Reinventing Brazil: Megacity’s Talent for Renewal Is Paying Off
At Itaú Cultural in central São Paulo, a hip arts centre that would not be out of place in Tokyo or Berlin, youngsters crowd into an exhibit paying homage to African-Brazilian writer Conceiçao Evaristo, who was born in a favela, or slum, in the southeastern city of Belo Horizonte.
A queue snakes around a corner and down the block from the centre’s theatre, which is hosting a show by Ana Muller, a singer who found success on the internet and is now launching her first record.
“It’s so great that there are these shows for free here on [Avenida] Paulista,” says a teenage girl in the queue. Like everything at Itaú Cultural, the concert is free.
Art and free shows are not normally the first things about São Paulo that strike visitors from abroad.
The megalopolis, with a population of 21m, is the economic powerhouse of Brazil’s continental economy. New arrivals are often confounded by its endless phalanxes of concrete residential towers – greater São Paulo is said to have one of the biggest concentrations of high-rise buildings in the world – and its multiple business districts.
Unlike Rio de Janeiro, whose beaches are set against lush green mountains, landlocked São Paulo has concreted over many natural features to make way for its relentless traffic. While Rio’s inhabitants have a brash charisma that puts tourists at ease, Paulistanos, as residents of the country’s biggest city are known, have an indifference to newcomers that would not be out of place in any of the world’s global business hubs.
São Paulo also boasts one feature few other Brazilian cities can claim – a talent for transformation. Today, it is morphing from a heavy industry and financial powerhouse into a technology and services centre where those working in creative industries rub shoulders with internet entrepreneurs, or the bosses of multinationals.
Vocabulary:
would not be out of place – looking or feeling completely appropriate, suitable, or natural in a specific setting or situation, “Her elegant evening gown would not be out of place at a royal gala dinner.”
paying homage to – showing deep respect, admiration, or honor to someone or something publicly, “The new film features several scenes paying homage to classic Hollywood movies of the 1950s.”
queue snakes – a long line of people that twists, curves, or stretches across a large area like a snake, “Every morning, a massive queue snakes outside the bakery as people wait to buy fresh croissants.”
megalopolis – a very large, heavily populated city or a continuous region made up of several clustered urban areas, “The northeastern United States forms a vast megalopolis stretching all the way from Boston to Washington, D.C.”
economic powerhouse – a country, city, or region that possesses an incredibly strong, wealthy, and influential economy, “As a major center for global trade and finance, the city has evolved into a true economic powerhouse.”
confounded by – completely confused, puzzled, or surprised by something unexpected or complicated, “The scientists were confounded by the strange test results, which contradicted all of their original theories.”
brash charisma – a bold, loud, or highly confident charm that easily attracts attention and influences people, “The talk-show host’s brash charisma made him incredibly popular, even if his jokes were occasionally rude.”
rub shoulders with – to meet, spend time, or socialize with famous, important, or interesting people, “Attending the high-profile film festival gave her a rare chance to rub shoulders with Hollywood celebrities.”