Brief observations on theory, its contradictions and Brazil

Abstract

The essay describes the particularly contradictory situation of what has become known as Theory. The text tries to characterize, by means of a comparison with its closest relative, literary theory, its methods, objects, subjects and places of enunciation. In all of them, it is concluded, there is an unheard-of potential for freedom inextricably mixed with surrender to the market. The article ends with short considerations on the possibilities for practicing Theory in the Brazilian situation, since Theory can no longer be ignored nor simply accepted without mediations.