  have a tendency to vote for The Workers Party (PT). However, oftentimes João will vote based on what would better suit his needs.

 João specifically wants better public services, equally distributed incomes, health care, and security in his neighborhood. Although Joao is of the lower to middle class and supports the PT, he has been helped by the current government’s financial aid during Covid-19 which gives $110 dollars monthly to poor citizens.  João wants to see an end to political corruption and cronyism. 

Transportation is also a crucial factor within the city and João’s family has a family car that everyone shares and uses together when needed to travel. When unable to drive he will walk/ride his bike to do grocery shopping or to get to a transportation hub. If our character has to travel farther away and does not have accessibility to the family car, he takes the bus instead. However, this is on a rare occasion.

Bibliography for City Overview

Biller, David. “Brazil’s Disappointment .” Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg, 7 June 2019, www.bloomberg.com/quicktake/brazils-highs-lows.

“Brazil: Industrial sector in nine states returns to pre-crisis production level.” Brazil Business News (Brazil), sec. News, 11 Nov. 2020.

“Boosting Quality of Urban Transport Service in São Paulo.” World Bank. 25, April 2019. https://www.worldbank.org/en/results/2019/04/25/boosting-quality-of-urban-transport-service-in-sao-paulo

Ceratti, Mariana. “In Brazil, an Emergent Middle Class Takes Off.” The World Bank, The World Bank, 13 Nov. 2012, www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2012/11/13/middle-class-in-Brazil-Latin-America-report.

Duwe, Morena. “Experience São Paulo through the Fascinating Works of 15 Artists.” CNN Underscored , 24 Mar. 2020, www.cnn.com/2020/03/24/cnn-underscored/sao-paulo-art/index.html.

“Paulista Agency of Promotion of Competitivity and Investments.” Investe SP, www.en.investe.sp.gov.br/why-sao-paulo/.

Richmond, Matthew Aaron. “Narratives of Crisis in the Periphery of São Paulo: Place and Political Articulation during Brazil’s Rightward Turn.” Journal of Latin American Studies, vol. 52, no. 2, May 2020, pp. 241–267.

“San Paulo (Regnum Bueno).” Alternative History, Fandom, althistory.fandom.com/wiki/San_Paulo_(Regnum_Bueno)

“Shaping the Slums: Rethinking Brazil’s Favelas.” BBC Future, BBC, 29 Nov. 2012, www.bbc.com/future/article/20121129-shaping-the-slums.

“The World Factbook: Brazil.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 11 Nov. 2020, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/br.html.

Bibliography for Character Study:

“’A Game of Patience and Persistence’: Life in São Paulo’s Internet Deserts.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 11 Jan. 2019, www.theguardian.com/cities/2019/jan/11/a-game-of-patience-and-persistence-life-in-sao-paulo-internet-deserts.

McCoy, Terrence. “The Coronavirus Has Hammered Brazil. But Somehow, Bolsonaro Is Getting More Popular.” The Washington Post , 24 Aug. 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/brazil-bolsonaro-coronavirus/2020/08/24/47a22cf6-e17a-11ea-8dd2-d07812bf00f7_story.html.

McKie, Anna. “Brazilian Universities Struggle to Go Online amid Covid Denial.” Times Higher Education (THE), Times Higher Education (THE), 17 Aug. 2020, www.timeshighereducation.com/news/brazilian-universities-struggle-go-online-amid-covid-denial.

Novais, Andréa. “Home Appliances Used in Brazil.” The Brazil Business, Fujikawa, 22 Jan. 2013, thebrazilbusiness.com/article/home-appliances-used-in-brazil. 

“Paulista Agency of Promotion of Competitivity and Investments.” Investe SP, www.en.investe.sp.gov.br/why-sao-paulo/. 

“Recovering Water: A Results-Based Approach to Water Supply and Sanitation in Brazil’s São Paulo State.” The World Bank , The World Bank , 7 May 2018, www.worldbank.org/en/results/2018/05/07/approach-to-water-supply-and-sanitation-brazil-sao-paulo-state.

“The Cost of Studying at a University in Brazil.” Times Higher Education (THE), 23 Aug. 2019, www.timeshighereducation.com/student/advice/cost-studying-university-brazil.

Annotated Bibliography:

• Can you identify historical work(s) about your city or urban Latin America that helps you understand the history of your city? What key historical forces have shaped your city? 

From the first source we learn about some of the writers who grew up in Sao Paulo and we learn about their experiences from the books they produced. This source helps us better understand the history of the city and it characterizes the city by showing that people from within the city created stories that transpired within Sao Paulo itself. 

Duwe, Morena. “Experience São Paulo through the Fascinating Works of 15 Artists.” CNN Underscored , 24 Mar. 2020, www.cnn.com/2020/03/24/cnn-underscored/sao-paulo-art/index.html.

 

• Urban problems and / or urban planning. Was your city designed by an urban planner? In what era?  Were people consulted in the plans? What issues do your urban citizens face currently that are important? 

The author of this source shows the specific groups that inhabited Sao Paulo, and the challenges they faced with the urban design of the city. The author also includes key facts about the city, including its capital, government, and population.

The authors describe the richness of Sao Paulo and it’s expanding economy. Sao Paulo was considered the most rich powerful nation in Latin America due to its growing economy. The city’s population is estimated approximately 184,725,000. Its urban design is very distinctive, with its tall skyscrapers and protruding bridge intersecting the city, which is known as the Octavio Frias de Oliveria. The bridge was developed as an anchor project.THe Anchor Project was used to update the bridge because it was previously built in a very unstable way. So, this project was used to update and make the bridge better. 

“San Paulo (Regnum Bueno).” Alternative History, Fandom, althistory.fandom.com/wiki/San_Paulo_(Regnum_Bueno).

• Can you describe a couple of neighborhoods about your city? What drew you to these neighborhoods? Is there more writing available in English about those neighborhoods for any particular reason that you can tell? 

There are many neighborhoods within Sao Paulo ranging from very safe to rather unpleasant places to stay. One neighborhood in particular that piqued my interest was that of Vila Madelena. A neighborhood in the heart of Sao Paulo this area is strewn with Street Art, and little cafes and restaurants to eat at. This area is a growing scene for Hotels that many tourists will stay in though it is the perfect spot to get a good workout in. 

Another of these neighborhoods I read about from this source is that of Liberdade. This area is a major neighborhood for those of Japanese descent and people who moved here from Japan showing off the city’s cultural diversity. From the outside this area looks more rundown like a slum, though once in it you see an area showing a lot of love to the country for which it was based off of.

Sherwin, Lola. “Every São Paulo Neighborhood You Need to Explore.” Neighborhoods in São Paulo, Matador Network, 18 Jan. 2019, matadornetwork.com/destinations/south-america/brazil/sao-paulo/neighborhoods/. 

• What is the geographic setting of your city and how does the geography intersect with the city’s history? Please briefly describe the source (s) to include an awareness of its strengths and limitations. 

Meyer discusses the geographic setting of Sao Paulo in her article, and how the city’s location can be a leading cause of its unpredictable weather conditions. The source itself is a credible source; however it was published during the 1970’s; therefore, it is almost out of date. The author of the second source provides information on the land size of Sao Paulo, and more information on the history of the city in Brazil. 

Sao Paulo is situated in Southeastern Brazil; more specifically, it is located on the plateau of the Brazilian highlands. Due to its location, the city’s residents may have to adjust to its unpredictable weather conditions. Its climate typically resembles a monsoon one. During the summer, the city’s temperature is usually between 17 and 28 degrees Celsius. Meanwhile, during the winter the city’s temperature usually reaches between 11 to 23 degrees Celsius. Sao Paulo’s land is bordered by Chaco Republic and San Martin to the west and Essequibo to the north. It is the largest city in Brazil, and more interestingly, the seventh largest city in the world.

Meyer, Amelia. “Brazil.org.za.” São Paulo. 01 Jan. 1970,  

“San Paulo (Regnum Bueno).” Alternative History, Fandom, 

• Urban growth and mobility –why and when have people moved to your city? Maybe something about jobs here–or industry–what sectors do people work in? Respond to a few of the following questions: where are you finding statistics? Have you found contradictory statistics? Who produces this data? What do you think are some of the limitations of the data?

This source is from the United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD). UNSD uses statistics collected from national authorities, United Nations agencies, international organizations which are compiled into the United Nations data system.

The UN data shows the growth and decline in Brazil’s various economies, employment, GDP, population, and information on the use of internet, infrastructure, and the environment. The data shows that Brazil’s GDP has been lower than what it was 10 years ago and proves that the employment rate of the service industry is rising but the agricultural industry is declining.

“UNData App.” United Nations, United Nations, 5 Nov. 2020

This news article explains the recent recovery in economic growth in Brazil in nine-sectors since the economic crisis. Sao Paulo is listed as the leading city for its production for automotive vehicles which are above national average. Sao Paulo contributed to the increase in the national industrial production with its growing food and oil production.

“Brazil: Industrial sector in nine states returns to pre-crisis production level.” Brazil Business News (Brazil), sec. News, 11 Nov. 2020. NewsBak: Access World News, infoweb-newsbank-com.eu1.proxy.openathens.net/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/17EAFF395C792F40. Accessed 16 Nov. 2020

• Can you define the city in social class terms? [how big is the working class, the middle class, the wealthy or elite class as a proportion of the city’s population–this might be defined in relationship to the type of job your character has] 

From this source we learn more about the social classes present in Sao Paulo, while this source focuses on Brazil as a whole because I did not find as much information on the upper and lower class in Sao Paulo specifically. Though we did learn that the lower class is barely making ends meet while the upper class is thriving and strong business owners are making a substantial amount of money compared to this lower class.

“Brazil’s Social Class System.” Study.com, 10 October 2017, study.com/academy/lesson/brazils-social-class-system.html

• What makes your city unique in Latin America? 

The author of this source, Amelia Meyer describes the rich character of Sao Paulo and characterizes the city in terms of its urban design and prominent social life. 

What makes Sao Paulo so unique from other Latin American cities is its distinct character and urban design. The city itself is designed with tall skyscrapers and concrete ground. Each skyscraper is remarkably different in terms of its architecture and design. More interestingly, it is Brazil’s largest city, and the seventh largest in the world. “It is particularly rich in historical, political and cultural value, giving visitors an authentic, memorable experience of a fascinating country.” (Meyer, 1970). The city has over 12,000 restaurants, along with numerous clubs and pubs; it is a social spot for tourists and residents. Moreover, there are plentiful museums; including the The Sao Paulo Museum of Art and the Sacred Art Museum. 

Meyer, Amelia. “Brazil.org.za.” São Paulo. 01 Jan. 1970.            

• What is the current political climate in your city/country? [populist, socialist, dictatorship–depends on who you ask, is there tension between municipal and national government?)

This scholarly journal explains the reasons why Brazil had shifted to the right wing political party when president Bolsanaro was elected in 2018. 

While some of the census data used were not up to date, interviews conducted with lower class citizens in different parts of Sao Paulo from 2016 to 2017 explains the different attitudes toward the democratic Worker’s Party and the conservative Social Liberal Party. The dissatisfaction towards the government, economic recession, and political corruption too, explains why the Social Liberal Party led by president Bolsanaro gained popularity in Brazil. 

Richmond, Matthew Aaron. “Narratives of Crisis in the Periphery of São Paulo: Place and Political Articulation during Brazil’s Rightward Turn.” Journal of Latin American Studies, vol. 52, no. 2, May 2020, pp. 241–267. Cambridge University Press, doi:10.1017/S0022216X20000012.

The Central Intelligence Agency gives various data and general background information about Brazil. 

Although the information was updated up until 2017, it did provide detailed information on the political upheaval in 2016 which revolved around the political scandal of the former president Dilma Rouseff and the economic recession and its impact that has left on the Brazilian economy. This website provides data and information on Brazil from 2015-2017, which gives the overview of Brazil’s economic development and political background. 

“The World Factbook: Brazil.” Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, 11 Nov. 2020, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/br.html.

David Biller gives an overview of Brazil’s current political climate and economic status. Biller seemed to provide factual news from both sides of the political party in Brazil without any biased comments. 

The source describes how political corruption and economic recession has ended the 13-year terms of the left-centered worker’s party and shifted to a far-right social liberal party led by Jair Bolsanaro. It also provided perspectives of people who supported Bolsanaro and those who held contempt against him. Overall, the source discusses his weakness in his political approach and his resemblance to the time of military dictatorship in Brazil. 

Biller, David. “Brazil’s Disappointment .” Bloomberg.com, Bloomberg, 7 June 2019, www.bloomberg.com/quicktake/brazils-highs-lows.

• What are some sources that might help you develop a profile of a ‘character’ for your city? These sources can be inspirational.

In this source below a lady named Hannah Finch. She moved to Sao Paulo where she met her husband, and then started her own online business within the city. She goes into depth on her daily life and how she operates by explaining what she eats, drinks, and what events transpire throughout her daily life. She says she chose to live here because of opportunity growth with her business, she states it’s the ideal environment for business growth. Finch also discusses her favorite things about the city such as foods, places to be, and how based off where she lives, she is able to walk most places instead of taking various busses or driving. 

Finch, Hannah. “Living in Sao Paulo: Life in Brazil with Hannah Finch. Fulltimenomad.com, Finch, 16 December 2019, https://www.fulltimenomad.com/living-in-sao-paulo-brazil/

Another source we found comes from a woman who is a teacher within Sao Paulo. She discusses what she does in her daily life, as well as how she teaches school during the Covid-19 pandemic. Her name is Millie, she is an english teacher, as well as a music producer and composer. She said that her experience living within the city the first few years was basically torture. Her apartment was very far from the school building, and transportation was hard to come by because she says her experience with the busses were tough since they didn’t announce arrival times. Though she does get to talk about the street art and how vibrant the downtown areas are. Though she states that not being Native to Brazil, people are very hard to talk with. Most do not open up and speak to random people they do not know, whereas some will plain ignore you. She also discusses poverty within Sao Paulo and how you see it wherever you go. She discusses homelessness and other aspects of this, giving us great detail on how to make a character. 

Jenna. “What’s It Really Like to Live in Brazil?” thisismyhappiness.com, Jenna, 17 April 2020, https://thisismyhappiness.com/expat-life-sao-paulo-brazil/

• Show me that you have explored some of the resources that Malia Willey provided for us in our class. 

This scholarly journal is from JSTOR, a peer reviewed journal article that explains the sociopolitical and semiotic relation to graffiti art in the neighborhood of Vila Madalena, São Paulo. 

Interviews were conducted with illiterate residents of the streets of Vila Madalena, asking what graffiti meant to them. Although not all of the members agreed that the graffiti was pleasant to look at, one of the interviewers noticed how graffiti brings social awareness as he described “Graffiti shows our everyday life. They show the poverty, the inequities, the violence in the cities” (Iddings 15). The article overall discusses how graffiti serves as a tool to educate ourselves about the issues even outside of the learning institutions as the author explains “graffiti helps us understand the concept of praxis (i.e., the dialectics between knowledge and action) as a method to create social equity, which has relevance and pedagogical implications not only within class- rooms but also within neighborhoods and more distal communities” (Iddings 16). 

DaSilva Iddings, Ana Christina, et al. “Conscientização Through Graffiti Literacies in the Streets of a São Paulo Neighborhood: An Ecosocial Semiotic Perspective.” Reading Research Quarterly, vol. 46, no. 1, 2011, pp. 5–21. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/41038743. Accessed 23 Nov. 2020.

This peer-reviewed scholarly journal from Cambridge University press was also found from Malia Wiley’s catalogue selection.

The author conducted interviews with lower class residents of Fazenda da Juta, in which resident’s polítical attitudes were categorized into three types, “angry workers,” “disgruntled citizens,” and “nostalgic strugglers.” The three of the categories preferred a mixture of left and right wing policies as one of the interviewees’ explains “experiences of having benefited from the PT’s health, education and housing policies, but also of having worked hard to survive and raise two daughters in a context of limited opportunities and everyday risks” (20 Aaron). Although the interview which categorized the three political attitudes did not represent the diverse population of Juta, it did provide the political perspective on an individual basis. 

Richmond, Matthew Aaron. “Narratives of Crisis in the Periphery of São Paulo: Place and Political Articulation during Brazil’s Rightward Turn.” Journal of Latin American Studies, vol. 52, no. 2, May 2020, pp. 241–267.