Introduction to the Analysis of Portuguese and Brazilian Cultures
Cross-listed with RMST260
Welcome to the study of Lusophone Cultures! Lusophone cultures are the cultures of places where Portuguese is spoken. In this course, we will focus on the cultures of Portugal, the cradle of Lusophone Culture, and Brazil, the country with the largest Lusophone population. You will do a critical analysis of different cultural genres, including music, film and visual art through the study of selected Portuguese and Brazilian texts. You will also learn about the origins of Portugal, the influences on the country and the Portuguese language, and the main cultural aspects of Brazilian culture. You will go beyond fado, soccer/futebol and samba, and get to know other cultural expressions, such as the Portuguese cuisine and the Brazilian capoeira and telenovelas. The course is organized in thematic units with texts, videos, and specific critical perspectives, and will emphasize questions pertaining to the culture of everyday life, both rural and urban, including folklore, popular fiction, ritual, arts and crafts, music, television, film, and sports.
Upon successful completion of the course, you will be able to identify, analyse and understand the basic layers and the most relevant aspects of Lusophone cultures present in Portugal and Brazil.
Language of Instruction: English
Prerequisites: No prerequisites.
Credit will be granted for only one of PORT 222 or RMST 260.
The assessment for this course is gently distributed and in a balanced way, with diverse activities throughout the term. There are no scary, long, stressing, and tedious midterms or final exams for you in this course.
Assignments and Evaluations Breakdown:
Active Participation, attendance, homework, and preparation 15%
Short response paper 15%
Two short presentations (15% each) 30%
Reflection assignment (at home) 15%
Written end-of-term assessment 25%
Total = 100%
All needed materials will be provided via Canvas by the instructor.