New images of pombagira in pop culture: symbols, mythos and stereotypes in circulation

Abstract

How the archetype of the Wild Woman survives and resurfaces within stereotypical constructions of the feminine in contemporary pop culture, especially in music and video clips? To address this archetype, we start from the Brazilian figure pombagira, symbol of a free, wild, sensual and sexual female strength. According to the theory of Warburg (2012), strong symbols reappear in the art due to the recurring nature of pathos, which he calls Pathosformel. We will show, with the study of three female figures of the star system media how a free female, although it has been ravaged by centuries of phallocentrism, is resurfacing and manifesting in pop culture.

Keywords

• Cultura pop
• Pombagira
• Valesca Popozuda
• Lady Gaga
• Azis