Images of Whiteness: The Presence of Absence

Join us for the presentation and discussion of Lilia Moritz Schwarcz's latest book, Images of Whiteness: The Presence of Absence (2024). A former Guggenheim Fellow and a leading Brazilian scholar, Schwarcz is renowned for her work in the history of transatlantic slavery, comparative race relations, the Brazilian Empire, visual culture, academic art, and anthropology. In this book, she offers a profound analysis of Brazilian iconographies that spans from the 16th century to the present.

Schwarcz examines a wide range of Brazilian imagery-from maps and public monuments to photographs and advertisements-revealing how these visuals have been shaped by deeply ingrained racist ideologies. More than an iconographic study, the book traces the long history of how whiteness has been symbolically constructed, reinforcing systems of racial hierarchy and subordination. Central to her argument is the concept of the pervasive yet absent racial presence of white people in these records, reinforcing their aesthetic dominance as the norm.

This event will provide a space to engage with Schwarcz's thought-provoking analysis, fostering an understanding of how visual culture in Brazil has influenced perceptions of race and power.