Two childhoods, two neighborhoods, and one city: utopias and dystopias in Brasilia

Children's experiences in Brasilia's neighborhoods reveal that perceptions of utopia and dystopia are not binary but amalgamated, shaped by personal meanings and relationships with place. The study used urban sensory ethnography, combining narrated walks, georeferenced filming, and analyses of two children's narratives in contrasting neighborhoods—the model superblock and Vila do Boa—to explore these dynamics. Findings challenge the oppositional framework of Brasilia’s Pilot Plan, showing that children integrate utopian and dystopian elements fluidly, reflecting their lived realities.

Marques, R. N., Müller, F., Kanegae, M. M., & Morgade, M. (2020). Two childhoods, two neighborhoods, and one city: utopias and dystopias in Brasilia. Children’s Geographies, 19(2), 172–183. https://doi.org/10.1080/14733285.2020.1772961