- Published: December 21, 2021
- Updated: December 21, 2021
- University / College: University of Notre Dame
- Language: English
- Downloads: 30
Name: Course: Professor: MidtermBrazil as a neo-slave societyIn Quanto Vale ou É Por Quilo movie of 2005, the theme of modern day slavery is shown. The movie tries to trace the progression of slavery in the country from the 18th century times. The movie uses several styles such as humor and is played in a provocative manner. It depicts two hot issues in Brazil; race and their relations economically. There is a close weave between the slavery in brazil in the 1700 and the modern day. The directions of the film argue that little has changed since the slavery days and the current situation is comparable largely. The movie is daring and charged in terms of depicting the political and economic position of the country. Several other authors and critiques have discussed largely on the issue of slavery in Brazil. Workers are put under strenuous work in some parts of the country for the production of goods; a display of exploitation. The government has been accused severally of committing abuse of workers the enforcement of the Brazilian government over the Amazon proves to be hard and extreme measures bringing out themes of slavery in the modern day are seen. Slavery in Brazil is said to be sustained in a Tripod of poverty, greed, and impunity. This is the reason for the poor conditions of working where indigenous poor populations are exploited for purposes of making production easy for the government. The workers do not get a fair share of what they help in producing. To rescue the workers in middle of the country’s exploitation, the country needs to change its model of development. The concentration of the wealth to a certain class has to see its distribution to those who work so hard to produce it. Cultural and material reasons for Minas Gerais indigenous people resurgenceWarren focuses on a newly identified indigenous group of people in Brazil, a region believed not to have any Indian populace. The population inhabiting the eastern as well as northern parts of Brazil, according to beliefs, underwent assimilation and integration in the local peasantry. This view proved to be otherwise around the 1970s. Warren devotes to answer the issue as to why indigenous resurgence exists in the Eastern parts of Brazil. The findings are based on responses to structured interviews done on the Minas Gerais; representing the indigenous communities in these rural areas as well as their neighborhood. The author presents the decrease of repression along with the entry of democracy, Catholic’s church policies revamp, and Indian links to the land’s promise as some of the contributors to the demographic upsurge. The upsurge ties to development of other discourses of academic Indians and those in legal and social undertaking circles. The author also disputes ardently other arguments challenging the validity of the claims. An example of a view he dispute is that which states people opt to identifying self with the indigenous for purposes of material advantages also known as the ” the racial huckster” theory. He also disputes the other reason for this as avoidance to consideration as black. These arguments are important in the overall argument of Indians being the greatest race-conscious people in Brazil. Warren presents important information relevant to understanding the divergence between land demands and identity discourses in rural and peasant workers. In this view, evidence suggests resurgence of these people is not all about Indiannes but brings political subjectivities arising from land struggles. Reasons for viewing actions to build schools as racist among indigenous peopleThe indigenous people are under many threats and racism. To them, the issue of land is pertinent and they all means possible to protect and preserve it. The Brazilian constitution backs up these people by recognizing their ownership. This includes respect for their social institutions such as schools. Efforts to build schools among these people are seen as a situation to take the little of what they have. The indigenous people therefore prefer to develop themselves without any external assistance. The communities are discriminated because of their minority. This forms the basis of the other argument as to why building a school among these people might seem racist. The schools have been believed to be a medium of practicing and spreading racism. Some of the minorities communities are discriminated through schools as the racists use them to spread racist material. The type of information fed to children coming to the schools is also seen as a way of harming their mentality and making them perceive and think in racist ideologies. Alarming tendencies have been witnessed in previous years where violence has been committed to the indigenous people. The indigenous people are therefore cautious and vigilant about losing their heritage and any act to disintegrate them is seen, to them, as racist. Art project as a solution to the poison in Brazil. Vik Muniz presents Brazil as a society with landfill problems emanating from poor methods of garbage disposal. The movie chronicles the director’s journey to the largest landfill on earth in a city named as Jardim Gramacho outside Rio de Janeiro. His collaboration with catadores, people who pick materials for recycling, helps him combine efforts with photographers in changing the image of the society and its garbage. Catdores presented in the movie collect waste in informal recovery of resource despite the manner or location associated with the waste. The movie shows the disparity of socioeconomic conditions in the third world countries from those in the industrialized countries. As these countries experience industrialization, there is a rapid growth of lead to a massive problem in planning of squatter settlements. The settlements grow organically lacking any sort of planning, leave narrow streets and make populates vulnerable to environmental problems. These physical aspects in third world countries present an opportunity for development of landfills and other insufficient collection procedures of generated waste. There is evidence of the transformation made possible through the power of art as well as dignity achieved through personal determination. The three major themes emanating from the movie include that of artistic expression. Actually, artistic expression in this film depicts human dignity through improvising of garbage from landfills. Artists into garbage portraits helping the catadores transform their lives modify the garbage from landfills. Several challenges are evident in this art project and careful maneuver is required in a bid to avoid the dangers of handling waste. The people living in communities sprouting because of urbanization characterized by slums face many challenges. Their story, along with those of waste pickers is a hidden one filled with life struggles. Reason for US backing Brazil dirty wars. The Latin America actions of genocide and other actions qualifying to state terrorism were dubbed ‘ dirty wars’. These wars are the most prominent and horrifying acts in the Latin American countries including Brazil and American taxes went to finance the wars. America backed the military in the Latin America Brazil as well as major landowners. The aim of the country was to wipe subversive communism considered as enemy to the country. The American’s real agenda aimed at protecting the oligarchy in power. The oligarchy in power was the elite who ruled the country. Americans also strived to protect their interests in the country during the wars. These included mines, natural resources as well as other products emanating from these countries. It was part of the American’s aim to contain communism in Brazil. One of the ways to do this was to support the wars in Brazil and other Latin American countries. The unfortunate thing is that the policy to do so led to the disappearance of very many people in the region. On the other hand, the revolution resulting from communism in Brazil shifted the cold war to the western hemisphere. The United States therefore backed up war in this region by strengthening the military as well as other means of involvement. It is important to note that all political ideologies masked economic interests. Americans therefore in these cases wanted a share of the markets and resources in Brazil. Undermining of development as portrayed by ‘ the man who copied’The movie, ” the man who copied” brought forth the works of Jorge Furtado, narrated by a 20-year-old André and mainly describes a photocopier. The movie analyses the financial predicament of the narrator and consequently, through his eyes, viewers see the detailed picture of an existence of merely one cent above the dollar. The expulsion of the narrator from high school following an incident with another student brings about the major obstacle in his life. Ever since, his only education depended on scraps he retains after photocopying documents. André required money for dates with women, a habit his budget did not allow. Marinês, a very beautiful co-worker and a constant temptation, stays at bay citing she awaits marriage. The narrator, while trying all means possible to talk to the girl of her dreams goes out with this colleague and eventually ends up in a sticky situation. The narrator wonders how many cells a man needs to work like a photocopier. This view makes him turn to a series of ideas in a bid to make money. The desire for money is seen through the eyes of the narrator. He tries all means possible to show the world he is not a loser. However, this incessant voiceover as well as his extremely bad choices undermines sympathy. The movie blares out the ideas even though wealth and happiness are not synonymous; they are worth following to the last muscle. The transition of the narrator raises the main issue of discussion as many people disagree with the themes. The movie depicts money as an all rounded problem solver regardless of the means used to acquire it. This is an undermining to the industriousness in the country as people, if they decide to follow the theme of the movie, may resort to compromising means of wealth acquisition. More remarkably is the manner with which the movie ends showing the narrator acquired all he wanted. The movie undermines the wonderful experiences of life exhibiting unnecessary ethical intellectualizing as well as morals. 7. Social history in Brazilian as compared to EuropeThe Brazilian population is the largest in the Latin American fifth in the whole world. The majority of the population in the Southern central Brazil went through rapid industrialization in the previous decades. The growth helps in the development of the economy though it has brought about various social and political problems in Sao Paulo, Rio, and Belo. There are different groups in the population that makes up the country including the Portuguese who colonized the country in the early 16th century. Other groups include blacks who are because of slaves who were brought from Africa, Middle Eastern communities and other Europeans such as the Spanish. There are Japanese immigrants who first came to the country in the early 19th century as well as other indigenous people in the Tope and Guarani languages. Intermarriages between the Portuguese and the local indigenous and slaves was on a high level. Though at first the Portuguese involvement was common in Brazil, other immigrants did contribute to the diversity in culture and balance of culture in the country. Approximately five million people migrated to the country and settled in Sao Paulo, Catarina, Santa, and Rio. Other immigrants apart from the Portuguese came from Germany, Poland, Spain, and Japan. Brazil’s pride is in acceptance of all races. There are various classes in Brazil but the national identity is stronger. Brazil is the only nation that speaks Portuguese in the Latin America. 8. Centrality of Culture in Brazil’s AntiracismBrazil presents as a country with the most Africans living in diaspora, a result of slavery. Its democracies are most comparable to those of America. There are comparable histories between America and Brazil in terms of racial dynamics, colonization, slavery, as well as immigration. However, the relations against races in Brazil are considered as irreducibly differing from those in America. The country is considered a counterpoint of diaspora to America, with a clear cut, although not racially benign than USA. The country is a subject of discussion in international realms for being a racial democracy. Neate, novelist and defender of human rights, attribute the country’s culture to the success of antiracism. Music is seen having great influence in mobilizing people in the country. Afro-reggae, samba, and reggae have done much, not just to bring the country together, but also to save various groups of drug users and violent prone individual from doom. The author shows the effect of Afro-reggae in influencing affirmatively various groups including those affected by drugs, corrupt government, and gangs. The effects of the music culture results in redeeming the city and thus the culture can be seen as changing in an unmoored society. Culture is considered as an adequate weapon for initiating and implementing societal change in Brazil. The country is synonymous with samba and uses music to strengthen the country. The country strengthens against poverty, violence, and most importantly, racism. Music workshops as well as dance feed the country with their percussion combination and other acts in crumbling the stereotypes. 9. Policies and Practices in US in relation to antiracismIndividuals, policies, and movements drove antiracism in the United States proactive for human rights. Activists speared civil rights movements winning the rights of the blacks to vote. Martin Luther influenced vies of Americans with his ideologies including his winning speech ” I have a dream.” After Martin Luther, other activists were inspired including Jane Elliot, an American teacher. Segregation laws by Jim Crows, institutionalized racism were achieved after commitment of individuals as well the reaction of the people. Good governance policies ended segregation in the various areas of the countries. They promoted equal treatment as well as opportunities for all Americans regardless of their race, color origin, or religion. Official policies exemplified the proper attitude of the American’s government to all citizens. All citizens were declared liable to opportunities so long as they met requirements. Irrational decision-making leading to harmful policies forbid leaders from making policies that ultimately suppressed minorities. There are claims of the influence of policies in the modeling of antiracism to date. The United States Foreign policy has passed numerous changes influencing the treatment of the blacks in the post slavery days to the current Middle East crisis. Policies have been coupled with financial interests in motivating antiracism. While the latter increases racism, policies work in reducing financial motivations that suppress equality. Foreign policies also played major roles in influencing racism in the United States. Pressure from other foreign countries led to America lessening some of the strict rules against minorities as well as restrictions.