As transformações do Rio pré-olímpico: ecos nas paisagens sonoras da favela da Maré

In this article, we explore Rio de Janeiro’s everyday urban experiences through attending to the sense of hearing. By adopting an ethnographic approach, our aim is to explore the ways in which the transformations that the city has experienced in the period that precedes the Olympic Games echo in the soundscapes of favela da Maré. In order to investigate this, we combine theoretical perspectives from the fields of sound studies and auditory culture, proposing a dialogue between cities and the senses. Our research indicates that urban sounds epitomize the joy of living, cultural richness and diversity of cities. For this reason, we suggest that the military occupation forces’ arbitrary actions in Maré manifest precisely through the suppression of sounds.