How did Brazilian Modernismo reject Portuguese academic traditions?

The Brazilian Modernismo movement, which gained prominence with the 1922 Semana de Arte Moderna, functioned as a deliberate rupture with Portuguese academicism and colonial cultural practices.12

Modernists rejected the traditional dependence on European literary values, which they viewed as artificial and restrictive. To establish an authentic national identity, they implemented several key changes:13

• Linguistic Reform: Writers moved away from "correct" Portuguese, instead incorporating colloquial Brazilian speech, unconventional syntax, and free verse to better reflect the reality of Brazilian life.12
• Thematic Shift: The movement prioritized native themes, drawing heavily from Brazilian folklore, legend, and the country's unique racial and cultural heterogeneity.123
• Cultural Cannibalism: Led by figures like Oswald de Andrade, the movement adopted a process of "digesting" foreign influences—swallowing them to create something entirely new and distinctly Brazilian—rather than merely imitating them.23
• Social Engagement: Modernists viewed literary reform as a vehicle for broader social change, aiming to define a national culture that bridged the gap between high art and popular life.12