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                        Cultures of Brazil & Lusophone Africa

   

 

                   This course explores the cultures of Brazil                      and Portuguese-speaking Africa in the context                    of their shared history as Portugal’s colonies                    as well as their present status as rapidly developing nations.  We will focus on several aspects of Lusophone cultures such as cinema, music, literature, architecture, dance, and sports, even as we read various texts in the fields of history and sociology.  The course will consider two main topics: 1) the concept of self in relation to colonial history then and now; and 2) the construction of national and cultural identity in Brazil and Africa.  

 

   We will attend seminars that provide a theoretical introduction to the subject, and, while we live in Rio de Janeiro and spend time in Salvador da Bahia, will visit numerous places of interest related to our course readings and discussions.  During the first week of the course, which will take place on the USC campus, we will focus mostly on theory and on the history of Lusophone Africa. From the second through the fourth week, while in Brazil, we will attend lectures and make guided visits to sites related to the main themes of the course.  While reading will comprise a significant portion of our curriculum, we will also regularly generate our own writings based on responses to objects and places that we will visit as a group or contemplate on our own.  Although not a formal part of the course, students with no background in Portuguese will have the opportunity to learn basic words and phrases to help them navigate Rio de Janeiro. But with my year of Portuguese I and II I am looking forward to hopefully becoming fluent before I head back home.