Nostalgia, colonial memory, and board games

representations of the Brazilian empire in Brazil: Imperial

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18568/cmc.v22i65.3071

Keywords:

board games, nostalgia, gesture of memory, coloniality, Brazilian gamer culture

Abstract

This article seeks to understand the role of Brazilian imperial nostalgia, in its conservative praise towards the colonial past, as a forming element of works that portray this period, specifically in the sphere of board game culture in Brazil. Our goal is to demonstrate how nostalgia frames the experience of Brazilian colonial history by glorifying historical elements that are codified, in turn, through game design and that establish bases for the naturalization of the violence of the colonization process. To illustrate this, we examine the Brazilian board game “Brazil: Imperial,” published by MeepleBR in 2021, to understand how it depicts themes of colonization and imperialism in Brazilian history. We argue that elements in the game strengthen Eurocentric and imperialist narratives while dodging colonialism's most problematic effects, such as slavery and the extermination of native peoples.

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Author Biographies

Thiago Falcão, Universidade Federal da Paraíba

Professor in the Department of Digital Media and the Graduate Program in Communication at the Federal University of Paraíba. Holds a PhD in Communication and Contemporary Culture from the Federal University of Bahia. Coordinates LENS — the Media, Entertainment and Society Research Laboratory. E-mail: thiago.falcao@academico.ufpb.br

Alexander Carneiro, Universidade Federal do Cariri

Professor in the Design and Multimedia Production programs at the Federal University of Cariri. Researcher in game studies and independent game designer. Holds a Master’s degree in Communication from the Graduate Program in Communication at the Federal University of Paraíba. E-mail: alexander.carneiro@ufca.edu.br

Daniel Marques, Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia

Professor at the Center for Culture, Languages and Applied Technologies and at the Graduate Program in Cultures, Languages and Territories of the Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia. Holds a PhD in Communication and Contemporary Culture from the Federal University of Bahia. E-mail: danielmarquescontato@gmail.com

Ian Bacellar, Universidade Federal da Paraíba

Master’s student in Communication and Media Cultures at the Federal University of Paraíba. E-mail: ian.ham.bacellar@gmail.com

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Published

2025-12-19

How to Cite

Falcão, T., Carneiro, A., Marques, D., & Bacellar, I. (2025). Nostalgia, colonial memory, and board games: representations of the Brazilian empire in Brazil: Imperial. Comunicação Mídia E Consumo, 22(65). https://doi.org/10.18568/cmc.v22i65.3071

Issue

Vol. 22 No. 65 (2025): SET/DEZ

Section

Artigos

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