Resistance and Censorship in Portugal
A Historical Context
Portugal endured a lengthy dictatorship from 1926 until 1974, under the Estado Novo regime, led by António de Oliveira Salazar and later Marcelo Caetano. This authoritarian government imposed strict censorship to maintain control over public discourse, suppressing dissenting voices and limiting access to information. Books, newspapers, films, and even songs were subject to heavy scrutiny. The regime banned content deemed subversive, enforcing a sanitized narrative aligned with its ideology.
Despite the pervasive censorship, resistance flourished underground. Writers, journalists, and artists developed covert networks to distribute banned works, often at great personal risk. The growing dissatisfaction with the regime’s oppressive policies culminated in the Carnation Revolution on April 25, 1974. This peaceful military coup, supported by widespread civilian resistance, brought an end to the dictatorship.
The revolution’s symbolic use of carnations in soldiers' rifles highlighted its non-violent nature. With the fall of the regime, censorship was abolished, ushering in a new era of freedom and democracy for Portugal. The Carnation Revolution remains a powerful example of resistance against oppression and the triumph of liberty.
THE PERFORMANCE
Shhh...Don't be silent
Censorship of individual and artistic freedom of expression was one of the forms of repression during the dictatorship period in Portugal and is the theme of this performance that combines speech, music, and movement. The fascist morality that particularly oppressed women opens the possibility for debate about what constitutes forms of censorship today.
