2015 - Global Studies: Culture/Nature

ANNALS

2015

Studies of cultural processes in global contexts
using Euro-Brazilian relations as a frame of reference

Madagascar

2015

Culture/Nature in the Global Studies

in the commemorative year of the 450th anniversary of Rio de Janeiro

The year 2015 in Cultural Studies in global contexts was marked by the celebration of Rio de Janeiro's 450th anniversary. The studies began 2014 at the National Library of Belgium in Brussels with a survey of literature and documents concerning Belgium's diplomatic and cultural relations with Brazil in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Among the aspects considered, issues concerning the image of Rio de Janeiro in representing Brazil abroad and the role played by culture, arts, and music were highlighted. The theme of Culture/Nature in global contexts was addressed through studies of world expositions and landscaping in the urban configuration of Brussels and the restructuring of the city of Rio de Janeiro. Conceptions of evolution and artistic-cultural trends of the Belle Époque were considered in relation to each other. Among the topics discussed, those relating to climatology in the context of colonial studies, as well as sanitation in cities such as Brussels, Antwerp, and Rio de Janeiro, stood out. Conferences on Brazil at the Sorbonne University in Paris were analyzed for their significance to the history of Brazilian studies in Europe and Euro-Brazilian relations.

The studies on the relationship between culture and nature in global contexts were initiated in 2015 on islands in the Indico Ocean. The interactions between East and West since the Age of Discovery were the central focus. These were discussed during meetings at various institutions. Culture/nature in art became the subject of dialogues with the artist Gerard Devoud in the Seychelles. The comparison of Sugarloaf Mountain in Diego Suarez, Madagascar, with Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro prompted a closer examination of the developments initiated by the Portuguese during the Age of Discovery. Parallels between dance and music traditions in the islands and those of Brazil opened new perspectives for transnational folklore research. Relationships with European powers during the colonial period, as well as with Africa in the context of the slave trade, were analyzed in parallel with Brazil. The presence of France, particularly in Mauritius and Réunion, was given special attention. The observations and results of the dialogues were subsequently processed in sessions in Bavaria.

The Culture/Nature studies in international contexts were subsequently continued in North America. These studies were also conducted in the context of the 450th anniversary of the founding of Rio de Janeiro. The role of extraordinary natural formations in cultural processes and the image of regions were examined, using Niagara Falls and the Rio landscape with Sugarloaf Mountain as examples. Parallels and relationships between North and South America in the context of the opening up of new regions in the search for material wealth shaped the discussions in Alaska. These discussions were based on studies conducted in Acre and Rondônia. In both contexts, the problems of the indigenous populations were discussed, a topic of general interest to ethnological and cultural studies. The observations and results of these discussions were subsequently reviewed and documented in sessions in Bavaria and at the Brazil-Europe study center in Brazil.

In Germany, the second half of 2015 was marked by studies conducted in Meiningen and Coburg. In both cities, cultural developments of the 19th century, viewed from the perspective of Euro-Brazilian studies, were the focus of discussions during visits to museums and exhibitions. In Meiningen, the emphasis was primarily on musical connections, while in Coburg, the focus was on the historical ties between ruling families and Brazil. In Coburg, in particular, the theme of culture/nature was highlighted by an exhibition there. The results of these studies were subsequently discussed at meetings in Bavaria and further developed into written reports

The final studies of 2015 were shaped by a re-reading of Hermann Keyserling's "South America Meditations". This and other works by these German philosopher influenced study visits to the Baltic countries and subsequently to Darmstadt in Hesse. These reflections aligned with the East/West study program and focused thematically on processes of humanization and dehumanization in society, philosophy, science, and cultural psychology. These questions also influenced the subsequent work, which was again carried out in Bavaria. This time, the focus shifted to the personality and architectural works of King Ludwig II in their relationship to the landscape.

Brussels

The 2015 Culture/Nature studies in global contexts were prepared using bibliographic research conducted at the National Library of Belgium in Brussels in 2014