HISTORY OF LUSOPHONE CULTURES AND SOCIETIES

This course is meant for students who have chosen the track of study “Iberistica” in the
Master Degree Program in "European, American and Postcolonial Languages and
Literatures" and “Americas” in the Master Degree Program in Comparative International
Relations. It tries to analyze Brazil and Portugal from a social and cultural perspective,
collaborating in the construction of specific historical skills for the students.
Specifically, it intend to offer a glance on the cultural process that participated in the
construction, rebuilding and invention of the two States, and on the different facets of
their identities. In this way, the course seeks to broaden the student skills in analyzing
studies of the imaginary in its forms of representation and political action. It includes
the analysis of a wide and varied documentation including travel literature, iconographic
expressions (paintings, monuments, photographs, cinema), literary, musical,
cinematographic and other creative processes.

- expand knowledge on issues surrounding the construction of national identities and
imaginaries, particularly that of Brazil;
- interrogate and understand the practices and devices of power in projects of "invention
of the nation";
- observe the dynamics of the relationships established between the present, the past and
projects for the future, broadening the understanding of contemporary sociocultural
reality;
- develop knowledge of the historical context and power relations present in the process
of constructing representations of the nation;
- constitute critical perspectives on the construction of identities (particularly Brazil's),
considering its historical process and the dynamics involved in its different
interpretations and registers;
- identify and discuss the different historiographic and artistic representations
constituted in the processes of construction of national imaginaries;
- promote reflections on different historiographical trends, focusing on cultural history,
representations and imaginaries;
- develop the ability to understand and critique methodological tools and analyze
various sources, including: literature and travel literature, music, photographs, paintings
and sculptural monuments;

Oral and written comprehension of Portuguese

1- Introduction to the themes of the discipline; Imaginary of discovery and colonization:
travel literature (writings and images).
2- Nation-building: imagery of independence, the Republic and the national hero.
3- Researching the nation's past: historiography, literature and fine arts.
4- The imaginary of the Brazilian people: between rogues and workers (images and
music).
5- In search of the modern nation: literature, architecture, Cinema Novo and Bossa
Nova.
6- Imaginary and cultural heritage of the nation.

To the attendants:
(basic knowledge in Brazilian History or read a textbook)
Suggested bibliography will be provided in the first class.

To the NON attendants:
(basic knowledge in Brazilian History or read a textbook)
Core bibliography:
CARVALHO, José Murilo. A Formação das Almas. São Paulo, Cia das Letras, 1995
MATOS, Maria Izilda e SOLER, Maria Angélica (orgs). O Imaginário em debate:
gênero, música, pintura e boêmia. São Paulo, Olho d’Água, 1998.
MATOS, Maria Izilda. Samba: societá, musica e sentimenti, Palerno, EunoEdizioni,
2011.
PESAVENTO, Sandra. O imaginário da cidade: Visões literárias, Porto Alegre, Editora
da UFRGS, 1991.

To ALL students:
The evaluation will consist in one research paper, to analyze a topic of the class
discussions (50%) and oral discussion (50%)
To the attendants (student choice):
The evaluation will consist in one research paper, to analyze a topic of the class
discussions (50%) and a seminar presentation (oral, 50%).

Lectures will include presentations and discussions, seminars with oral exposition,
reading and interpretation of texts, written documents, paintings, photos, songs and
films, and may include annotated screenings of films related to the topics covered in the
course.