Volume 13 Issue 1 *Corresponding author Published 26 May 2025 Citation AMARAL, J. V. P. Curation and critical analysis: a selective review of recent academic production on Rio de Janeiro (until 2025.1). Coleção Estudos Cariocas, v. 13, n. 1, 2025. DOI: 10.71256/19847203.13.1.144.2025 The article was originally submitted in PORTUGUESE. Translations into other languages were reviewed and validated by the authors and the editorial team. Nevertheless, for the most accurate representation of the subject matter, readers are encouraged to consult the article in its original language. | Curation and critical analysis: a selective review of recent academic production on Rio de Janeiro (until 2025.1) Curadoria e análise crítica: revisão de seleção da produção acadêmica recente sobre o Rio de Janeiro (até 2025.1)Curación y análisis crítico: revisión selectiva de la producción académica reciente sobre Río de Janeiro (hasta 2025.1) João Vitor P. do Amaral1* 1Instituto Municipal de Urbanismo Pereira Passos, R. Gago Coutinho, 52 - Laranjeiras, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 22221-070, ORCID 0009-0001-8399-018X, joopamaral@gmail.com AbstractThis literature review presents a critical selection of relevant academic articles on Rio de Janeiro and its multifaceted interconnections, published through the first half of 2025. For each selected work, it provides an analytical summary, highlighting contributions, signifi- cance, and novel aspects of the cited research. Keywords: literature review, critical selection, Rio de Janeiro ResumoEsta revisão bibliográfica apresenta uma seleção crítica de artigos acadêmicos relevantes sobre o Rio de Janeiro e suas múltiplas interlocuções, publicados até o primeiro semestre de 2025. Para cada trabalho selecionado, elabora-se uma resenha analítica, destacando contribuições, relevância e aspectos inéditos das pesquisas abordadas. Palavras-chave: revisão bibliográfica, curadoria, Rio de Janeiro ResumenEsta revisión bibliográfica presenta una selección crítica de artículos académicos relevantes sobre Río de Janeiro y sus múltiples interconexiones, publicados hasta el primer semestre de 2025. Para cada trabajo seleccionado, se elabora una reseña analítica, destacando contribuciones, relevancia y aspectos innovadores de las investigaciones citadas. Palabras clave: revisión bibliográfica, selección crítica, Río de Janeiro |
by Márcia Amantino
Amantino (2023) investigates how, in the 18th century, Pombaline policy articulated narratives to delegitimize the Society of Jesus, using ecclesiastical investigations and testimonies to consolidate accusations of corruption, immorality, and disobedience to authorities. The study reveals how the Portuguese State and local allies, such as Bishop D. Antonio do Desterro, constructed an "official truth" that resonated in a society already predisposed to question the territorial and economic power of the order. The research stands out for its documentary richness and reflection on how political narratives manipulate social perceptions, offering valuable means to understand the dynamics of power, spatial control, and land conflicts that marked the formation of colonial Rio de Janeiro.
Márcia Amantino holds a PhD in Social History from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, is a professor in the Graduate Program at the Universidade Salgado de Oliveira, and an associate professor in the Department of History at UERJ. She is a researcher in the CNPq Research Group "Jesuits in the Americas", in the Research Group on Slavery and Mestizaje: slavery, trade, and cultural exchanges in the backlands of Bahia and Minas Gerais, 18th century, and in the Eclésia Research Group (Unirio).
by Margaux de Barros
In the article "Entre a fé e a expressão política: etnografia das interações entre pastores e fiéis evangélicos durante as eleições de 2022 no Rio de Janeiro" Barros (2024) analyzes, through a three-month ethnography, how pastors from a small evangelical church in Rio de Janeiro introduced electoral debates during the 2022 elections, balancing political discourses with religious norms and community concerns. The author addresses the strategies adopted by religious leaders, such as using metaphors referring to the candidates and sharing electoral propaganda in church groups. The research portrays with richness of reports the internal conflicts generated by polarization, highlighting tensions between congregants and leadership, and emphasizing the heterogeneity of political beliefs within the evangelical community of Rio.
Margaux de Barros holds a PhD in Political Science and is a postdoctoral researcher in Political Science at the Centre d’Étude de la Vie Politique (CEVIPOL), at the Université Libre de Bruxelles.
by Tainá Andrade da Silva and Wilson Oliveira da Silva Filho
The article "Os cinemas de rua morreram? Motivos por trás das lutas suburbanas em defesa dos cinemas de rua como espaços de memória coletiva e força transformadora de territórios" investigates the reasons why the population of Rio resists the extinction of these spaces, highlighting their role as catalysts of collective memory and transformative agents in suburban territories. Through the analysis of mobilizations around Cine Vaz Lobo and Cine Guaraci, Silva and Silva Filho (2023) demonstrate how these cinemas go beyond cultural function, becoming symbols of resistance against socio-spatial segregation and the commodification of the city. By articulating urban history, social movements, and the right to culture, the work reveals the vitality of these spaces in the construction of local identities and in claiming a more inclusive city. The article offers a reflection on the preservation of cultural facilities as pillars of the democratization of public space.
Tainá Andrade da Silva holds a Master’s in Cinema and Audiovisual from the Fluminense Federal University (UFF) and is a PhD candidate in the Graduate Program in Social Com- munication at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ); Wilson Oliveira da Silva Filho holds a PhD in Social Memory and is an accredited professor in the Graduate Program in Cinema and Audiovisual at the Fluminense Federal University.
by Josiane Bentes Lopes et al.
The article "Health of the romany people and COVID19 primer: reflections upon cultural competence" addresses the trajectory of primary health actions aimed at the Romani population in Rio de Janeiro, highlighting the need for cultural competence to mitigate historical invisibility and inequality. Through a case study (2008-2023), Lopes et al. (2024) describe the creation of adapted educational materials, such as the audiovisual booklet on COVID-19 prevention, developed in partnership with Romani leaders, which incorporated cultural elements in its illustrations. The work demonstrates how intersectoral collaboration and respect for cultural self-determination are essential for effective public policies, especially in urban contexts marked by socio-spatial segregation.
Josiane Bentes Lopes holds a PhD in Morphological Sciences and a Master’s in Plant Biotechnology and Bioprocesses from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, and gradu- ated in Medicine from the Souza Marques Technical Educational Foundation. She currently works as a self-employed professional in a specialized medical practice. Cristiane Gerolis de Moraes has a postgraduate degree in Hospital Psychology from Veiga de Almeida University and graduated in Psychology from Celso Lisboa University. Fábio de Almeida Bolognani graduated in Medicine from the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), holds a Notorio Sapere Master’s from Open International Universite, and is currently the Head of the Homeopathy Department at Santa Casa de Misericórdia in Rio de Janeiro.
by Denildo de Freitas Gomes, Enéas Rangel Teixeira, Marta Sauthier, and Ana Paula Ribeiro Seixas
Gomes et al. (2024) analyze the institutional barriers faced by trans people in accessing primary healthcare in Rio de Janeiro, revealing discriminatory practices rooted in prejudice and stigma. Based on interviews with 12 trans individuals, the authors expose professional behaviors that violate basic rights, such as the undue association with STIs, disrespect for chosen names, and denial of ethical care. The study points out, through the lens of Axel Honneth’s Theory of Recognition, the need for training professionals sensitive to gender diversity, in addition to public policies aligned with the Unified Health System (SUS).
Denildo de Freitas Gomes holds a postgraduate degree in Public Health from Unyleya and is a PhD candidate in Health and Care Sciences at the Fluminense Federal University. Enéas Rangel Teixeira holds a PhD in Nursing from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, a postdoc in Clinical Psychology from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo, and a postdoc in Nursing Care Science from Université LAVAL-Québec - Canada; he is a Full Professor at the Fluminense Federal University. Marta Sauthier holds a PhD in Nursing from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and is Coordinator of the Residency Module in Ethics and Bioethics in Nursing in Family Health Strategy at EEAN/UFRJ/SMS.
by Matheus Vieira
In the article "Animals wearing combat boots: relationships between bookies and militia- men in the West Zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro" Vieira (2024) analyzes the historical relationships between the networks of the illegal gambling game "jogo do bicho", led by the Andrade family, and the emergence of militias in Rio’s West Zone (1993-2008), ex- ploring how economic ties, bribes, and power strategies enabled corrupt police officers to ascend as militiamen. Using court documents, interviews, and criminal network theories, the study shows how the death of Castor de Andrade catalyzed alliances between heirs of the gambling network and state agents, consolidating territorial domains based on extortion, electoral control, and the management of illegal activities. The research is fundamental to uncovering the hybrid roots between state and crime in the urban shaping of Rio.
Matheus Vieira is a PhD candidate in Sociology at the Fluminense Federal University, holds a Master’s in Sociology from the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, and is a researcher at the Study Group on New Illegalisms (GENI/UFF).
by Jorge Zavaleta, Robson Eduardo da Silva, Fabiano Saldanha G. Oliveira et al.
The article "Análise de Desfechos de COVID-19 no RJ através de Técnicas de Aprendizado de Máquina" investigates the effectiveness of algorithms such as Random Forest, k-Nearest Neighbors, and Multilayer Perceptron in predicting recoveries and deaths from COVID-19 among vaccinated and unvaccinated patients in Rio de Janeiro, using data from the State Health Department (2019-2023). The models used by Zavaleta et al. (2023) achieved an accuracy of 87.3% (unvaccinated) and 87.5% (vaccinated), identifying age, dyspnea, and comorbidities as critical factors. The analysis highlighted that symptoms such as runny nose and headache positively influenced recovery, while chronic diseases increased death risks, especially among the elderly. The results underscore the potential of using algorithms in public health management.
Jorge Zavaleta holds a PhD in Engineering and Computer Systems (Artificial Intelligence) from PESC/COPPE at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Robson Eduardo da Silva is a member of the Computer Science Department at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). Fabiano Saldanha G. Oliveira is an associate professor at the Institute of Social Medicine at UERJ and works in research, teaching, and outreach in the areas of digital health, computational statistics, and applied mathematics.
by Vanessa Guerra, Max Stephenson, Desirée Poets, and Molly F. Todd
The article "The contributions of community-led newspapers to the resilience of Rio’s Maré and Rocinha favelas during the COVID-19 pandemic" investigates how the community newspapers Maré Online and Fala Roça strengthened social resilience in the Maré and Rocinha favelas, in Rio de Janeiro, during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Using Keck and Sakdapolrak’s (2013) social resilience calculation method, Guerra et al. (2024) highlight three central axes: the production of reliable data to combat misinformation, the critical monitoring of governmental actions (or omissions), and the encouragement of collective behaviors of prevention and solidarity. The study reveals that these media outlets not only filled informational gaps left by the State but also promoted collective agency, challenging oppressive structures and claiming the right to the city for marginalized populations. The research emphasizes the vital role of community media in building fairer cities, offering a counterpoint to narratives that reduce resilience to mere self-sufficiency. An inspiring finding is how these newspapers transformed crises into opportunities to strengthen local identities and demands for equity, reinforcing that favelas are spaces of political innovation and resistance.
Vanessa Guerra is an assistant professor of Urban and Environmental Planning at the School of Architecture, University of Virginia (USA). Max Stephenson Jr is a professor of Public and International Affairs and director of the Institute for Policy and Governance at Virginia Tech (USA). Desirée Poets is an assistant professor of Political Science and faculty member in the interdisciplinary PhD program Alliance for Social, Political, Ethical, and Cultural Thought (ASPECT). Since 2013, she has worked with urban Indigenous communities, favelas, and quilombolas in Southeastern Brazil, using ethnographic, creative, and collaborative methods. Molly F. Todd is a teaching assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and the International Affairs Program at the University of Colorado Boulder (USA). She earned her PhD in 2023 from the ASPECT program at Virginia Tech, with research focused on community-engaged art and border politics in the Americas.
by Rosana Elisa Coppedê Silva, Márcia Aparecida Reis Polck, and Hermínio Ismael de Araújo-Júnior
The article "Geodiversity in Ecclesiastical Construction: a Geotourism Itinerary in the City of Rio de Janeiro" proposes an ecclesiastical geotourism itinerary in downtown Rio de Janeiro, analyzing the geodiversity present in ten historic churches. Focusing on lithotypes such as fossiliferous limestones (Lioz, Rosso Verona) and marbles (Carrara, Jacarandá), the study identifies 18 types of rocks, highlighting their origin, fossils (rudists, ammonites, stromatolites), and patterns of deterioration caused by pollution, humidity, and anthropogenic action. The research reveals how ornamental stones narrate the geological and cultural evolution of the city. The work emphasizes the urgency of geoconservation in urban environments, as well as offering a bridge between material heritage and scientific education. Silva, Polck, and Araújo-Júnior (2024) point out how millennia-old rocks have become witnesses of past eras and dialogue with Rio’s identity, reinforcing that geodiversity is not only a natural legacy but an intrinsic part of urban memory.
Rosana Elisa Coppedê Silva holds a PhD in Geology from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and is a researcher at the Mineral Technology Center. Márcia Aparecida Reis Polck holds a PhD in Geology from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), is a researcher at the National Department of Mineral Production and a collaborating researcher at the Fluminense Federal University (UFF). Hermínio Ismael de Araújo-Júnior is a paleontologist and President of the Brazilian Society of Paleontology (SBP; 2022-2023 and 2024-2026 terms) and holds a PhD in Geology (Paleontology and Stratigraphy) from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).
by Gleide Alencar do Nascimento
The article "Geoeducação e geotrilha na pista Cláudio Coutinho nos monumentos naturais da montanha do Pão de Açúcar e Morro da Urca, Brasil" explores the role of geoeducation and geotrails on the Cláudio Coutinho Trail, located in the natural monuments of Sugarloaf Mountain and Morro da Urca, emphasizing the connection between geodiversity, education, and geotourism. Through practical activities with elementary school students and the general public, Nascimento (2024) demonstrates how on-site observation of geological formations, such as granites and gneisses, promotes the appreciation of geoheritage and interest in geosciences. The results highlight participants’ engagement in topics such as mineralogy, erosive processes, and plate tectonic theory, reinforcing the effectiveness of interdisciplinary educational methodologies. The research stands out by illustrating the integration between environmental preservation, urbanization, and education.
Gleide Alencar do Nascimento holds a PhD in Geology (UFRJ), a Master’s in Geophysics (National Observatory), and is a professor in the Department of Geology at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
by Lucivaldo Dias Bastos and Patricia Regina Chaves Drach
In the article "Mapeamento do processo de evolução urbana do Complexo da Maré, Rio de Janeiro" Bastos, Drach, et al. (2024) map the process of urban evolution of the Complexo da Maré, in Rio de Janeiro, analyzing its formation from the emergence of Morro do Timbau (1940) to the consolidation of the 15 communities that comprise it. Through historical cartography and morphological analysis, the study highlights the transformation of an originally swampy region into a complex urban territory, marked by landfills initially self- managed by residents and later institutionalized, public interventions, and the influence of infrastructures such as Avenida Brasil and Linha Vermelha. The research reveals the spatial diversity of the communities, resulting from spontaneous occupations, planned housing complexes, and adaptations to the socioeconomic context, in addition to identifying internal fragmentations in nuclei with distinct characteristics. By filling cartographic gaps and offering an integrated view of the complex’s urban dynamics, the work stands out as a reference for understanding the relationship between informality, public policies, and territorial transformation.
Lucivaldo Dias Bastos holds a PhD in Urbanism from the Graduate Program in Urbanism at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (PROURB/UFRJ) and is a postdoctoral researcher at the same program. Patricia Regina Chaves Drach holds a PhD in Computational Modeling, is an Associate Professor at the Higher School of Industrial Design/ESDI, State University of Rio de Janeiro/UERJ, and a Permanent Professor in the Graduate Programs in Urbanism (PROURB/UFRJ) and in Design (PPDESI/UERJ).
AMANTINO, Marcia Sueli. A construção de um discurso antijesuıtico nas devassas religiosas na capitania do Rio de Janeiro: estatutos de verdade? CLIO: Revista Pesquisa Histórica, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco (UFPE), v. 41, n. 2, p. 320–349, 2023.
BARROS, Margaux de. Entre a fé e a expressão política. Etnografia das interações entre pastores e fiéis evangélicos durante as eleições de 2022 no Rio de Janeiro. Lua Nova: Revista de Cultura e Polıtica, SciELO Brasil, e122035mb, 2024. DOI:
10.1590/0102-035mb/122.
BASTOS, Lucivaldo Dias; DRACH, Patricia Regina Chaves, et al. Mapeamento do processo de evolução urbana do Complexo da Maré, Rio de Janeiro. Revista de Morfologia Urbana,
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GOMES, Denildo de Freitas et al. Preconceito e estigma na atenção básica de saúde: atos discriminatórios com os usuários transexuais. Contribuciones a las Ciencias Sociales,
v. 17, n. 1, p. 3259–3278, Jan. 2024. DOI: 10.55905/revconv.17n.1-193.
GUERRA, Vanessa et al. The contributions of community-led newspapers to the resilience of Rio’s Maré and Rocinha favelas during the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Urban Affairs, Taylor & Francis, p. 1–17, 2024. DOI: 10.1080/07352166.2024.2357707.
LOPES, Josiane Bentes et al. Health of the romany people and COVID19 primer: reflections
upon cultural competence. Cuadernos de Educación y Desarrollo, v. 16, n. 1,
p. 3298–3319, 2024.
NASCIMENTO, Gleide Alencar do. Geoeducação e geotrilha na pista Cláudio Coutinho nos monumentos naturais da montanha do Pão de Açúcar e Morro da Urca, Brasil. Brazilian Journal of Development, v. 10, n. 3, e68020–e68020, 2024. DOI: 10.34117/bjdv10n3-038.
SILVA, Rosana Elisa Coppedê; POLCK, Márcia Aparecida Reis;
ARAÚJO-JÚNIOR, Hermınio Ismael de. Geodiversity in ecclesiastical construction: a geotourism itinerary in the City of Rio de Janeiro. Geoheritage, Springer, v. 16, n. 1, p. 9, 2024. DOI: 10.1007/s12371-023-00912-y.
SILVA, Tainá Andrade da; SILVA FILHO, Wilson Oliveira da. Os cinemas de rua morreram?
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VIEIRA, Matheus. Animals wearing combat boots: relationships between bookies and militiamen in the West Zone of the city of Rio de Janeiro. Cadernos Metrópole, SciELO Brasil, v. 26, e6164729, 2024. DOI: 10.1590/2236-9996.2024-6164729-en.
ZAVALETA, Jorge et al. Análise de Desfechos de COVID-19 no RJ através de Técnicas de
Aprendizado de Máquina. In . Anais do XVI Congresso Brasileiro de Inteligência Computacional (CBIC 2023). Salvador, BA: SBIC, 2023. p. 1–8. DOI: 10.21528/CBIC2023-072.
João Vitor P. do Amaral is the current Editorial Assistant of the Coleção Estudos Cariocas. He is an undergraduate Journalism student at the School of Communication of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. He has academic research experience as a scientific initiation scholarship holder in the Graduate Program in Social Memory (PPGMS/UNIRIO, 2018-2021) and at the School of Communication (ECO/UFRJ, 2023-). His research focuses on social memory, media narratives, and slavery in 19th-century Brazil.
Conceptualization, [J.V.P.A.]; methodology, [J.V.P.A.]; software [J.V.P.A.]; validation, [J.V.P.A.]; formal analysis, [J.V.P.A.]; investigation, [J.V.P.A.]; resources, [J.V.P.A.]; data curation, [J.V.P.A.]; writing—original draft preparation, [J.V.P.A.]; writing—review and editing [J.V.P.A.]; visualisation, [J.V.P.A.]; supervision, [J.V.P.A.]; project administration, [J.V.P.A.]; funding acquisition, [J.V.P.A.]. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.
The author declares no conflicts of interest.
Coleção Estudos Cariocas (ISSN 1984-7203) is a publication dedicated to studies and research on the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro, affiliated with the Pereira Passos Institute (IPP) of the Rio de Janeiro City Hall.
Its objective is to disseminate technical and scientific production on topics related to the city of Rio de Janeiro, as well as its metropolitan connections and its role in regional, national, and international contexts. The collection is open to all researchers (whether municipal employees or not) and covers a wide range of fields — provided they partially or fully address the spatial scope of the city of Rio de Janeiro.
Articles must also align with the Institute’s objectives, which are:
Special emphasis will be given to the articulation of the articles with the city’s economic development proposal. Thus, it is expected that the multidisciplinary articles submitted to the journal will address the urban development needs of Rio de Janeiro.
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