“Uma geração pode continuar a outra”: João Cabral de Melo Neto e o modernismo

ABSTRACT

In an article published in 1952, Sérgio Buarque de Holanda highlighted the extreme intellectualism of João Cabral de Melo Neto’s work. The critic stated that João Cabral’s “mental poetry” did not fit into modernist standards and that in him, for the first time in Brazil, the work of intelligence gained a privileged position. Despite the originality of his poetry, the truth is that, for João Cabral, Modernism constituted a kind of umbilical cord. At first, his work was closely linked to the poetics of Carlos Drummond de Andrade and Murilo Mendes. Afterwards, he affirmed his disagreement with the values of the Generation of 45, who were opposed to Modernism, saying that the possibilities opened up by the movement were far from being exhausted. Des- pite criticizing Mário de Andrade, his conception of “work of art” echoed some essays by the author of Macunaíma. This article intends to reflect on the Modernist legacy through the update proposed by João Cabral.

KEYWORDS:
João Cabral de Melo Neto; Mário de Andrade; Carlos Drummond de Andrade; Modernism; Modern poetry