The Making of Modern Brazil

This course explores vital moments in Brazil after its republican revolution of 1889 until the present. Through a cultural lens, we will study moments in Brazil's various impulses for "progress" and "modernity." Through various authors, films, artworks, and manifestos from Brazil's biggest cities to the backlands and to the Amazon, we seek to imagine contemporary Brazil from a deep understanding of its cultural and historical context. Specific areas of focus include the Modern Art Week of 1922 in Sao Paulo, the construction of Brasilia, and the rise (and fall) of Brazil in the 2010s. Taught in English, with readings available in English and Portuguese and an option for students to complete assignments in Portuguese if desired.