Daniel Arrieta    Department   Kyoto University of Foreign Studies  Department of Hispanic Studies, Faculty of Foreign Studies    Position   Associate Professor
Date	2025/01/17
Presentation Theme	Bandeirantes and Gauchos: Symbols of National Identity in Brazil and Argentina
Conference	International Association of Languages ​​and Cultures
Conference Type	Domestic
Presentation Type	Speech (General)
Contribution Type	Collaborative
Details	Much of the literature about the Brazilian bandeirante and the Argentine gaucho was written after these lifestyles had already disappeared, creating literary myths surrounding the formation of nation-states and the demarcation of national borders in the 19th century. The bandeirante, as exemplified by Olavo Bilach's The Emerald Hunters, is portrayed as a grand, democratic ideal. On the other hand, the gaucho, as seen in Martín Fierro and Facundo, is a complex figure, intertwined with romantic and Eurocentric perspectives. Both myths celebrate their contributions to nation-building while simultaneously functioning as a counterpoint to European culture, though to different degrees of entrenchment. While the gaucho became a national symbol of Argentina, the bandeirante remained localized in São Paulo, ceding the role of national prototype to indigenous figures.