Tropicália and CC5 Hendrix War by Helio Oiticica (click for a larger view of the works)
As a style of music, tropicalismo is considered the next step in the evolution of Brazilian popular music (Dunn 57). The musicians of tropicalismo worked with established elements in previous music in order to show admiration for its innovative qualities as well as to rethink what Brazilian culture meant for the nation and what was produced for international consumption. Imitation was an important option for the tropicalistas becaused it allowed them the possibility to mix poetry and popular music, to appeal to the intellectuals while engaging the masses, and to demonstrate music's capability to be an experience, rather than something solely heard.