Dispositivo de empoderamento : poder e resistência na construção da celebridade Ludmilla

Abstract

This thesis investigates how power dispositifs, particularly those of visibility, sexuality, and raciality, intersect with and shape the construction of Black female celebrities in Brazil. The research problem centers on analyzing how the singer Ludmilla, as a Black and bisexual woman, uses her mediated visibility to resist the normativities imposed by these dispositifs and promote a rearrangement of power dynamics, positioning herself as a “dispositif of empowerment”. The theoretical framework draws on Michel Foucault to explore the concept of dispositif and the dynamics of biopower, and on Sueli Carneiro to discuss the dispositif of raciality. Additionally, Kimberlé Crenshaw’s theory of intersectionality and Joice Berth’s concept of empowerment are employed to articulate the dimensions of race, gender, and sexuality in the construction of media narratives. Authors such as Max Weber, Clifford Geertz, Vera França, and Paula Simões complement the discussion on charisma and the affective power of celebrities. Methodologically, the research adopts a pragmatist, intersectional, and intertextual approach to examine the actions of Ludmilla. The corpus is composed of six episodes of the documentary series “Rainha da Favela” and 23 additional analytical units derived from events narrated by the artist in each episode. This intertextual material helps to understand her trajectory as a Black female celebrity. The methodology proposes the concept of “dispositif of empowerment” to investigate how Ludmilla challenges and re-signifies the structures of power surrounding her. This thesis aims to contribute to communication studies by showing how Black female celebrities operate as critical agents within dispositifs that have traditionally perpetuated racial and gender inequalities. It also reinforces the importance of understanding mediated visibility as an arena of symbolic and political struggle.