Portuguese 232 - Popular Music, Nationhood and Globalization in the Portuguese-Speaking World

An introduction to popular music genres in Portuguese-speaking nations, the historical, socio-cultural and political forces that have shaped their emergence, and ways in which they communicate ideas of nationhood. The course also explores impacts of globalization on these genres and their transnational dissemination. The approach involves close readings of lyrics, analysis of musical form and influence, and attention to the broader cultural contexts surrounding songs, genres, and musicians. Genres may include bossa nova, MPB, and forró (Brazil); fado (Portugal); morna (Cape Verde); kuduro (Angola); marrabenta (Mozambique); and transnational forms such as rock and hop-hop. Course taught in Portuguese.