Fesman - Général

Général

BCA RSS Syndicator

Fesman2009

Tasting Brazil
drap.bresilSpangles, colors, feathers, light and music ... We are at Rio carnival in the middle of a country, which, by its culture, is different from others: Brazil. Under the influence of many beliefs and mystical tendencies from Indian, African and European traditions, but also of urban violence and the daily life of the poor, the Brazilian culture is a mix that reflects both the hardship and the joy of life of Brazilian society.
Brazil is often synonymous of Rio carnival, one of the biggest festivals on the planet. Drawing its origins from Pagan but also Christian festivals, Rio carnival is a unique moment for meetings, exchanges, music and dance, animated by street carnivals and parades of samba schools.

The Brazilian music which captivates the thousands of tourists enjoying the festive atmosphere of Rio is full of richness and diversity, in particular due to its triple heritage: Amerindian, European and African. Capoeira, Choro, Samba, Bossa Nova and Lambada are some known examples amongst hundreds, which touch the heart of people of all ages around the world.     

These different styles of music are accompanied by a great variety of dances, such as Capoeira, the ritualised and stylised combat-dance, and Samba, the national dance of Brazil and real symbol of the festival. By its variety, the dance in Brazil is an expression of life through which all parts of the body in movement.

However, it is through Brazilian cinema and literature that one can really understand the culture. Having reached international success with films such as Central do Brasil (1998) or the City of God (2003), the Brazilian cinema is today quoted as one of the most important cinemas in the world, in which Glauber Rocha and Walter Salles are essential references. Bringing a new sensitivity to the Brazilian cinema, film and contemporary Brazilian documentary directors examine the violent reality of the country, marked by poverty and racism.     

The works of some important Brazilian writers like Euclides da Cunha or Jao Guimaraes Rosa are also read worldwide. Many Brazilian writers revolutionised the literary world such as Jorge Amado -winner of the Lenin Prize for Peace in 1951 and whose works are translated into 41 languages- or Paulo Coelho who became famous with his work entitled The Alchemist (1998), with more than 11 million copies sold all around the world.

With the originality and the richness of its culture represented in its music, dances, cinema and literature, Brazil, as the FESMAN’s guest of honour, will certainly continue to fascinate.