Culture and Change in Brazil Essay

  • To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
  • As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
  • As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Cultural diversity, cultural change, works cited.

Brazil has a very diverse culture. Residents of the country have their origins from all the four corners of the world. The Brazilian society has undergone several cultural and social changes. In addition, the country has also undergone several political changes. During the 1960s, the country had a coup d’état, which preceded political transformation of the country.

Political transformation led to the economic transformation of the country. Brazil is a classic example of how good economic policies may lead to economic prosperity of a country. However, despite the economic transformation, the country still has many problems. High crime rates and inequality are some of the problems that the country faces.

Brazil has a very diverse culture. Europeans settled in Brazil in the early sixteenth century. During this period, the population of indigenous Brazilians was approximately 4 million. The Portuguese later colonized the country.

The Portuguese imported hundreds of thousands of African slaves to work as laborers on large plantations. However, abolishment of slavery necessitated the Portuguese to employ Italian immigrants on the plantations. The subsequent arrival of the Japanese and Middle Eastern immigrants increased the racial diversity of the country.

Intermingling of these ethnic and racial groups led to their dilution. This makes it difficult to classify the racial group of most Brazilians. The Brazilian society has very low levels of discrimination. However, people who have a lighter color usually have a high probability of getting a higher income, education, or social status.

On the other hand, very few people who have a dark complexion achieve positions of wealth and prestige. They may only achieve this position in sports or the arts (Parijs 105). This is a clear indication of the mild racial discrimination that exists in the Brazilian society.

Internal and external factors are the major drivers of cultural change in the Brazilian society. Social rigidity characterizes the Brazilian culture. However, the social rigidity of the Brazilian culture did not hinder the emergence of modernity. Social rigidity was a critical factor that helped in the emergence of modernity.

One of the major factors that ensured that the Brazilian culture does not hinder modernism is the fact that culture is very dynamic. Therefore, modernity did not cut off the cultural values of the country. Cultural values helped in shaping the current culture of the Brazilian society. Cultural values helped in drawing a clear demarcation between social and economic spheres of life (Gordon 95). This facilitated the peaceful coexistence of people within the society.

However, external factors are not the only causes of changes in the Brazilian culture. Various internal courses have led to the cultural change of the country. Stable democracy and politics is one of the factors that have contributed to the cultural change in Brazil. Before 1985, Brazil was under military rule. The military rulers stifled the freedom of Brazilians (Archdiocese of São Paulo 19). In addition, they hindered the development of the economy.

However, after the fall of the military regime and the introduction of a democratic system the country experienced a level of political stability that was previously non-existent. The democratic government democratized various Brazilian public systems. This enabled Brazilians to start reaping the fruits of democracy. This increased the feelings of true citizenship among Brazilians. Despite the considerable developments in democracy, the country still has very high rates of corruption.

However, the government introduced various controls that helped in improving the transparency and stability of public institutions. Therefore, the democratic system increased equality and transparency. On the other hand, it reduced corruption in public institutions. These factors helped in improving the sense of identity among Brazilians. In addition, it enabled Brazilians to respect and appreciate various public institutions.

During the reign of President Lula da Silva (2002-2010), the government introduced several economic policies that helped in lifting millions of Brazilians from poverty. This led to rapid expansion of the middle class. This increased the purchasing power of people in the country. People who were previously poor could afford to buy luxurious items.

In addition, the lifting millions of people from poverty helped in integrating the social classes into an economic life. This created new opportunities to millions of people who were previously poor. This helped in improving their self-confidence. Improved self-confidence improved the mental and psychological health of people in the society. In addition, the transformation of the economic class to a social class led to significant cultural changes in the population (O’Dougherty 169).

Brazil has one of the most racially diverse societies. Intermingling of various races over many centuries makes it difficult to undertake racial classification of most Brazilians. However, racial discrimination is still prevalent in the society. People who have a lighter complexion have a higher probability of success in the society.

On the other hand, people who have a dark complexion may only succeed in the arts or sports. Various internal and external factors have led to several cultural changes. Influence from western societies has led to several cultural changes. Political and economic transformations are the major internal causes of cultural changes.

Archdiocese of São Paulo. Torture in Brazil: A shocking report on the pervasive use of torture by Brazilian military governments, 1964-1979 . Austin, TX: University of Texas Press, 1986. Print.

Gordon, Lincoln. Brazil’s second chance: En route toward the first world . Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2001. Print.

O’Daughtery, Maureen. Consumption intensified: The politics of middle class daily life in Brazil . Durham: Duke University Press, 2011. Print.

Parijs, Philippe. Cultural diversity versus economic solidarity: Is there a tension ? How must it be resolved . Bruxelles: De Boeck Supérieur, 2004. Print.

  • Body Ritual among the Nacirema
  • Chile’s Geography and Culture
  • Abolition of Slavery in Brazil
  • The Problem of Racism in Brazilian Football
  • Brazil vs. China: Country Comparison
  • Kimono Art in Traditional Japanese Clothing
  • Cultural Revolution in China: Politically, Socially, and Economically
  • Angelou Maya’s Presentation on the African Culture
  • A Travel Into the Korean Culture: 2012 Korean Festival in Houston
  • Traditional and Non-Traditional Culture
  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2018, December 19). Culture and Change in Brazil. https://ivypanda.com/essays/culture-and-change-in-brazil/

"Culture and Change in Brazil." IvyPanda , 19 Dec. 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/culture-and-change-in-brazil/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'Culture and Change in Brazil'. 19 December.

IvyPanda . 2018. "Culture and Change in Brazil." December 19, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/culture-and-change-in-brazil/.

1. IvyPanda . "Culture and Change in Brazil." December 19, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/culture-and-change-in-brazil/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Culture and Change in Brazil." December 19, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/culture-and-change-in-brazil/.

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest nation in the world.

Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest nation in the world. It forms an enormous triangle on the eastern side of the continent with a 4,500-mile (7,400-kilometer) coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. It has borders with every South American country except Chile and Ecuador .

The Brazilian landscape is very varied. It is most well known for its dense forests, including the Amazon, the world's largest jungle, in the north. But there are also dry grasslands (called pampas), rugged hills, pine forests, sprawling wetlands, immense plateaus, and a long coastal plain.

Northern Brazil is dominated by the Amazon River and the jungles that surround it. The Amazon is not one river but a network of many hundreds of waterways. Its total length stretches 4,250 miles (6,840 kilometers). Thousands of species live in the river, including the infamous piranha and the boto, or pink river dolphin.

Map created by National Geographic Maps

PEOPLE & CULTURE

Most Brazilians are descended from three ethnic groups: Amerindians, European settlers (mainly from Portugal), and Africans. Starting in the 19th century, waves of immigrants from Europe, the Middle East, and even Japan added to this mix. This diversity of cultures has created a rich religious, musical, and culinary culture.

Brazilians are soccer crazy, and their country has produced some of the best players. The most famous of all is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé. Brazil has won the World Cup soccer finals five times, more than any other nation.

Brazil has the greatest variety of animals of any country in the world. It is home to 600 mammal species, 1,500 fish species, 1,600 bird species, and an amazing 100,000 different types of insects . Brazil's jungles are home to most of its animal life, but many unique species also live in the pampas and semidesert regions.

In the central-western part of Brazil sits a flat, swampy area called the Pantanal. This patchwork of flooded lagoons and small islands is the world's largest wetland. Here live giant anacondas , huge guinea pig relatives called capybaras, and fierce South American alligators called caimans .

For thousands of years, people have been exploiting the jungles of Brazil. But since Europeans arrived about five centuries ago, forest destruction has been rampant. Most of Brazil's Atlantic rain forest is now gone, and huge tracts of the Amazon are disappearing every year. The government has established many national parks and refuges, but they only cover about 7 percent of the country.

GOVERNMENT & ECONOMY

Brazil is a federal republic with a president, a National Congress, and a judiciary. From 1888 until recently, the country struggled with democracy. But in 1985, the military government was peacefully removed, and by 1995, Brazil's politics and economy had become fairly stable.

Brazil has many different soils and climates, so it can produce a great variety of crops. Its agricultural exports include sugarcane, latex, coffee, cocoa beans, cotton, soybeans, rice, and tropical fruits.

Brazil is also South America's most industrial nation, producing chemicals, steel, aircraft, and cars.

Until recently, scientists thought Brazil was first settled by Asians about 10,000 years ago. But new evidence shows there were people living there at least 32,000 years ago. Some experts think they may have arrived from islands in the Pacific Ocean.

Brazil was added to the map of the world during the great European explorations in the late 15th century led by Portugal and Spain. When Europeans first reached the coast of Brazil, the country was home to about 30 million indigenous people, or Amerindians. Today, only about 300,000 remain, living primarily in Brazil's remotest places.

Portugal established its first colony in Brazil in 1530. Colonists created sugarcane plantations along the coast and sent diamonds and gold back to Europe. Soon, people from West Africa were brought to Brazil to work as slaves. The discovery of large inland gold reserves brought thousands of people from the coasts and as far away as Europe to the interior of the country.

In 1789, Brazilians tried to kick out their Portuguese rulers. The rebellion was soon put down, but it started a movement toward independence. By 1822, Brazil was a sovereign nation. Kings of Portuguese blood ruled until 1888, when military leaders and landowners expelled the king, and Brazil became a federal republic.

More to explore

U.s. states and territories facts and photos, destination world.

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your California Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Do Not Sell My Info
  • National Geographic
  • National Geographic Education
  • Shop Nat Geo
  • Customer Service
  • Manage Your Subscription

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

Brazil Culture Essay

1. INTRODUCTION Brazil is a land of diverse culture and people, due to being part of the former colonial empire belonging to Portugal. It is the only country in South America to have Portuguese as its national language instead of Spanish. Along with this colonization, Brazil would see a huge surge of culture from many immigrant populations that would appear over the centuries. A big part of this culture, however, would be cuisine. Brazil being a land of immigrants and colonist would become the largest country in South America stretching through many different regions of the continent, further diversifying their food culture.

With so much food and culture that began to shape from the culture of immigrants of different origins, much Brazilian cuisine has fused with other cultures to create their own unique foods. Some of these foods have made it to the United States through Brazilian immigrants. There has been much political and economic instability in Brazil during the late twentieth Century which has been the main reason for emigration from the large South American country (Riedinger, 2008). Some of these immigrants end up settling down in the United States. There has been a very sparse migration history of Brazilians to the U. S. Recently Brazil has been seeing a large growth in its economy and political stability.

Brazilians to the U. S. have brought their unique culture, diverse foods, and its wonderful hospitality to the U. S. to share and spread to a new land, similar to how the Portuguese colonist extended their culture to Brazil, along with the immigrants of many different nations that brought their customs to that country when it was still newly developing. The Portuguese were the first to colonize the land we now know as Brazil, making the national language of Brazil Portuguese instead of Spanish like the surrounding countries.

Indigenous populations lived in Brazil before Portuguese explorers discovered it for Europe. This allowed Indigenous cultures cuisine to be mixed with the newly added European cuisine later on. Brazil was also the last country in the Western world to abolish slavery in 1888. There were a large amount of slaves that were in Brazil during the time of abolishment and this is how the added African culture found its way into Brazil. A demand for workers after the abolishment of slavery created a surge of immigrants to the new growing country.

Among these European immigrants were also Asian immigrants, as well as Middle Eastern immigrants. This history created what is today known as the melting pot of Brazil. Brazilian immigration to the United States was not documented well. This was mainly because they were “identified by immigration agencies as “Hispanic,” “Latino,” and “South” or “Latin” American (Riedinger, 2008). Brazilians who immigrated to the U. S. were mainly of the upper and middle class. They mainly settled down in California, Florida, and New York. From 1920-2008 the U. S. as seen a large increase in Brazilian immigration. The largest amount of Brazilian immigrants incoming to the United States was in the late 20th Century. Brazilian food is unique in itself and the most well-known things that Brazilians brought to the United States were traditional dances and the food itself which were not seen in the U. S. until Brazilians entered the country and brought the recipes with them.

III. BRAZILIAN IMPACT ON U. S. CUISINE Brazil’s main impact on cuisine in the U. S. has been largely its introductions of new foods to the U. S. Brazil has many cultural dishes because of the many regions and cultures that can be found in the country. Brazil’s most famous dish that can be found in the U. S. is the Feijoada. One rumor is that Feijoada, Brazil’s national dish, was originally created by Slaves in Brazil and eventually became consumed by the masses, but this is not entirely true. Black beans originated in South America, but Europeans did use them in their own cuisines. Even the name, Feijoada, is of Portuguese origin. “Feijoada itself, is a derivation of European dishes like cassoulet, the Madrid cooked stew and the Portuguese Caldeirada.

These recipes crossed the sea and came to Brazil, especially with the Portuguese” (Rose, 2013). The feijoada is a dish made from black beans, rice, and meat. Its origins lie in Northern Portugal and it found its way to Brazil and quickly became the national dish. Brazil has also introduced many other foods to the U. S. , such as their own unique take on meat pies. One of such is coxinha. Coxinha is shredded chicken which is used as filling inside a breadcrumb outer shell that is shaped to look like a chicken thigh. The name coxinha derives from the snack’s peculiar drop shop, mocking chicken drumstick” (Teixeira, 2010). Another dish widely eaten in Brazil and introduced to the U. S. is Farofa. It is “a side dish commonly served with meat, rice, and beans and is almost always found at churrascos(barbecues)”(Saskia Ghirotti, 2013). There are many more Brazilian foods that were introduced to the United States, but these are just a few of these great cultural exchanges.

IV. SUMMARY/CONCLUSION AND LEARNING EXPERIENCE Overall, Brazil has a wonderful culture be it, cuisine, dance, or historical origin. All of these things helped to shape the country into what it is today as it continues to increase stability and grow economically. Brazil’s foundation was built upon being a land of immigrants, much like the U. S. This diversified and turned the country into a large melting pot, mixing Indigenous, African, European, Asian, and even some Middle Eastern culture into it. Having these cultures affected Brazil’s cuisine in a positive way, making many hearty and rich dishes for the country. Even the small snacks are unique to the country on their own.

Early economic turmoil and instability created many surges of immigrants to the U. S. , mainly of the upper and middle class, but with them came the many dishes that you could only find in their country. Some Brazilians went into the food service industry and these people helped to spread their cuisine and knowledge of cooking to other countries around the world, including the U. S. I learned many things about Brazil from this research project along with the presentation that we organized in class. Most of the information that I learned was about the general culture and cuisine in Brazil.

I learned about many dishes that I have never heard of before. I didn’t even know what to expect from Brazilian food as I originally had no reference to what it actually was. I enjoyed learning about another culture that I have not learned about before and it allowed me learn about the food of Brazil and its origins. This assignment allowed me to explore through information that I have never seen before and allowed me to try Brazilian food first hand, as I don’t think I would have ever tried it without this project and I really enjoyed it.

More Essays

  • Human Rights in Brazil
  • 60 Petri Dish Essay
  • Indias Culture
  • Write An Essay About Dom Pedro’s Life
  • History Of Sertaneja Music Essay
  • American Violence In South Culture Analysis Essay
  • Essay On Aboriginal Culture
  • Pop Culture: The Degradation Of Rape Culture Research Paper
  • Essay on Masaharu Morimoto: Iron Chef
  • Japanese Culture Research Paper

Issue Cover

  • Previous Issue
  • Previous Article
  • Next Article

Brazil: Essays on History and Politics

  • Article contents
  • Figures & tables
  • Supplementary Data
  • Peer Review
  • Permissions
  • Cite Icon Cite
  • Search Site

Marshall C. Eakin; Brazil: Essays on History and Politics. Hispanic American Historical Review 1 May 2020; 100 (2): 323–324. doi: https://doi.org/10.1215/00182168-8178259

Download citation file:

  • Reference Manager

These elegant essays on key themes in Brazilian history provide the accumulated wisdom of one of the most important historians of Brazil (and Latin America) over the last half century. Leslie Bethell's labors as the editor of the Cambridge History of Latin America (beginning in the 1970s and continuing over four decades) ultimately produced 12 hefty volumes, translated into Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese. His collaboration with dozens of scholars across the Atlantic world has given him a range of knowledge on the region that is exceedingly rare. His work for ten years as the founder and director of the University of Oxford's Centre for Brazilian Studies put the ninth volume of the Cambridge series—on Brazil since 1930—on hold. It was the final volume published in the series, in 2008. The seven essays in Brazil: Essays on History and Politics are new but draw heavily on Bethell's work on this 2008...

Client Account

Sign in via your institution.

Advertisement

Citing articles via

Email alerts, related articles, related topics, related book chapters, affiliations.

  • About Hispanic American Historical Review
  • Editorial Board
  • For Authors
  • Rights and Permissions Inquiry
  • Online ISSN 1527-1900
  • Print ISSN 0018-2168
  • Copyright © 2024
  • Duke University Press
  • 905 W. Main St. Ste. 18-B
  • Durham, NC 27701
  • (888) 651-0122
  • International
  • +1 (919) 688-5134
  • Information For
  • Advertisers
  • Book Authors
  • Booksellers/Media
  • Journal Authors/Editors  
  • Prospective Journals
  • Licensing and Subsidiary Rights
  • View Open Positions
  • email Join our Mailing List
  • catalog Current Catalog
  • Accessibility
  • Get Adobe Reader

This Feature Is Available To Subscribers Only

Sign In or Create an Account

Encyclopedia Britannica

  • History & Society
  • Science & Tech
  • Biographies
  • Animals & Nature
  • Geography & Travel
  • Arts & Culture
  • Games & Quizzes
  • On This Day
  • One Good Fact
  • New Articles
  • Lifestyles & Social Issues
  • Philosophy & Religion
  • Politics, Law & Government
  • World History
  • Health & Medicine
  • Browse Biographies
  • Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates
  • Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates
  • Environment
  • Fossils & Geologic Time
  • Entertainment & Pop Culture
  • Sports & Recreation
  • Visual Arts
  • Demystified
  • Image Galleries
  • Infographics
  • Top Questions
  • Britannica Kids
  • Saving Earth
  • Space Next 50
  • Student Center
  • Introduction & Quick Facts
  • Geographic regions
  • Guiana Highlands
  • Amazon lowlands
  • Brazilian Highlands
  • Coastal lowlands
  • Highlands, coastal regions, and the Pantanal
  • Conservation and ecology
  • The Northeast coast
  • The Southeast: mining and coffee
  • The backlands and Amazonia
  • Ongoing domestic migration
  • Urbanization
  • Europeans and other immigrants
  • Biological resources
  • Hydroelectric resources
  • Agriculture
  • Mining and quarrying
  • Petroleum and natural gas
  • Manufacturing
  • The legislature
  • The executive
  • Regional, state, and local administration
  • Political parties
  • Armed forces and security
  • Primary and secondary school
  • Higher education
  • Welfare and health

Cultural institutions

Visual arts.

  • Performing arts
  • Sports and recreation
  • Press and telecommunications
  • Exploration and initial settlement
  • Royal governors, Jesuits, and slaves
  • Dutch and French incursions
  • Expansion and unification
  • Agriculture and prospecting
  • Colonial reforms
  • Independence
  • Pedro I and the regency
  • The collapse of the empire
  • Transition to civilian rule
  • The “coffee presidents”
  • Rebellion against the coffee elite
  • The Vargas era
  • The democratic interlude
  • Kubitschek’s administration
  • Collor, corruption, and inflation
  • The Real Plan and Cardoso presidency
  • Lula’s leftist political agenda
  • The Petrobras scandal, impeachment of Rousseff, and Temer interregnum
  • The Bolsonaro presidency
  • The return of Lula

Brazil

  • Why is Pelé significant?
  • How did Pelé become famous?
  • What are Pelé’s achievements?
  • How was Pelé influential?

Flag of Brazil

Cultural life

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

  • globalEDGE - Brazil
  • History World - History of Brazil
  • Central Intelligence Agency - The World Factbook - Brazil
  • Brazil - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
  • Brazil - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
  • Table Of Contents

1 page essay on brazil

The cultures of the indigenous Indians, Africans, and Portuguese have together formed the modern Brazilian way of life. The Portuguese culture is by far the dominant of these influences; from it Brazilians acquired their language, their main religion, and most of their customs. The Indian population is now statistically small, but Tupí-Guaraní , the language of many Brazilian Indians, continues to strongly influence the Brazilian Portuguese language; other Indian contributions to Brazilian culture are most apparent in the Amazon basin . African influences on the Brazilian way of life are strongest along the coast between the Northeast and Rio de Janeiro ; they include traditional foods, religions, and popular music and dance, especially the samba . Commercial and cultural imports from Europe and North America have often competed with—and influenced—Brazilians’ own cultural output, and critics have argued that the nation’s cultural identity is suffering as a result. Despite numerous social and economic challenges, Brazilians continue to be exuberant and creative in their celebrations and art forms.

1 page essay on brazil

Recent News

The Brazilian Academy of Letters, with its headquarters in Rio de Janeiro , is generally regarded as the most prestigious of the country’s numerous learned societies. The National Library, also in Rio, was founded in 1810 with 60,000 volumes from the Portuguese royal library; it now holds millions of books and documents. Most of Brazil’s other libraries have limited holdings. Among the major history museums are the Museum of the Republic (1960; housed in the former governmental palace) and the National Historical Museum (1922), both in Rio, the São Paulo University Museum (1895), and the Imperial Museum (1940) in Petropólis . The São Paulo Art Museum (1947) and Rio de Janeiro Museum of Modern Art (1948) are internationally renowned. Both Rio and São Paulo have major museums of anthropology and numerous theatres. A notable institution for the performing arts is the São Paulo State Symphony Orchestra (1953; revitalized 1972), housed since 1999 in the Sala São Paulo, a renovated early 20th-century railroad station. Few of the country’s major cultural institutions are based in Brasília .

Brazil has had many world-renowned literary figures whose cumulative writings are regarded by many to be richer than those of Portugal because of their variety of ethnic and regional themes. Joaquim Machado de Assis , the son of a freed slave, was a leading voice of the 19th century with his romantic novels. In the 20th century the Northeast produced a particularly wide range of superb writing, including that of Gilberto Freyre on the subject of life under slavery , Graciliano Ramos ’s tragedies about the drought quadrilateral, João Guimaraês Rosa ’s tales of survival and violence in the interior, and Jorge Amado ’s lighthearted stories set in the cacao-growing zone of Bahia . Érico Veríssimo ’s tales of southern Brazil have also been translated into many languages.

1 page essay on brazil

The landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx has made urban Brazilians especially aware of the splendours of their natural environment by replacing the traditional, formal European-style gardens containing imported plants with a profusion of native species in approximation to their natural settings. Some of Marx’s landscapes have been used to set off the imaginative structures of Brazil’s world-renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer . Among his works, Niemeyer designed a striking array of public buildings in Brasília, in collaboration with Lúcio Costa , the creator of the capital’s original layout. Brazil also cherishes numerous splendid structures from its colonial and imperial past, from the tiled houses and ornate churches of Salvador to the palaces and public buildings of Rio de Janeiro. Among the most revered of these are the 18th-century churches in Minas Gerais that were adorned by facades, biblical scenes, and statues carved in soapstone by Antônio Francisco Lisboa, better known as Aleijadinho (“Little Cripple”).

Western styles of painting began developing in Brazil in the 18th century. In the 19th century, particularly during the reign of Emperor Pedro II , the Imperial Academy of Fine Arts in Rio de Janeiro drove the development of Brazilian painting, which was largely influenced by Neoclassical and Romantic styles. The academy organized art collections, held exhibitions and competitions, and trained a number of Brazilian artists who specialized in the painting of landscapes and historical subjects. Among the most prominent 19th-century Brazilian painters were Victor Meirelles, Pedro Américo, José Ferraz de Almeida Júnior, and Rodolfo Amoedo. In the late 19th century Belmiro de Almeida painted scenes of Brazilian daily life, influencing a trend toward realism. In the 20th century the painter Cândido Portinari was a major proponent of a uniquely Brazilian style, which blended abstract European techniques with realistic portrayals of the people and landscapes of his native land; the painter Emiliano Di Cavalcanti, a contemporary of Portinari, gained equal international renown. In 1922, seeking to break with the conservative past, Di Cavalcanti helped to organize Modern Art Week in São Paulo, which promoted a Modernist spirit in Brazilian art. Later in the 20th century, celebrated photographic collections, such as the works of Sebastião Salgado , interpreted Brazil’s social and natural settings. The country’s most prestigious art exhibition is the International Biennial of São Paulo (established 1951), which regularly attracts participants from more than 50 countries.

The Modern Essay in Brazil

  • Published: 25 May 2020
  • Volume 51 , pages 318–329, ( 2020 )

Cite this article

1 page essay on brazil

  • Maria Arminda do Nascimento Arruda 1  

140 Accesses

Explore all metrics

We analyze the construction of the modern essay in Brazil, inaugurated by the so-called 1930s generation: Gilberto Freyre’s Casa-grande e senzala , Caio Prado Júnior’s Evolução política do Brasil , and Sérgio Buarque de Holanda’s Raízes do Brasil . Based on the classic theoretical references on the essay, we approach the modern Brazilian essay under three aspects. First, its context and historical significance, especially from the point of view of the intellectual tradition outlined by Antonio Candido. We argue that the Brazilian essay emerges in interface with modernist art and the socio-political problem of the country’s modernization. Secondly, we argue that Holanda’s work stands out in the 1930s Brazilian essayism as the most effective accomplishment of the essay as a form. Finally, we show how Florestan Fernandes’ intellectual and historical experience represents both an update and a breakdown of Brazilian essayism in the 1970s.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save.

  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime

Price includes VAT (Russian Federation)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Rent this article via DeepDyve

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

1 page essay on brazil

The Sociological Invention of Brazil: Essays and the Social Sciences

1 page essay on brazil

Reviewing a Genre

1 page essay on brazil

Heinrich Heine and Marx As Essayists: On the Genesis and the Function of the Critic-Intellectuals

Adorno, T. W. 1984. The Essay as Form. New German Critique , No. 38 (Spring-Summer).

Arruda, Maria Arminda do Nascimento 2014. Lúcio Cardoso: tempo, poesia e ficção. In: Cultura e Sociedade Brasil e Argentina , Sérgio Miceli e Heloísa Pontes (org.), São Paulo: EDUSP.

Arruda, Maria do Nascimento Arminda 2015. Metrópole e Cultura. São Paulo no meio século XX . São Paulo: EDUSP, 2ª Ed.

Bloom, H. 2005. Essayist and prophets . Chelsea House Publishers.

Bosi, A. 1977. História concisa da literatura brasileira . São Paulo: Cultrix.

Bourdieu, P. 1998. Linguagem e poder simbólico . In: Economia das trocas linguísticas: o que falar quer dizer . São Paulo: EDUSP.

Candido, A. 1963. Prefácio In: Raízes do Brasil . Brasília: Ed. Universidade de Brasília, 4ª Ed.

Candido, A. 1975. Formação da literatura brasileira. Momentos decisivos . Belo Horizonte: Ed. Itatiaia, São Paulo: EDUSP, 2 vol.

Candido, A. 2000. A revolução de 1930 e a cultura In: Educação pela noite e outros ensaios . São Paulo: Ed. Ática, 3ª Ed.

Casanova, P. 2002. A república mundial das letras . São Paulo: Estação Liberdade.

Duarte, P. 2016. Desvio para o ensaio. O elogiável risco de escrever sem ter fim. In: Ilustríssima. Folha de São Paulo . 28 de fevereiro de, pp. 4–5.

Fernandes, F. 1960. O homem e a cidade metrópole In: Mudanças sociais no Brasil . São Paulo: Difel.

Fernandes, F. 1975. A revolução burguesa no Brasil. Ensaio de interpretação sociológica . Rio de Janeiro: Zahar.

Freyre, G. 1993. Casa grande e senzala . Brasília: Ed. Universidade de Brasília, 13ª Ed.

Fuentes, C. 1980. La Nueva novela hispano-americana . México: Fondo de Cultura.

Holanda, S. 1963. Raízes do Brasil . Brasília: Editora Universidade de Brasília, 4ªEd.

Jackson, L. C., Blanco, A. 2014. Sociologia no espelho. Ensaístas, cientistas sociais e críticos literários no Brasil e Argentina (1930-1970) . São Paulo: Ed. 34.

Lafetá, J. L. 1974. A crítica e o modernismo . São Paulo: Duas Cidades.

Lukács, G. 1974. On the nature and form of the essay. In: Soul and form . London: Merlin Press.

Morse, R. M. 1995. The multiverse of Latin American identity, c. 1920-c. 1970. In: BETHELL, Leslie. Ideas and ideologies in twentieth century Latin America: The Cambridge history of Latin America. Vol. 10 . New York: Cambridge University Press.

Pontes, H. 2003. Destinos mistos: os críticos do Grupo Clima . São Paulo: Cia. das Letras.

Prado, P. 1981. Retrato do Brasil. Sobre a tristeza brasileira . São Paulo: Ibrasa/MEC, 2ªEd.

Prado, A. A. 2004. Trincheira, palco e letras. Crítica, literatura e utopia no Brasil . São Paulo: Cosac Naify.

Prado, A. A. 2010. Itinerário de uma falsa vanguarda. Os dissidentes da semana de 22 e o integralismo . São Paulo: Editora 34.

Prado, A. A. 2015a. Cenário com retratos. Esboços e perfis . São Paulo: Cia. das letras.

Prado, A. A. 2015b. Dois letrados e o Brasil nação. A obra crítica de Oliveira Lima e Sérgio Buarque de Holanda . São Paulo: Editora 34.

Prado Jr., C. 1961. Evolução política do Brasil e outros estudos . São Paulo: Brasiliense. 3ªEd.

Said, E. W. 1994. Representations of the intellectual. The 1933 Reith lectures . New York: Vintage Books.

Saítta, S. 2004. Modos de pensar lo social. Ensayo y sociedad en la Argentina (1930–1965). In: Intelectuales y expertos. La constitución del conocimiento social en la Argentina. Federico Neiburg e Mariano Plotkin (Org) . Paidós: Buenos Aires.

Sapiro, G. 2016. La sociología de la literatura . Buenos Aires: Fondo de Cultura Económica.

Schwarz, R. 1999. Sobre a formação da literatura brasileira; os sete fôlegos de um livro In: Sequências brasileiras . São Paulo: Cia. das Letras.

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

Sociology Department, Faculty of Philosophy, Languages and Human Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), Rua do Lago, 717, sala 100, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, 05508-080, Brazil

Maria Arminda do Nascimento Arruda

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Maria Arminda do Nascimento Arruda .

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest.

The author declare that she has no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher’s note.

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

do Nascimento Arruda, M.A. The Modern Essay in Brazil. Am Soc 51 , 318–329 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12108-020-09445-1

Download citation

Published : 25 May 2020

Issue Date : September 2020

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/s12108-020-09445-1

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

  • Brazilian thought
  • Brazilian sociology
  • Sergio Buarque de Holanda
  • Antonio Candido
  • Florestan Fernandes
  • Find a journal
  • Publish with us
  • Track your research

Logo

Essay on Brazil Culture

Students are often asked to write an essay on Brazil Culture in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Brazil Culture

The land of samba.

Brazil is known worldwide for its music and dance, especially Samba. This lively, rhythmic music style is often the highlight of Brazil’s famous Carnaval festival. People of all ages participate in Samba dancing, which is a vital part of Brazilian culture.

Football Fever

Brazil’s love for football is undeniable. It’s the country’s most popular sport. Brazil has produced many world-class players like Pele and Neymar. Their passion for football is evident in their street games, local clubs, and the national team’s success.

Delicious Cuisine

Brazilian cuisine is a mix of indigenous, Portuguese, and African influences. The national dish, feijoada, is a black bean stew with pork. Other popular foods include acarajé, a deep-fried ball of dough filled with shrimp, and pão de queijo, a cheesy bread.

Art and Architecture

Brazilian art and architecture are diverse, reflecting the country’s mixed heritage. The works of Oscar Niemeyer, a famous Brazilian architect, are well-known. Street art is also very common, adding vibrant colors to Brazilian cities.

Religious Beliefs

250 words essay on brazil culture, brazil’s rich history.

Brazil is a country with a rich history. It was discovered by the Portuguese in 1500 and has been a melting pot of cultures ever since. This mix of cultures has given Brazil a unique and vibrant culture.

Music and Dance

Music and dance are big parts of Brazil’s culture. Samba is a popular dance that many people in Brazil love to do. It is a fun, fast-paced dance that is often done at festivals. Bossa Nova is a type of music that was born in Brazil. It is a mix of jazz and samba, and it is known for its smooth and calming sound.

Brazilian food is another important part of the culture. It is known for its bold flavors and variety. Feijoada is a popular dish. It is a stew made with black beans and pork. Another popular food is acarajé, a deep-fried ball of dough filled with shrimp.

Brazil is known for its love of sports, especially football. Brazilians are passionate about football and it is a big part of their culture. Many famous football players, like Pele and Neymar, are from Brazil.

Religion is also a big part of Brazilian culture. Most Brazilians are Catholic, but there are also many other religions practiced in the country. Religion influences many aspects of daily life and is an important part of the culture.

500 Words Essay on Brazil Culture

Brazil: a land of colorful culture.

Brazil is a vibrant country in South America, known for its rich culture. The culture of Brazil is a melting pot of influences from its native people, Portuguese colonists, African slaves, and immigrants from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

The Joy of Festivals

One of the most famous parts of Brazilian culture is its love for festivals. The most famous one is Carnival. This festival is a big party that happens before Lent, a time of fasting for Christians. During Carnival, people wear bright costumes, dance in the streets, and enjoy music. Samba, a type of music and dance from Brazil, is a big part of Carnival.

Tasty Brazilian Food

Sporting spirit.

Brazil is famous for its love of sports, especially football. Brazil has produced many world-class football players and has won the World Cup five times, more than any other country. Children often play football on the streets and beaches, and it is a big part of Brazilian culture.

Beautiful Art and Craft

Brazilian art and craft are influenced by a mix of native, African, and Portuguese cultures. Pottery, weaving, and beadwork are traditional crafts. Street art and graffiti are also popular, especially in cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

The Language of Brazil

Religion in brazil.

Most Brazilians are Christians, with a large number being Catholics. There are also people who practice African religions like Candomblé and Umbanda, often blending them with Catholicism. Religion influences many aspects of Brazilian culture, from holidays to music and dance.

In conclusion, the culture of Brazil is a colorful mix of influences. It is seen in the joyful festivals, tasty food, love for football, beautiful art, unique language, and religious practices. This cultural richness makes Brazil a fascinating country to learn about.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

Happy studying!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

  • Entertainment
  • Environment
  • Information Science and Technology
  • Social Issues

Home Essay Samples World

Essay Samples on Brazil

Argentine legislative issues: pope francis contribution to the society.

Argentina is a crazy ride, however, its residents might be all around acclimated with its circles from blast to bust. However, the intrigue of steady show has worn ragged. With President Mauricio Macri, the nation is moving to one side of its long-lasting Kirchnerist legislative...

The City of God and Its Exposure of the Brazilian Culture

The City of God (2002) gives the viewer an eye to the urban Brazilian culture and the social issues such as the brutality of gang war and violence faced by marginalised communities (“City of God Analysis”, 2015). The cinematic elements such as the urban setting,...

  • City of God
  • Culture and Communication

The Sequence of Masterful Cinematography in City of God

City of God, (‘Cidade de Deus’ in Portugese) directed by Fernando Meirelles is crime film based on the novel of the same name, written by Paulo Lins in 1997, with the plot being quite loosely based on real events. Narrated primarily by a boy who...

Benefits and Risks of Medical Tourism in Brazil

Background Medical tourism is known to date back to the 1980’s and 1990’s when health costs rose. This caused Americans to start traveling to Central American countries like Costa Rica for dental bridges and caps not covered by their insurance – which was later known...

  • Medical Tourism

Exposure of Gender-Related Issues in Brazil

Introduction This paper discusses the impact of gender-related issues in Brazil. I choose the country of Brazil because this was a country that I wanted to learn more about. In previous classes I have taken, Brazil was not a country that was drawn much attention...

Stressed out with your paper?

Consider using writing assistance:

  • 100% unique papers
  • 3 hrs deadline option

The Variety and Colorfuness of Brazil

Brazil actually is America’s largest country by its population and geographical size. Full to the top with intriguing people, plants, and animals. Also its history, religion, culture and sports make this country a great one. The official name of the country I chose is Federal...

  • Human Population

The Strengths of the Multinational Brazil

Introduction Brazil is the largest country in South America and the fifth largest country in the world. There are many things to see and do including the Amazon Rainforest, the Christ the Redeemer Statue and many soccer stadiums and exhibits. The reason I chose Brazil...

  • International Trade

The 2018 Election Issues In Brazil

Gaining independence in 1822, the Federative Republic of Brazil is a Federal Presidential Republic and will hold an election in October of 2018 to elect the Chief of State and head of government, the president. After the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, his vice president,...

  • Role of Government

Brazil's Cultural Environment, Opportunities & Challenges For Investors Wanting Do Business In Brazil

Culture is extremely important when doing business in other countries, as it affects all business functions including marketing, human resources, production, accounting, finance, and leadership. Culture varies from country to country and defines the boundaries of different groups. This paper will analyze Brazil’s cultural environment...

  • Business Plan

Best topics on Brazil

1. Argentine Legislative Issues: Pope Francis Contribution to the Society

2. The City of God and Its Exposure of the Brazilian Culture

3. The Sequence of Masterful Cinematography in City of God

4. Benefits and Risks of Medical Tourism in Brazil

5. Exposure of Gender-Related Issues in Brazil

6. The Variety and Colorfuness of Brazil

7. The Strengths of the Multinational Brazil

8. The 2018 Election Issues In Brazil

9. Brazil’s Cultural Environment, Opportunities & Challenges For Investors Wanting Do Business In Brazil

Need writing help?

You can always rely on us no matter what type of paper you need

*No hidden charges

100% Unique Essays

Absolutely Confidential

Money Back Guarantee

By clicking “Send Essay”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement. We will occasionally send you account related emails

You can also get a UNIQUE essay on this or any other topic

Thank you! We’ll contact you as soon as possible.

Home — Essay Samples — Geography & Travel — Brazil — Cultural Content Assignment On Brazil

test_template

Cultural Content Assignment on Brazil

  • Categories: Brazil Cultural Identity Ethnography

About this sample

close

Words: 1536 |

Published: Jul 15, 2020

Words: 1536 | Pages: 3 | 8 min read

Works Cited

  • Freyre, G. (2014). The Masters and the Slaves: A Study in the Development of Brazilian Civilization. University of California Press.
  • Geertz, C. (1973). The Interpretation of Cultures: Selected Essays. Basic Books.
  • Margolis, M. L. (2014). A History of Brazil. Palgrave Macmillan.
  • Nogueira, O. (2007). Culture and Language in Brazilian Society. University of Texas Press.
  • Pierson, D. S., & Costa, P. F. (2015). The Brazilian Economy: Growth and Development. Wiley.
  • Ribeiro, D. (2012). The Brazilian People: The Formation and Meaning of Brazil. University of Florida Press.
  • Schaefer, M. B. (2016). Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Society. SAGE Publications.
  • Skidmore, T. E. (2010). Brazil: Five Centuries of Change. Oxford University Press.
  • Souza, J. (2016). Brazil: A Biography. University of Chicago Press.
  • Warren, D. M. (2019). Brazil: The Troubled Rise of a Global Power. John Wiley & Sons.

Image of Dr. Oliver Johnson

Cite this Essay

To export a reference to this article please select a referencing style below:

Let us write you an essay from scratch

  • 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
  • Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

author

Prof. Kifaru

Verified writer

  • Expert in: Geography & Travel Sociology Arts & Culture

writer

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

2 pages / 1124 words

1 pages / 456 words

1 pages / 388 words

2 pages / 1109 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Brazil

Brazilian culture is a vibrant tapestry woven together by a rich history, diverse influences, and colorful traditions. From the rhythmic beats of samba to the mouth-watering flavors of feijoada, Brazil offers a sensory [...]

Brazil allows vast geographical areas with mountain trails. Brazilians express their interest towards outdoor activities specially cycling. Due to lack of knowledge, some Brazilians of smaller cities don’t know about benefits of [...]

“Globalization has produced a new level of interdependence among us and is strong evidence of a new era,'' stated Eduardo Paes, the mayor of the city of Rio de Janeiro. As mentioned, globalization has prospered countries around [...]

Living in Canada we as Canadians take pride in our culture, kindness, hospitality, and sports. Everyone around the world views both Canada and Australia as kind, multicultural caring countries that accept refugees from war [...]

From the reckoning, being scares of nation being over populated is not a bad thought; although, thinking and blaming all the Mexican for this reason; then build a border wall directly to stop them from moving in the United [...]

All the countries that we see today have either, independence, freedom or none of those great things. We should be thankful for living in a country like Canada, but Canada didn't always have its freedom and independence it does [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

  • Instructions Followed To The Letter
  • Deadlines Met At Every Stage
  • Unique And Plagiarism Free

1 page essay on brazil

Home / Essay Samples / World / Americas / Brazil

Brazil Essay Examples

Impressions from dee dee bridgewater concert.

Although I have lived in Memphis for over a decade, I, unfortunately, have never attended a concert at the Levitt Shell, so I was looking forward to the Dee Dee Bridgewater event as part of the Rhodes Night at the Levitt Shell series. When I...

Brazil Deforestration Amazon Forest

Imagine a world without forests, it is said that the forest covers 30% of the Earth’s surface, which provides vital habitats for million of spices in this surface we live in. The forest also provides a lot of different important sources, such as clean air...

What Should You Know in Order to Start Business in Brazil

Starting a business in a new country requires a lot of research. It is important to understand that country's political and economic system as well as cultural values. To establish business in Brazil, Pizza Hut had to study the complex history of Brazilian economy and...

Policies and Effects of Portuguese Colonisation in Brazil

The essay will discuss how during the colonisation of Brazil, severe racial policies were implemented which continue to affect the nation today. The imposed racial ideals and division has been carried on into Brazil’s modern society, leading to socio inequality and racial discrimination of ethnic...

Problem of Heavy Metal Suicide in USA History

The paper will explain the significance of heavy metal suicide as a topic in modern United States history. Heavy metal suicide was put into the public view in the 80s, when two young men killed themselves after listening to Judas Priest’s albums. Many court trials...

The Analysis of 3 Disasters in North America, Brazil and East Africa

Low levels of development within a country leads to an increase in vulnerable people ultimately leading to greater impacts of disasters. This can then have an effect on economic growth due to loss of means of growing an economy in large disasters which can create...

Rio De Janeiro as One of the Cultural Pots in Brazil

Have you ever wondered what attracts most tourists to Rio de Janeiro? My interest was piqued due to mix compilations inspired by Latin America from one of my favorite DJs, Tiesto. Rio de Janeiro is one of the biggest cities for tourism in Brazil. It...

Traditions & Behaviour in Brazil

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world geographically and also represents the fifth largest market opportunity in the world. Brazil has a population of over 194 million, with a young and highly motivated workforce. Brazilian business is hierarchical therefore the final decisions are...

Reaction of Brazil on Venezuelan Emigration

Brazil has also been a key player in the emigration of Venezuelan refugees. While Colombia to its southwest, has received the brunt of immigrants, Brazil as a southern neighbor has received its fair share of immigrant influx and conflict. It difficult to manage the migration...

The Impact of America on Brazilian Dancing Culture

Brazil is a country founded on music and dance. Its dance styles are woven into their identity and have become part of growing up as a Brazilian citizen. More than any other foreign country, dance is part of the stereotypical image of Brazil and its...

Trying to find an excellent essay sample but no results?

Don’t waste your time and get a professional writer to help!

You may also like

  • Peru Essays
  • Canada Essays
  • Mexico Essays
  • Argentina Essays
  • Costa Rica Essays
  • Honduras Essays
  • Latin America Essays
  • North Korea Essays
  • India Essays
  • New York City Essays

samplius.com uses cookies to offer you the best service possible.By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .--> -->