Thesis & Dissertations
Ph.D. Thesis
Moura, Luiz Alberto (2024). Fado Canibal. A constituição do indie em Portugal em 18 gravadoras (1982 a 2017).
PhD Thesis in Communication Sciences. Braga: Universidade do Minho.
This pioneering research in Portugal examined the role of 18 independent Portuguese record labels in the construction and dissemination of indie music in the country (1982–2017), combining historical archival analysis (fanzines, blogs, personal records), 28 interviews with cultural agents, and digital ethnography to map strategies of cultural promotion.
Grounded in theories of music scenes, networks, and cultural democratisation, the study demonstrated how these labels challenged the dominance of major corporations, reconfiguring their territories, gaining recognition for musical production, and innovating in communicational processes linked to artistic creation. The investigation revealed that these entities transcended the strictly musical domain, acting as agents of cultural and urban transformation through visual languages (album cover design, posters), editorial practices (fanzines, blogs), fashion, and interactions with local communities.
By nurturing decentralised music scenes, indie labels fostered creative networks that influenced aesthetics, regional economies, and dynamics of urban regeneration, becoming catalysts for structural change in national cultural landscapes. In addition to mapping the sector’s evolution, the thesis proposed an analytical model for cultural ecosystems, emphasising the interdependence between artistic production, communication, and territory. The findings highlighted their role as intangible heritage in contexts of digital dematerialisation, advocating for public policies to preserve cultural memory.
The research also analysed key events, such as Portugal’s designation as the country focus at Eurosonic 2017, which served as a catalyst for the international projection of the national indie scene. The publications and presentations derived from this work examine the sustainability of cultural economies on a global scale, with an emphasis on transnational collaborations and the hybridisation of artistic practices, and offer new perspectives on the impact of these labels in a context dominated by streaming.
The thesis thus underscores the necessity of regarding these record labels not merely as content producers but as critical agents of cultural innovation and collective identity.
Master’s Dissertation
Moura, Luiz Alberto (2017). Anticristos Superstars – O mito dos serial killers como anti-heróis numa sociedade de extremismos.
Master’s Dissertation in Communication, Art & Culture. Braga: Universidade do Minho.
This dissertation critically examined the intersection of violence, media, and public fascination with serial killers, demonstrating how journalistic coverage and the mythological narratives associated with them express deep-rooted social tensions.
The dissertation focuses on the case of Francisco de Assis Pereira, the “Park Maniac”, widely regarded as the most emblematic serial killer in Brazil, and challenges the banalisation of evil in contemporary society. It investigates why the public consumes narratives of extreme violence and how this consumption turns such criminals into symbols of “ritualised evil”. The methodology integrated qualitative analysis of reports from Folha de S. Paulo, Brazil’s largest newspaper, alongside digital content, films, and literature.
It was complemented by an interdisciplinary review spanning philosophy, cultural studies, and criminology. Conversations with David Schmid, author of Natural Born Celebrities: Serial Killers in American Culture, further enriched the international comparative perspective. The findings evidenced that the media constructs the serial killer as an archetype of modern evil, simultaneously attracting and repelling audiences through sensationalised representations. The research also revealed a hybridisation of reality and fiction within violent narratives, in which cases such as the Maniac of the Park catalyse debates on journalistic ethics, social voyeurism, and the limits of collective empathy.
By relating criminal “seriality” to the ritualisation of violence in post-industrial societies, the thesis suggests that public interest in such crimes reflects anxieties surrounding the fragility of civilisational order.
Contributing to media studies and the culture of fear, the dissertation proposes new theoretical frameworks for understanding violence as a socio-communicative phenomenon. It reaffirms the urgency of ethical practices in journalism and cultural production.
Undergraduate Thesis
Moura, Luiz Alberto (1999). Serial Killers – A mídia ensina a matar.
Undergraduate Monograph in Journalism.Faculdade de Comunicação. Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora. Brazil.