Cancer in the biographies about José Alencar: The construction of a heroic ethos

Authors

  • Igor Sacramento Fundação Oswaldo Cruz
  • Eduardo Frumento UFRJ

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4013/fem.2015.173.11

Abstract

In this article, we demonstrate the impact of the therapeutic discourse and media visibility schemes in two biographies about José Alencar. We analyze the different formats of the ethos of the biography like a winner through self-realization of narrative, especially when it comes to cancer. Finally, we conclude that media exposure of José Alencar experiences with illness allowed him to be taken as a model of “hero of himself ” and that reports on different aspects and moments of his life were overcome models for readers in the recent context of neoliberal governamentability.

Keywords: José Alencar, biography, cancer, visibility, governamentability.

Author Biographies

Igor Sacramento, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz

Doutor em Comunicação e Cultura pela Escola de Comunicação da UFRJ e pesquisador do Laboratório de Pesquisa em Comunicação e Saúde do Instituto de Comunicação Científica e Tecnológica da Fiocruz.

Eduardo Frumento, UFRJ

Graduando do curso de Comunicação Social da UFRJ e bolsista de Iniciação Científica da Faperj.

Published

2015-09-23