Brazil: Culture, Carnival, and Capoeira Report by Devin Koppel

History 141 Online

Brazil: The Land of Contrasts

Examples of diversity are seen in Brazilian culture:

Brazilian food: Varies greatly by region, although beans and rice remain a staple throughout the countryArt, Paintings, and Sculptures: Have been traced back as early as cave paintings, to the modernist trends of the 20th centuryArchitecture: First influenced by Portugal, and in later centuries by France and the United StatesLiterature: Dating back to the 16th century, early explorers wrote about their expeditions, the land, the flora and fauna, the people, and more. Later on, Brazilian writers produced works in romanticism and pre-modernismCinema and Theatre: Reaching back to the 19th century, Brazilian cinema did not gain national acclaim until recent yearsMusic: A popular element of Brazilian culture, the music ranges include Samba, Choro, Sertanejo, and many other genres

Brazil's cultural variation and rich diversity has earned it one of the nations most deserving nicknames - "land of contrasts."

Brazil: Celebration of Carnival Many people around the world associate Brazil with the celebration of Carnival, and most Brazilians would agree that the celebration symbolizes the exuberant revelry of the nation The four-day, non-stop extravaganza is characterized by parades of performers, musicians, costumed dancers, and more

The party is a way for Brazilians to escape the “harsh realities” of their lives by breaking every day realities and setting aside hierarchies

The point is that for these four days, participants can choose to be anyone they want through the use of costume

The dualities of rich and poor, male and female, black and white are all set aside briefly while the people simply celebrate their life and culture

Brazil's Popular Sports Called futebol in Brazil, soccer is a wildly popular and celebrated sport

Brazilian futebol players are rated among the best players of the sport in the world

Brazil has won the World Cup on more occasions than any other country

Every four years, during the World Cup, the country shows an immense amount of pride for their country and their team

Another popular sport, and the reason why I chose Brazil for this particular project, is the Brazilian art form of Capoeira, which combines elements of sports, martial arts, and dance

It began at the beginning of the 16th century by imported African slaves working on Brazilian sugarcane farms called engenhos

To avoid the harsh punishment that came with any form of misconduct, the slaves developed the mix of martial arts and dance that allowed for the survival and escape

Sourceshttp://www.destination360.com/south-america/brazil/carnival-in-brazil

http://www.mapsofworld.com/country-profile/brazil.html

http://www.celebratebrazil.com/brazilian-culture.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capoeira

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Brazil#Cuisine