Department of Performance Studies, NYU
Course #H42.2320
Fall 1997
Topics in Performing Culture: Performing Brazil
Barbara Browning
This course will offer an introduction to the history of Brazilian nationalist discourse and its relation to a variety of performative eng/events, from African and indigenous syncretic religious ceremonies to the telenovela. Our critical readings of the normative historical, sociological and anthropological accounts of the development of Brazilian culture will inform our examinations of popular music, religious and secular dance, carnival, film, and television.
9/10 from C. Lévi-Strauss, Tristes Tropiques (ch. 4, 6, 20, 28, and 38)
9/17 from J. Léry, History of a Voyage (ch. 8, 14, 15, 20); from M. Montaigne, "Of Cannibals"; from H. Staden, The Captivity of Hans Stade of Hesse (part I ch. 18-27; part II ch. 28)
9/24 from R. Schwartz, "Brazilian Culture: Nationalism by Elimination"; Randal Johnson, "Tupy or Not Tupy: Cannibalism and Nationalism in Contemporary Brazilian Culture"; Haroldo de Campos, "The Rule of Anthropophagy: Europe Under the Sign of Devoration"; B. Anderson, from Imagined Communities
10/1 film: "Macunaima"; from R. Stam and R. Johnson, Brazilian Cinema
10/8 from G. Freyre, The Masters and the Slaves
10/15 from R.Parker, Bodies, Pleasures and Passions; from Don Kulick, Practically Woman; from D.Pattai, Brazilian Women Speak
10/22 from R. Skidmore, Black Into White; J.M. Turner,"Brown Into Black"
10/29 B. Browning, Samba
11/5 from D. Hess and R. da Matta, ed.s, The Brazilian Puzzle, Introduction, ch. 8, 9, 11, Afterword; D.J. Schemo, "Live in Brazil (Again): The Reincarnated Dr. Fritz"; from W. Rowe and V. Schelling, Memory and Modernity: Popular Culture in Latin America (pp. t.b.a.)
11/12 Tropicália to Axé Music: from Perrone, Masters of Contemporary Brazilian Song; M. de Ulhoa Carvalho, "Tupi or Not Tupi: Popular Music and Identity in Brazil" (in Hess and da Matta); B. Browning, from Infectious Rhythm
11/19 Carmen Miranda and Patricia Hoffbauer (guest lecturers)
11/26 A. Simpson, Xuxa!; video
12/3 from N. Vink, The Telenovela and Emancipation; from M. Mattelart, The Carnival of Images; B. Browning, "The Closed Body"; video
12/10 discuss papers