PORT 6210 - [Brazilian Critical Theories]

(crosslisted) SPAN 6210

Fall. Not offered 2017-2018. 4 credits. Student option grading.

P. Erber.

This course explores Brazilian intellectual discourse throughout the twentieth century. Topics span a wide range of fields from literary criticism to economic theory, anthropology, and visual culture. Departing from a broad definition of critical theory, understood as discursive intervention and inquiry into society and culture, the course will reflect on the use of this rubric to the Brazilian intellectual context and, more generally, on the significance of “theory” in the contemporary humanities. Readings include texts by Roberto Schwarz, Silviano Santiago, Marilena Chauí, Roberto daMatta, Clarice Lispector, and Mário Pedrosa, among others.