The ‘South American Way:’ Tastes, Textures, and Sounds of Argentina and Brazil

Alain-Philippe Durand

Melissa Fitch

Fall 2023

In Session

Wednesdays

2 PM - 4 PM

September 20, 27, October 4, 11, and 18, 2023

Course Format:

Hybrid

Location:

Main Campus

Tuition:

$165

Join Dorrance Dean A-P Durand and Distinguished Professor Melissa Fitch as they take you on an unusual seminar that delves into the dance, literature, nature, urban art, cuisine, and the cultural significance of the "beautiful game" in two of South America's largest countries, Argentina, and Brazil. Participants will encounter South American dancers and divas, literary royalty, street artists, and award-winning musicians in this seminar. The course is organized around the three iconic cities of Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, and Salvador da Bahia, each associated with specific writers, artists, and cultural modes of expression. From tango to samba and bossa nova, Carnaval, soccer, candomblé, and capoeira, to learning about each city's literary giants, villains, heroes, and saints, the seminar will take students on a fascinating journey of cultural discovery

Syllabus

Required Reading:

Please see syllabus for required books and films

Meet Your Professor

Alain-Philippe Durand

Dorrance Dean, College of Humanities

Department of French and Italian

ALAIN-PHILIPPE DURAND is Dorrance Dean of the College of Humanities and Professor of French and Applied Intercultural Arts Research at the University of Arizona. Durand is also Affiliated Faculty in Africana Studies, Latin American Studies, LGBT Studies, and Public and Applied Humanities. His publications and courses deal with French and Latin American literature and culture, French cinema, hip-hop studies, and the kind of popular culture that characterizes the extreme contemporary.

Melissa Fitch

University Distinguished Professor

Department of Spanish and Portuguese

Melissa A. Fitch is a University Distinguished Professor of Latin American Cultural Studies. Since 2010, she has been researching the mutual cultural influences between the Americas and Asia found in popular culture, film, mass media, social media, and digital culture. Fitch is editor-in-chief of Studies in Latin American Popular Culture and has written three books. She has given presentations on her research in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and was a Fulbright scholar in both India and China.

ATTEND ON-CAMPUS OR ONLINE
— HYBRID COURSE FORMAT —

All classes will be delivered on-campus and online via live video streaming. Students will enroll in their preferred format during registration.

On-Campus classes will be held in the Rubel Room at the University of Arizona's Poetry Center (1508 E Helen St, Tucson, AZ 85721). Enrollment for in-person classes is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. All students enrolled to attend in person also have complete online access and may choose to attend one or all class sessions remotely if desired.

Online students may attend all classes via live video streaming and will be able to participate in all course Q&A sessions with the professor in real-time. A high-speed internet connection and a device capable of running Zoom are required to connect. Online access will be password protected and only available to enrolled students.

Class Recordings - All HSP classes are recorded and available for every enrolled student to watch for the duration of the course and one month after the last class session. This option is offered to aid students who cannot attend the live class times but desire to enroll and participate asynchronously. We hope this option also aids students who are traveling or have a necessary appointment that conflicts with a class session to stay connected and engaged with the course material.

Location

Poetry Center

Dorothy Rubel Room

1508 E Helen

Tucson, AZ 85721

United States

Located on the SE corner of Helen Street and Vine Avenue, one block north of Speedway and three blocks west of Campbell Ave.

Humanities Seminars Program