Admission requirements
This course is open to BA students who have taken at least one course in a relevant area of specialization (i.e. in Latin American studies) in the first year. Students who speak/understand Portuguese and want to follow this course as an optional course: please contact tutor. Every effort is made to accommodate interested students who wish to take this as elective.
Description
This course examines the formation and complex social make-up of Brazil, the world’s largest Portuguese-speaking country through cultural and historical lenses.
Regarding the former, literature and visual culture are studied in socio-political contexts. This course considers a selection of texts from different genres (including film) drawn from late 19th to 21st centuries to help us understand some of the key issues relevant to Brazil today and significant trends in contemporary cultural production and the formation of the national imaginary. Among the issues we might consider are: representations of the favela from outside and inside the shantytowns; writing and resistance in Afro-Brazilian communities; how ideas of the nation have been represented in art; the relationship between poetry, music and politics; indigeneity in literature and film.
Adopting a more historical approach, the course then also examines the emergence of modern Brazil, focusing on the historical, political and economic factors that have proved decisiverly influential. Key topics covered in this section of the course centre on themes of economic and social development, the path to democracy and Brazil’s place in the wider world.
Course objectives
Academic skills that are developed include:
Oral presentation skills:
1. to explain clear and substantiated research results;
2. to provide an answer to questions concerning (a subject) in the field covered by the course
a. in the form of a clear and well-structured oral presentation;
b. in agreement with the appropriate disciplinary criteria;
c. using up-to-date presentation techniques;
d. aimed at a specific audience;
3. to actively participate in a discussion following the presentation.
Collaboration skills:
1. to be socio-communicative in collaborative situations;
2. to provide and receive constructive criticism and incorporate justified criticism by revising one’s own position;
3. adhere to agreed schedules and priorities.
Basic research skills:
1. to collect and select academic literature using traditional and digital methods and techniques;
2. to analyze and assess this literature with regard to quality and reliability;
3. to formulate on this basis a sound research question;
4. to design under supervision a research plan/paper of limited scope, and implement it using the methods and techniques that are appropriate within the discipline involved;
5. to formulate a substantiated conclusion.
Written presentation skills:
1. to explain clear and substantiated research results;
2. to provide an answer to questions concerning (a subject) in the field covered by the course
a. in the form of a clear and well-structured written presentation;
b. in agreement with the appropriate disciplinary criteria;
c. using relevant illustration or multimedia techniques;
d. aimed at a specific audience.
Timetable
The timetables are available through My Timetable.
Mode of instruction
- Seminar
Assessment method
Assessment
Active Participation/coöperation in class/group
Paper
Oral presentation.
Weighing
To complete the final mark, please take notice of the following:
Paper: 70%; Student Presentation: 30%
The final mark for the course is established by determining the weighted average. To pass the course, the weighted average of the partial grades must be 6.0 or higher.
Resit
In the case of papers and presentations, resubmission in the case of a failed assignment is possible. The maximum possible grade to be obtained for re-submission is a 6.0.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organized.
Reading list
The reading list will be made available to enrolled students via Brightspace
Registration
Enrolment through MyStudyMap is mandatory.
General information about course and exam enrolment is available on the website.
Registration Exchange
For the registration of exchange students contact Humanities International Office.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Reuvensplaats
Remarks
Not applicable.