O amor como experiência estética na prosa de Tenório Telles

Abstract

This dissertation aims to analyze representations of love in the prose of Tenório Telles, taking as its research corpus some chronicles from the works Viver (2011) and Renovação (2013), as well as the short stories "The Seventh Full Moon" and "Mommy's Boobs" published in the collection Edifício Marquês de Sade (2014). Within the set of chronicles belonging to the works, eight narratives were selected: "Being a Mother," "A Mother and Her Pain," "Letter to an Imaginary Friend," "Letter to a Distant Friend," "The Little Dog," "In Defense of God," "My Grandfather's Radio and Mr. Josué's Chronicles" from the work Viver, in addition to "Rainy Afternoons" from the work Renovação. The choice of these texts was motivated by the premise that they predominantly deal with the theme of love and also with the intention of encompassing its multiple representations. Initially, the study seeks to establish the historical and conceptual trajectory of romantic love, considering its transformations over time and its new configurations in contemporary society. Next, the concepts of chronicle, its transformation, and trajectory in Brazil are presented. Finally, selected short stories and chronicles are examined in order to identify the expressions of love in everyday life as constructed by the author and the possible connections between these narratives and the theoretical references adopted. The theoretical foundation is based on the reflections of Octavio Paz, Denis de Rougemont, bell hooks, Erich Fromm, and Zigmunt Bauman, authors who offer different historical, philosophical, and sociocultural perspectives on love. Additionally, Antonio Candido and Afrânio Coutinho are referenced regarding the chronicle. In the analyzed narratives, multiple representations of love are found. These show that in Tenório Telles's prose, love is not limited to the experience of romantic passion but expands to encompass different affective bonds that structure human life. In this sense, the present research opens pathways for new investigations.

Keywords: Love. Tenório Telles. Chronicles. Short stories. Living. Renewal.