Building Brazil's collective memory: Brazil Week 2020 opening ceremony

The opening ceremony of King's Brazil Week 2020 will celebrate Brazil's collective memory, including a keynote address by Dr Andrea de Souza Santos (University of Oxford). This will be followed by a concert with King's Brazil Ensemble, titled 'Music and nature in Brazil'. The performance explores themes of environment and conservation, with premier works by Claudio Santoro, Harry Crowl and Luiz Gonzaga.

18:00: welcome

18:15: keynote address

19:30: concert by King's Brazil Ensemble

20:15: reception

Keynote address

From utopia to dystopia: a critical analysis of the building of Brazil's collective memory

How have Brazilian governments framed the future and past of Brazil in the early 20th century? Dr Andrea de Souza Santos (University of Oxford) will explore this key period in constructing the Brazilian national identity. Addressing nostalgia and longing, she will also discuss the political representation of history at a time when the country struggles with its image.

About the keynote speaker

Dr Andrea de Souza Santos is a lecturer and Director of the Brazilian Studies Programme, Latin American Centre at the University of Oxford. Her research focusses on urban and political anthropology.

She is also the author of 'Politics of memory: Urban cultural heritage in Brazil' (Rowman & Littlefield, 2019), which examines the relationship between nationalism and collective memory in Brazil.

This event is part of Brazil Week 2020, hosted by King's Brazil Institute.