CLAC Inglês 5

A small space for personal thoughts of those that once wher part of CLAC English V.

[clac5ingles]

The Digital Divide: My Personal Journey Through Entertainment and Inequality in Brazil

Drawing from my own trajectory and daily observations, it is undeniable that online entertainment has become a fundamental pillar of modern existence. However, in the Brazilian context, this digital landscape is far from being a level playing field; rather, it is a stark reflection of deep social inequalities. In my experience, while platforms like you tube and tiktok offer a gateway to both education and leisure, the full spectrum of digital culture remains frustratingly out of reach for those of us in low-to-middle-income situations.

One of the primary barriers I have encountered is the paradoxical nature of choice. While the market offers a wide range of options, the financial reality of the Brazilian worker tells a different story. The cumulative cost of multiple subscriptions such as Netflix, Disney, and Spotify is often entirely incompatible with the national minimum wage. For many, including myself, this creates a sense of exclusion, where access to global culture is treated as a premium luxury for the elite rather than a universal right.

Furthermore, my experience in the outskirts has highlighted how infrastructure exacerbates this exclusion. High-speed fiber internet is frequently a rare commodity in these areas, forcing many to rely on unstable mobile data that evaporates quickly when streaming high-quality content. When you combine this with the exorbitant prices of essential hardware smartphones and e-readers whose costs are inflated by heavy taxation the digital sanctuary promised by the internet feels more like a gated community.

This leads to a controversial but necessary debate: the role of alternative access. In my view, when the formal system excludes individuals based on their bank accounts, piracy emerges not as an act of malice against creators, but as a valid strategy for cultural survival. It is a form of defiance against a system that commodifies the human need for imagination and empathy.

To conclude, while we see the subversive joy of communities like booktok or Tumblr, we must acknowledge that this abundance is not yet universal. I believe that until we address the systemic issues of digital inequality and prohibitive pricing in countries like Brazil, the global cultural conversation will remain incomplete. We must fight to democratize access so that every individual can find their own "sanctuary in troubling times through the transformative power of art.                 

Created by Eugénio Mateus Machai, student at CLAC URFJ, class 504

[clac5ingles]

My access to entertainment

Online entertainment is becoming increasingly difficult these days because access is restricted and we need to pay for different streaming services to access movies and series. Another point is that going to the cinema is expensive, and depending on the cinema, they may not show all the films that are currently playing. I rarely watch series and movies, and I believe this is because there is little access to these productions for free.

Today we have major streaming services on the market such as Amazon, Netflix, Paramount, HBO, Disney+, Globoplay, and Hulu, for example, and many good productions. However, each of them has different projects in its catalog that are exclusive, and to watch them we need to pay, which makes access difficult. I believe that's why online piracy is so prevalent today, because many works go viral and everyone wants to watch them. Those who, like me, don't have access to streaming services, look for pirate channels so they don't miss out on the movies and series that are trending. When we talk about cinema, the prices and the location where each type of film will be shown influences the demand for pirated films.

In my opinion, piracy is wrong and shouldn't happen, but it's everywhere online, including on social networks like Telegram, which today is a large network for accessing movies and series from various countries, including those currently showing in theaters.

In short, today we have a lot to watch online and offline across various networks and places, but access is difficult and expensive, which leads me and many young people and adults without access to resort to piracy so as not to miss any trends or releases. Long as there are no public measures that value entertainment as a source of culture to which everyone should have access, piracy will exist, harming both those who produce and those who consume.

Developed/created by Giovanna Amaral Pacheco, student at CLAC/UFRJ, class 504/505

[clac5ingles]

The Digital Problem: Too Many Choices and Bad Access

We live in a world with too many digital things. With just one click, we can watch millions of movies and videos. I am a 35 years old teacher and I see how this changed everything. When I was younger, we needed to wait a week for a new TV episode. Today, my students and I  can watch a complete season in one weekend. But this big variety is not always good. Having too many options makes us freeze. Many times I spent thirty minutes just looking for an option at Netflix after a long day of work at school, feeling tired because of the algorithm. In the end, I close the app and watch nothing. This endless content turns entertainment into a boring habit. 

Having access to this digital world is not easy. I am lucky because I have a stable job and good internet at home. But for many people, true access to online movies is a lie. A few years ago, streaming was great because one cheap subscription gave you everything. Today, the market is broken. If you want to watch a popular documentary or a new movie that everyone is talking about, you need to pay for five or six different platforms. For working families and poor students, this is an impossible monthly money to spend. This economic inequality creates a big exclusion. When art and education are expensive, the internet stops being democratic. 

This financial problem is the reason why people use alternative ways, like piracy. When official platforms are too expensive, piracy is a symptom of a broken system, not just a crime. Is piracy a good way to look at culture? Legally, no. But from a social point of view, it helps to make things equal in an unfair world. For example, when big companies raise prices or remove independent movies and study papers from the internet, download sites are the only option for students. In conclusion, a good digital culture should not force people to choose between paying too much or having no access to culture. We need a system with real access for everyone, not just big profits for companies. 

“Developed/created by [Bruno Menezes], student at CLAC/UFRJ, class 504

[clac5ingles]

Globalization: Good or not?

Regarding the variety of options, I don't think it negatively affects my consumption. I like having many options when it comes to entertainment. For me, online access has greatly facilitated access to entertainment such as watching movies/series, listening to podcasts, and learning new things. But the downside of this wide variety is that it forces us to spend more and more money to have access to basic entertainment. For example, some streaming services now "force" us to pay higher prices to avoid ads during audiovisual productions, such as movies. But this wasn't common a few years ago, since we paid and weren't bothered by unpleasant ads.

Much has been said about the negative consequences of high internet consumption, but it has also brought us many good things. During the pandemic, I took courses and learned many things, such as crocheting and baking, thanks to the internet, which allows us to learn and consume all kinds of content. So, the internet has its positive points, having a high capacity to break down barriers imposed by social inequality, making access to culture and art, and consequently, helping poorer people.

I don't feel excluded from online content, but I think that in recent times, barriers have been created to make it more difficult to access certain types of content. These barriers hinder access to various types of content, such as entertainment, scientific research, knowledge acquisition, etc. For example, the excessive prices charged for certain accesses such as books, movies, and series that are only available on specific streaming services. This leads people to resort to piracy as a way to facilitate access to entertainment. I understand the problems caused by piracy, but I believe that for some people it is valid, because without this practice, some social groups would not have access to things that should be basic, such as art, culture and knowledge easier. Although piracy will be harmful to independent artists, who are often not properly compensated for their work, this practice facilitates access to information and culture for poorer populations, because sometimes, these people do not have money to pay to invest in many books or to sing many streamings. But the piracy permitted this access. 

Developed/created by Luiza Andrade/AL, student at CLAC/UFRJ, class 504/505

[clac5ingles]

How inequality affects all types of entertainment

We live in a scenario with a huge inequality of access to culture in Brazil nowadays. Even though it is a constitutional law, many people still find it difficult to access ways of entertainment such as movies, tv shows, books and other online content. Most of these contents are in paid platforms or the ones that demand subscriptions to many different services. This type of model just reinforces inequalities that already exist and makes it hard for people who have less financial resources to access different contents.

To be honest, I don’t have so many difficulties accessing entertainment contents online, because most of what I consume is available on platforms that I or someone in my family already subscribed to. Besides, sometimes I resort to piracy. I believe that it can be a great alternative for those who want to consume some kind of media, but can't because of financial issues. In my case, this happens with books. I really enjoy reading, but the prices, especially physical books, don’t fit into my budget. That’s why sometimes I end up using piracy to be able to read some works. Literature is an important part of my life and I don’t want to lose access to it (I avoid using piracy with indie and national authors, because I believe that this harms their work)

I also think that it’s important to reflect on the reasons that lead Brazil to be a country where more than half of the population doesn’t read books. The high costs of the books (and signatures, in case of movies and series) and the difficulty to access the internet and technology limit the contact of many people with books and entertainment.

Finally, this type of situation makes me think a lot about how de access to entertainment still is extremely unequal in Brazil. Even though I can consume a lot of online content, many people don’t share the same opportunity and need to prioritize more essential expenses. That’s why I think we should discuss ways to make movies, tv shows, books and other cultural products of entertainment more accessible to everyone.

Created by Taiane Cunha, student at CLAC/UFRJ, class 504

[clac5ingles]

Online Entertainment

Online entertainment today is bigger and my consumption is influenced by some options available. I watch videos, listen to music and follow content creations on different platforms. In my experience having many choices permits me to find content that I like as relaxing content. But sometimes I can't access it. For example, I love watching FC Barcelona, and the games are available on Disney Plus. I don’t have this platform, so  I’m using other websites on the internet  to watch my team. I know that this is not correct, but how  am I supposed to watch my team? I won’t pay Disney Plus only for this, I think that is expensive for me.

Using piracy is a bad option because it hurts creators. The most important idea is to have access without breaking the law. I believe that we need cheaper online entertainment to avoid piracy. But the reality is different. Many people can not pay for those platforms of entertainment.

In addition many people stop using paid platforms because the prices are expensive. You also have to consider that some people don't have high salaries. Moreover, some regions have fewer legal options to access online entertainment. Another important point is that online entertainment is a basic part of life now. Many people use it to relax, learn new things, or stay connected with friends and communities. I have friends that sign up with four streaming platforms (Netflix, Prime Video, HBO MAX, Disney Plus) and also music apps like Spotify Premium. It is interesting because with all these platforms. They spend a long time finding a movie to watch. Sometimes they say that they can’t find interesting content.

Finally, online entertainment should be accessible to everyone, not only for those who can pay for many platforms. When access relies  only on money, many people are excluded from the cultural experiences that others have every day.

Developed by Danilo Molina, student at CLAC/UFRJ, class 504/505

[clac5ingles]

How Piracy Helps Preserve Classic Games

The piracy is a hard theme to talk about because there are many definitions for this term. The definition of the word can change depending on the place, the person, the application and the evaluator causing multiple interpretations for a single occurrence. With that in mind, I’ll talk about the piracy of the old games because this is where I am most involved.

In the world of old games, the piracy is a very good thing because it helps in the preservation of the game. Today, many of these games are unavailable to buy or rent in stores and to play legally it is necessary to buy second-hand consoles and games, which are hard to find and expensive to buy. Thanks to that, the piracy allows people to have easy access to the games and that helps nurture the game's community and keep it alive.

It is common for game companies to stop working on a game or franchise after a few years and this is due to various factors such as lack of interest, low rentability, change of business owners, among others. Because of this, projects created by fans arise to preserve these titles that without it could disappear or be forgotten. Games like "Ultima Online"(1997), "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas"(2004) and "City of Heroes"(2004) are examples of this and this is only possible because of piracy. Piracy even allows a person to modify details or completely change their favorite game and share it with other fans and this strengthens the community of fans of the game.

In this scenario, the piracy is very important for me because it helped me find more games that were released long before I was born. Because of this, I can play games that I could not pay and it is for this reason that piracy is very important to me and to people who like old games.

Created by Vinícius, student at CLAC/UFRJ, class 504

[clac5ingles]

Beyond the content

I can’t say that I am a cinephile, but I really like to watch series and movies, especially k-dramas and animations. Because of Hallyu nowadays it is easier to find k-dramas in the streaming, but sometimes we still need to use alternative sites. And I need to say, I really like some aspects of this form of watch content. The AIC (Academia Internacional de Cinema) says that there exist more than 50 platforms of video streaming in Brazil so paying all that is impossible for common people. Because of this, piracy looks like an option for more access. But I think the consumption of content in some alternative sites have very interesting particularities. In fansubs sites, sites dedicated to put captions on non-brazilians series, movies and books is very common the practice of selling “rifas” or have some type of collective financing to maintain the work of the volunteers and the costs of the platforms and programs. But the way they get money is not the only thing that is different from streaming. Another difference is the way the translators interact and make part of the content, they put comments about the series, movies or other contents in corners of the screen. You can see some examples at the end of the text.

The translator’s comments do not happen in every episode or chapter, but are common and I appreciate this interaction very much. Because the translator is a fan too. The comments are not just to explain some word or expression, but to talk and react about the story as well. This put one more layer of significance on the story. This is like watching or reading something with a friend or like having an invisible commentator that appears just on punctual moments. I know that on literacy exist some books where the editor puts some comments through the text, but I believe the fansubs translators’ comments are different, because they talk like fans a lot of times and this makes the comments more organic.

I believe the internet can help us to have more access and this is important for maintaining the knowledge and culture around the world, but this creates some practices and culture too and that is the beauty of humanity. Created by Flávia Adriano, student at CLAC/UFRJ, class 504

[clac5ingles]

My life and my access to internet

My access to entertainment and consumption of online content is very wide. I use and consume internet content everyday, it’s something that I have an easy access to. The wide range of options on the internet is something really good because if you want to watch anything, there will be at least one video on the internet, and the algorithm will understand what you like to watch or read and will recommend more contents that look like. On one hand, this is good, because it helps you to find contents that match with what you like, but on the other hand it can limit the exposure to new contents and perspectives. I never really felt excluded in terms of online entertainment, even when the prices were a little bit higher I could find a way to access the content, by alternative websites, downloads and google drive.Online entertainment today is a thing that is so present in our lives, it’s a thing we cannot live without nowadays, and with that, of course there’s so many ways to find a content in alternative, like I mentioned before, I already used many of them, I think piracy is a valid option to give people who probably wouldn’t have access to this contents, a way to watch something they like and want to watch. Besides that, the increase of streaming services is something that contributes to a big use of piracy, since the content is so widespread nowadays. Back in the years, you just had to have one streaming to watch everything you wanted but now there’s so many streaming services. It makes the access to content much more difficult, making people pay a lot of money to watch sometimes one tv show of the catalogue.

Finally, access to the internet has become an essential part of modern life. So, we have to find a balance between making the content accessible to everyone and still support the creators and industries.

Made by Cayo, class 505, student of CLAC/UFRJ 2026

[clac5ingles]

Piracy is not "necessarily" a problem

I think that my consumption of online content is small when compared with my friends because I only got a personal computer when I was a teenager, so I started consuming online content too late. That meant I didn’t have a lot of access to content such as videos, movies and books, furthermore I was always afraid of downloading certain files since I didn’t have experience with the virus and malware risks. Even today, I am not  really experienced with this problem.

Now that I’m an adult, I consume more online entertainment, such as movies, online courses and other forms of content. As I’m currently pursuing a PhD research every day I need to access texts that help me with my research, so I don’t think that I’m excluded from online entertainment today, and I should say that if it weren’t for piracy, I wouldn’t feel this way. I know that piracy has its problems but I’m sure that problems are relatively small compared to its benefits. 

For example, when I was a child, I didn’t have money to buy some of the videogames I liked, so thanks of piracy and the emulators today I can play many games that I didn’t have the opportunity to play. So, I think that piracy helps us fulfill a wide range of desires that most people can’t do because of financial or accessibility limitations.

I am sure that the piracy has some problems when it comes to artists' compensation, especially independent artists. For this problem, I think the way to resolve it is to fight for more rights for the creative workers in general, but I still think that the access to information is a global right.

To sum up, I really consider piracy an important way of democratizing  information access and connecting people around the world, and I'm grateful for the role it has played in my life. However, it’s important to remember that piracy is a reflection of social inequality, so we need also to worry about  the problems that make the piracy an alternative for many people. With responsibility and awareness, I think that we can resolve thess problems without demonizing the piracy.  

Developed/created by Pedro Oliveira, student at CLAC/UFRJ, class 504/505

[clac5ingles]

Mom life vs. Connectivity

My consumption of online content is so low. I’m almost always the next to know some news in my neighborhood, for example.

Generally, I don’t have time and honestly, I don't have patience either.I didn’t find it fun to know about other peoples' lives all the time. What that people eat, wear, where these people go or what time they wake up and go to sleep. I really don't mind and don’t like to spend my time watching streaming too. Honestly, I think I'm turning into a grumpy, annoying old woman.

I believe that people need to read more, to study more. When we walk on the street, what we see are people on their phones, 100% connected full time. People don’t talk anymore, they no longer sit in public squares or have picnics. The internet, online lives are almost always a big lie and even though deep down people know this, they are making themselves sick in pursuit of a perfect, Instagrammable life. The most important idea is a limiter. We need to find a way to use entertainment with limits and awareness, understanding that there is a real life that requires more attention.

You might be thinking that I don't like my routine or my children because of my lack of time, but that’s not true. I love both and in fact, I’ve never really been a fan of screens, even before they arrived. I like to go out, to see people on the street, to stay with my friends, to listen to music... And that's the way I like to study English too; With music! I usually listen to the music and read the lyrics at the same time. That way, I can get to know new words and improve my pronunciation. I love to learn new things, I love to study, and it's not always possible to do that surrounded by distractions.

[clac5ingles]

Between Access and Piracy

Internet returned content consuption more acessible. Today, most people can have acess to the entertainment of the quickly and easily. Is it possible acess educative content . watch movies and listen music throung of the computer our even the cell. The digital platform allow the contat with culture of the diferents countries, little artists they can to disclose your work and also offer acess a free content as movies, podcasts and digital library .

Although exist more available content , not everyone has the same opportunities of acess. Many families do not have internet our count with a service of low quality in your residences. Furthmore, acess the various platforms of streaming demands subscriptions which can lead to high costs. For many families, this costs become unfeasible, which ultimately limits the acess to certain content and forms of entertainement.

By virtue this situations , many people end up resorting the piracy to acess content, either because they are unable to pay for the service ou wheter because it’s only way acess entertainment, educative content , between others. Although this does not necessarily mean na intention to harm content creator and artists, the piracy reases a debate importante about acess, inequalities and appreciation of criative work.

Developed by Tamyris Dias, student at CLAC/UFRJ, class 505.

[clac5ingles]

Entertainment, Studies, and the High Price of Being Online

​Online entertainment today is a huge part of my routine, and it takes up most of my free time. In my experience, whenever I am not busy with classes or responsibilities, my first reaction is to open social media, play games, or watch a series. But being online is not just about having fun. As a college student, I use the internet even more when it is time to study. I am always looking for extra materials, books, and video lessons online to help me understand my classes. So, the internet has two sides for me: it is where I go to relax, but it is also my main tool for education. ​

You also have to consider that keeping up with all these digital platforms is very expensive. Furthermore, economical aspects make it really hard to pay for everything legally. Today, entertainment is split into too many different streaming apps. If you want to watch a few different shows or documentaries, you need to pay for multiple subscriptions, and the prices keep going up. This is a big problem, especially for students who do not have a lot of money to spend. Because of these high prices, people are forced to look for other options.

​I believe that this is why piracy became so common and practical for many of us. When paying for everything becomes too expensive, using free streaming websites or downloading PDFs is often the only way to stay connected and learn. To sum up, having so many options online is great, but the high prices leave a lot of people behind. Until these services become cheaper and easier to access, alternative websites will continue to be a necessary tool for students to access culture and education.

Developed/created by Renata Guimarães, student at CLAC/UFRJ, class 505

[clac5ingles]

sorry, but I’m just a poor Brazilian

Online entertainment today is basically the center of my daily routine, especially when I just want to relax. In my experience, I spend a lot of my free time scrolling through TikTok, watching movies on Netflix, or even using the pirated channels we have at home. Having easy access to this kind of online content is great. My consumption of online content is limited because of the high prices, just like most people here in Brazil.

The primary argument for my point of view is that subscription prices are way too high. I believe they must be reduced because, like the majority of people in Brazil, I simply do not have the financial condition to pay for extra expenses. Therefore, I am fully in favor of free access and I cannot be against piracy. Furthermore, economical aspects show that when legal options become an expensive luxury, alternative "options" become the only way for us to access culture and information.

I believe piracy is a valid option because I read a lot of pirated books online. I love reading, but I do not have the money to keep buying expensive physical books, nor do I have enough space in my house to store them all. To sum up, until platforms make their prices affordable for everyone, piracy will remain a necessary tool to democratize culture. Finally, we need cheaper legal options so that entertainment is not restricted only to those who pay.

Made by Bárbara Salles student at Clac 505

[clac5ingles]

Internet for everyone? Not yet.

I use the internet every day. Music, videos, social media. It's part of my routine. But I don't always stop to think that this is a privilege. For me, it's easy to open my phone and watch something. But for many people, this is not possible.

The problem is that not everyone has access. IBGE showed that 5.9 million houses in Brazil had no internet in 2023. That's a lot of people. While I'm here watching YouTube videos, some people can't even send a message to their family. And it's not just about bad signal or connection problems. Many times it's about money. Internet plans are expensive, and not everyone can pay for them.

Streaming is also expensive. Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime... all of this costs money. If you want to watch movies and series, you need to pay for many different platforms. Each one has a different price. And when you don't have money, the only option left is piracy. I'm not saying it's right, but I also don't judge who does it. If someone wants to watch a movie or listen to music and can't pay, what do they do? In Brazil, many people choose piracy because legal options are too expensive.

In the end, I think we need to remember that having access to the internet and online entertainment is still not a reality for everyone. And this is a problem that goes beyond technology. It's about money and inequality. While some people have everything, others have nothing. I hope that one day, everyone will have the same opportunities to enjoy online content.

Developed by Roger Veiga, student at CLAC, class 505 Sources: G1 Technology – "Quase 6 milhões de lares brasileiros não têm acesso à internet, revela IBGE" (August 2024). Available at: https://g1.globo.com/tecnologia/noticia/2024/08/16/quase-6-milhoes-de-lares-brasileiros-nao-tem-acesso-a-internet-revela-ibge.ghtml

[clac5ingles]

My experience with consumption of online contents

I consume online content consistently. The principal activity I do with internet is studying, because the online access to resources is faster than searching for physical materials. I also like to play online games, planning things on Pinterest, reading comics on Facebook, etc., but scrolling on social media is tiring, so I prefer reading my books or watching series.

   Even with an easy access to online content, the quality of the network company is low, theirs operators don't go to risk suburban areas when clients needs a repair, so this complicates the situation. If I can't either pay for a better service or live in another place today, so I can't even pay for many options of online entertainment, because it is expensive. Furthermore, I love listening to music, it became an online activity actually that is almost impossible download a song without pay a lot for it or choose the piracy. So I use free versions of platforms, but the ads are frustrating.

   In addition, it all reminds me that, in Brasil, people have to pay just to watch other channels beyond the basics that work with a simple antenna and we have to choose between paying for an entertainment platform or saving money. I feel excluded from some form of online entertainment. Finally, my experience with social and economical accessibilities makes me value every free options of online contents, like YouTube, little-knowns free platforms, public domain contents and government softwares like "MEC Livros", "MEC Idiomas" and "Tela Brasil".

Developed by Leticya Machado, student at CLAC/UFRJ, class 505.

[clac5ingles]

REAL LIFE ISN'T ONLINE

I personally am not very into a wide range of entertainment, as I'm not an excessive consumer. When we talk about online entertainment, we believe we're speaking to a specific audience. And in this case, I don't know if I directly fit that profile, as my behavior can be quite random. So, I can divide it into several moments of entertainment, one of which might be online entertainment, which is quite low. I believe this whole situation is more connected to people's lifestyles. I've gone days without accessing anything because of a situation that was much better for entertainment than sitting in front of a TV at home.

I don't spend much time online because I have other activities outside of it, and sometimes I go months without connecting. But when I'm looking for media online, I don't notice how much is available to me or not. I only look for what interests me most. If there isn't much, I end up not delving deeper and stick to what's most trivial. That's why I don't feel excluded at all and prefer to buy media, but that's not always the case. It's a characteristic of mine. I always prefer to physically obtain the media instead of downloading it. 

Regarding piracy, I understand that there is no control anymore, as things are so identical that it's impossible to tell the difference. I can't understand why some people take such a risk accessing malicious websites. 

Developed by: Aguinaldo Paulino Fernandes

Student of CLAC/UFRJ class 505