Destruidores e criadores: totalitarismo e liberdade em V for Vendetta

Abstract

This dissertation aims to analyze the graphic novel V for Vendetta (titled V de Vingança in Brazilian Portuguese), published between 1982 and 1989 by British authors Alan Moore and David Lloyd. The work is situated within the context of the 1980s, a decade marked internationally by the continuation of the Cold War and fears of a still possible nuclear conflict, and, domestically within the United Kingdom, by political and social transformations resulting from the implementation of neoliberal policies under the government of Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The research seeks to problematize how the concepts of totalitarianism and freedom are represented and challenged throughout the narrative, and how these elements are directly connected to the political and social context of the time, as well as to the worldview of its authors—especially that of scriptwriter Alan Moore, who positioned himself strongly as a critical voice against the British government then in power. The analysis also encompasses the setting and the construction of the characters featured in the work, along with the ideals they represent. To achieve this analysis, the study seeks to understand the influence of the Cold War on the production of comic books, with an emphasis on the United States, highlighting the challenges and transformations that impacted the industry up to the 1980s. Furthermore, it examines the development of the British comics industry, which presented peculiarities in comparison to its American counterpart, and which is directly connected to the professional trajectories of Alan Moore and David Lloyd prior to their collaboration on V for Vendetta. It is worth noting that, as both a source and object of this research, V for Vendetta was analyzed in its entirety, taking into consideration the sketches and inspirations, in addition to the plot and narrative, which are divided into three volumes. The research is also based on books, academic articles, and interviews given by the authors, which provide valuable insights for a deeper understanding of the representations of totalitarianism and freedom present in the work. Finally, this dissertation aims to contribute to the expansion of methodological approaches regarding the use of comic books as legitimate sources and objects of historical research, as well as to support studies focused on understanding the effects of the international context of the Cold War and the internal tensions experienced in the United Kingdom during that period.