“There is No Death Penalty in Brazil”: Unsettling Astonishments as an Aesthetic of Resistance of Black Women Politicians

Abstract

This article explores a performative repertoire emerging from research on Black women’s political representation in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Focusing on a critical discursive moment—“There is no death penalty in Brazil”—the study examines a rhetorical strategy termed “unsettling astonishments”. This approach serves as a method of denunciation that aims to expose human rights violations in favelas and peripheral regions. By engaging with theories of performative politics, the research investigates how deliberately provocative performances can generate discomfort and challenge existing narratives of public security. The analysis considers whether creating emotional shock can effectively make visible the systemic dehumanization and disposability of certain bodies, ultimately questioning the potential for such performative interventions to reshape social and political imaginaries centered on the fundamental right to life.