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Global Crossings: Brazil and Cultural Dialogues in the Portuguese-Speaking World (LK4 / A)

Vak
2019-2020

Admission requirements

Major Students: pending the OER.
Other students: Students who speak/understand Portuguese and want to follow this course as an optional course: please contact tutor.

Description

The course provides a broad survey of the complex network of exchanges and intersections in the Portuguese-speaking world, to help shed light on Brazil in a global perspective. Cultural connections within the Portuguese-speaking world that will be considered might include the cultural links between Brazil and Cape Verde, for example, or the history of migration to/from Portugal, cultural transits between Brazil and India and East Timor. The course will discuss key cultural concepts and a variety of texts and genres (written and filmic) as it explores a fascinating history of cultural exchange. Topics covered might include: the Atlantic as a space of memory and resistance, culture as resistance in colonial and postcolonial contexts; cultural representations of slavery and its aftermath; writing and orality; migration and diaspora.

Course objectives

  • Knowledge and insight:
    Gain an understanding of key historical and contemporary connections of Brazil in transnational perspective.
    Study of some key authors and texts drawn from the Portuguese-speaking world, including connections with Brazilian culture.
    Develop critical and analytical skills through close textual analysis of literary and filmic texts.
    Familiarize students with cultural theories that originate from or are relevant to a critical understanding of the Portuguese-speaking world. Familization with literary/film criticism and theoretical frameworks which help illuminate the multi-genre/media texts at hand.


  • Academic skills and transferable (useful job market skills) that are developed include:

Oral presentation skills:
1. to explain clear and substantiated class readings (primary/secondary);
2. in the form of a clear and well-structured oral presentation and
3. in agreement with the appropriate disciplinary criteria; using up-to-date presentation techniques; aimed at a specific audience;
4. 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
4. Project/time management skills.
5. Intercultural skills (communicate in different languages; understand cultural nuances etc.)

Basic research skills, including heuristic skills:
1. to collect and select academic literature using traditional and digital methods and techniques;
2. to analyze and assess this literature;
3. to formulate a sound research question (essay title/theme) using the literature provided and possibly additional sources;
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 (includes use of digital skills);
b. in agreement with the appropriate disciplinary criteria;
c. using relevant illustration or multimedia techniques;

Timetable

Timetable LAS

Mode of instruction

  • Lecture

  • Seminar

Course Load

  • Total course of 5 EC is 140 hours.

  • Hours spent on attending lectures: 2 hours per week x 13 weeks = 26 hrs;

  • Time for studying the compulsory literature/view films/material online: 70 hours;

  • Time for completing assignments or preparation classes: 10 hours;

  • Time to write essays (incl.preparation/research): 34 hours.

Assessment method

Assessment

-1 essay composition to be submitted at the end of the course: approx. 3000 words.
-Class presentation.

Major students: assignments in Portuguese. Other students can do their assignments in English/Spanish.

Weighing

Weighting: Presentation: 30%
Essay – 70%

Resit

Essay re-submission

Exam review

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.

Blackboard

Blackboard will be used for:

  • providing study materials and assessment purposes essay uploads.

Reading list

Reading list will be made available to students in due course.

Registration

Enrolment through uSis is mandatory.

General information about uSis is available in Engels and Nederlands

Registration Studeren à la carte and Contractonderwijs

Registration Contractonderwijs

Contact

For questions about the content of the course, you can contact the teacher:
Dr Sara Brandellero

Administrations Office: van Wijkplaats

Remarks

Minimum attendance requirement to complete the module: 70% attendance.