Searching Security: Imaginary fear and urban geography

Abstract

The focus of this paper is the relationships between the imaginary fear, urban violence and mass media that were developed in the essay “Imaginary fear: journalism and urban violence” (CORREA, 2008). Specifically, the study identifies changes in the public space of the city of Rio de Janeiro, through a critical reading of a series of reports (“War of Rio de Janeiro”) analyzed in contrast to the imaginary of fear related to violent crimes. Thus, we emphasize the major changes in urban geography of Rio, since the 1980s. Starting from the conception that the built space is a text that can be taken as an analytical tool of culture and society that constantly recreate it, discusses the relationship between changes in the life of the city and the narratives on violence broadcasted in mass media. This communication develops problems related to social security, addressing contemporary issues such as segregation of public space and the changes in the architecture of urban space, as represented in the press.