Customer Reviews

Xuxa: The Mega-Marketing of Gender, Race, and Modernity

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The book definately fills in some background information on Xuxa that most US fans do not have. However, the author has surprisingly little to say about Xuxa. Nearly every paragraph has a footnote referencing an article/interview written by someone else. This book is more of a collection of other people's comments and quotes about Xuxa (or from Xuxa) and her impact on Brazilian society. The book in many ways tries to link Xuxa with many social problems facing Brazil including: racisim, the class system, declining school attendance, illiteracy, teen pregnancy, bulimia, and the sexual exploitation of children. Wow, has she been busy! I think that Xuxa represents some "ideals" to the Brazilian society, but to almost blame her for the continuation of these problems seems a little much. I recommend the book for anyone wanting to learn more about Xuxa history (good and bad)and her rise to fame. This book is not for the average fan.

Xuxa's syndicated show on American TV may have been a flop, but this scholarly book remains an interesting study of the Brazilian entertainer. Amelia Simpson interleaves biographical information with background material on the Brazilian entertainment industry, combined with a very insightful analysis of Xuxa's incredible fame among the impoverished populations of South America. At times the writing comes across a little bit like a thesis composed by an overly earnest grad student. This has, to some extent, the odd effect of legitimizing Xuxa's appeal as transcending that of a mere pop culture icon. If anybody was truly qualified to play Evita, it is Xuxa. She was, after all, born very close to the border of Argentina.

Don't blame Xuxa for Brazil's problems. They are the result of American corporate fascism's take-over of the country. The screed of American feminist puritanism is a joke. They hate Xuxa because she loves children instead of aborting them.