PERPRESENTATION AND OVERREPRESENTATION: A READING OF OPERA BASED ON THEODOR W. ADORNO

  • Breno Machado Viegas UFMG
  • Luís Filipe de Lima Andrade UFMG
Keywords: modes of presence; Richard Wagner; Alban Berg; cultural merchandise; work of art.

Abstract

This article explores the distinction between the concepts of "perpresentation" and "overrrepresentation" in the context of “polymedial”, as discussed by Rodrigo Duarte in his aesthetic-theoretical project Modos de presença nos fenômenos estéticos. While the concept of perpresentation allows for an axiomatically neutral evaluation of aesthetic phenomena, over-representation conceives the result of artistic manifestations in a negative manner. The article applies this distinction to opera, based on the aesthetic analyses of Theodor W. Adorno and taking the works of Richard Wagner and Alban Berg as paradigmatic examples. Wagner is interpreted as a manifestation of overrepresentation, associated with the culture industry and kitsch, while Alban Berg exemplifies perpresentation, representing an authentic art focused on critique and emancipation. The analysis thus seeks to deepen the understanding of Duarte's aesthetic-theoretical project, considering the political and ideological implications in the field of contemporary aesthetics.

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Published
2025-06-26
Section
Modos de presença nos fenômenos estéticos