ONLINE!!
A tertulia (Spanish: [teɾˈtulja], Portuguese: tertúlia [tɨɾˈtuliɐ]) is a social gathering with literary or artistic overtones, especially in Latin America. Tertulia also means an informal meeting of people to talk about current affairs, arts, etc. VLACC is starting a series of talks and lectures called Tertulia. We will get started with this exciting 4-part series ONLINE, Brazil for Beginners, facilitated by Brazilian professor Dr. Deborah Barros Leal. Filling a gap in opportunities to learn about Brazil in Canada, this course will present basic elements about the country.  You can choose to participate in each separate tertulia or all four.

April 9 – Colonial History: Brazil’s colonial and imperial past sheds fundamental light on our understanding of the country today. We will focus on issues that shaped that period and consider the legacies still felt in the country: sugar, slavery, independence, and coffee.

April 16 – Contemporary History and Politics: Brazil’s road to democracy has been a tumultuous one. A focus on the 20th and 21st centuries will lead us to talk about the impact of the Great Depression, Brazil in the Second World War, and dictatorship. This will provide the context to help us better understand the presidencies of Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Luis Inácio (“Lula”) da Silva, and Dilma Rousseff, as well as problems of corruption in the country’s politics.

April 23 – Geography and Environment: How has Brazil’s geography impacted the country’s social and economic structure? How have social and economic interests affected the country’s geography? This lecture will offer a closer look at population distribution, agriculture, the Amazon, deforestation, and mineral resources.

April 30 – Population and Culture: What makes Brazil “Brazil”? What exactly is a Brazilian? This lecture will consider miscegenation and the making of a highly diverse population, as well as components of the national identity, looking at religion, soccer, Carnaval, music, food, and cultural peculiarities.

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