Ricardo Correa and the Queer Art of Failure

The Case "Fofão da Augusta"

Abstract

The book Ricardo e Vânia: o maquiador, a garota de programa, o silicone e uma história de amor, by the journalist Chico Felitti, is a book report on Ricardo Correa, who became known as “Fofão da Augusta”, described by the author as someone who as “different for being ambitious, gay, artistic and schizophrenic. Not necessarily in that order”. Ricardo’s life illustrated what Jack Halberstam defines on the book The queer art of failure as the attitude and manner of being in the world that goes against heteronormativity, which imposes “success” as a life goal”. It also depicts the consequences of a historical discourse on deviant sexuality, as described by Michel Foucault. The book covers Felliti’s research to discover the history of a folkloric character he meets in the streets of São Paulo and knows only by his nickname. They meet in a wing for the destitute in Latin America’s largest hospital, Hospital das Clínicas. This article’s goal is, therefore, to relate Ricardo’s story, as told by Felitti, with the characteristics of failure as theorized by Halberstam.