Gilberto Gil (left) and Caetano Veloso in exile in London, 1969. Image courtesy of The Guardian.

The military government became increasingly involved in cultural repression after the passing of Institutional Act No. 5. One of the clearest signs that the regime was expanding its repressive tactics from the political to the cultural field was the arrest and exile of Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso. The two musicians were the leaders of a new musical movement that became known as Tropicália, involving a mix of rock and roll and traditional Brazilian rhythms, born out of the psychedelic counterculture of the 1960s. Gil and Veloso’s sound certainly challenged established notions of traditional Brazilian music, and was at times infused with political undertones, but Tropicália never directly challenged the military regime. This is why their arrest was so significant; it was a clear move toward cultural repression.

Censura na ditadura

The year 1969 saw the continuation of the mounting repression that had been accelerated by Institutional Act No. 5. Not only political, but also cultural repression had become commonplace in Brazil. There was no doubt that artistic and intellectual freedom had been greatly diminished. Despite this less than friendly artistic climate, plans were ongoing for the X São Paulo Bienal, one of the world’s most prestigious international art events. As a response to the increasing censorship, several artists staged a boycott of the event. See Bienal Boycott for more details.

Political mobilization in universities had been one of the main reasons behind Institutional Act No. 5. With the prospect of students and professors re-mobilizing when classes picked up again in late February 1969, the government passed Decree 447. The decree provided procedures for the suspension of students and professors engaged in ‘subversive activities.’ The definition of ‘subversive’ was purposely vague, giving the government power to veritably purge Brazilian universities of unwanted elements. Purges began in March. By the end, hundreds of students and professors had been suspended or forced into ‘retirement,’ most of them without any explanation or chance to defend themselves. When asked about the purges, Justice Minister Gama e Silva justified the government’s actions in the following way:

“The Revolution has objectives which must be attained. From a quantitative viewpoint, it has no limits and will affect all sectors of national life.”

Click here to read about the ways in which academia fought back: Academics Protest.