Introduces the history and culture of Brazil through the lens of performance. The course explores the way performance arts (dance, music, carnival, theatre, sports) are celebrated as expressions of the African, Indigenous and European roots of Brazilian culture, yet also subjected to race, gender, sexuality and class discrimination. Readings, films, seminar discussions and studio workshops give students understanding of the social forces that shape Brazil; and a critical appreciation for the ways in which performance can both re-inscribe stereotypes and social injustice, and be an avenue for transgressive expressions, political protest, and liberatory practices.
