constructed by images
We must read and analyze images in order to understand the world
Brazil from the beginning has had to construct a nation from a vast
many narratives (mixing of ethnicitys)
Methodology: Is generally a guideline system for solving a problem,
with specific components such as phases, tasks, methods, techniques
and tools. The process we use to dissect a work.
Examples:
-Connoisseurship - antique road show
-Formal analysis-construction/
-Stylistic analysis-categorization
-Iconography-deciphering symbols
-social history
-Vasari and others biography of Artists
Mid 19th century Germany when forming its national identity (done in
part through images) brought up the questions: What is or isn’t a
“German” piece of art and is it quality?
ROBERT SMITH: Was the only author (1940’s) writing about Spain and
Portugal which were considered backwater places. Portugal is
sometimes referred to as the 3rd World of Western Europe.
-Platitude (gross generalization-doesn’t mean anything-easily debated)
-Spain=Hell & Portugal=Heaven
-Focused on style, authorship, attribution etc. in a romanticized
prose. Compares objects to a platonic ideal rather than giving
individual evaluation to each object.
-Concerned with the style of buildings etc. but they were not built to serve a
style. They were built to serve the people who are not represented.
-No context. Ignores the vernacular (writings assume that everyone
lived in a palace and worshiped in a cathedral)
1950’s civil rights, feminism, social awareness=interest in history of
non-elites develops
Social History focuses on the everyday
Marxist Theory
Freudian Theory
Feminist Theory
Critical Race Theory
Queer Theory
Post Colonial Theories
Post Colonial Theories: Becoming One through Collective Identity
(merging of the native and colonizing cultures)
Portuguese Empire orchestrates Brazils initial development
Portuguese fisherman become navigators and then explorers
Portuguese 1st major empire after the Roman
Iberian Peninsula-Spain & Portugal - settled in prehistoric era
evidenced by cave paintings
-civilization & government established by Roman invaders-
Asturias important as it is the last piece of Iberian Peninsula to be
conquered by Romans
Roman rule replaced by Visigoths from 410 CE to 711 CE
Traditions of Greco-Roman civilization, efficiency, language (Spanish
& Portuguese are Latin based) architecture, & RELIGION (Catholicism)
remain on Peninsula
San Pedro de la Nave, Zamora, Spain Built between 680 & 711,
Romanesque church (triangular capitol w/ Abraham sacrificing Isaac
scene)
Asturias last to be conquered and untouched by Visigoths as it is
mountainous (Pyrenees) with a large Basque influence
711-Moors/Spanish Arabs, Muhammad 640-650 in Mecca begins having
visions, established religion. Muhammad is last prophet so no
religious successors but Empire is inherited
Umayyad Caliphate 622-750
Iberians revolt & separate into kingdoms
The kingdoms of Portugal & Algarve unite to form modern Portugal
All ‘Infidels’ (Muslims & Jews) are forced out
Same religious spirit gives foundation to the crusades, the attempted
eradication of Muslims & Jews and inspires conquest (empire & new
world)
Portuguese don’t go inland towards the Spanish civil wars but south to
Africa. Ceuta, Morocco is the 1st city captured.
Tile work is an Arabic influence. Arabs were great scientist & navigators
Caravel Sailing Ships were small ships that traveled great distances
quickly which the Portuguese used to sail around, map, and colonize
the coasts of Africa
Why does our education system ignore the Portuguese & Spanish Empires?
(remnants are mostly 3rd World & Catholic while “we” are Protestant
with a government stemming from the British Empire etc.)
Ultimately history is written by the victor (British & French won out
in the New World)
England develops a inglorious narrative about Spain called The Black
Legend- a mythical idea of Spain as a dark and crooked people.
Examples of the Black Legend:
“The tears of the Indians being an historical and true account of the
cruel massacres and slaughters of above twenty millions of innocent
people committed by the Spaniards... Title of book-Published in
London: J/C/ fpr Nath, Brooke 1656
“Whatever opinion I had formed of the Portuguese, I could have no idea
of the debasement which our capacities may suffer when cramped by
arbitrary government and papal superstition.” -William H. Prescott on
Visit to the Azores, 1815
Dark Spaniards are seen as less then European because they are not
‘really’ European but Arabic-of course not true--short, dark,
conspiratorial &
“The final hour of colonialism has struck, and millions of inhabitants
of Africa, Asia and Latin America rise to meet a new life and demand
their unrestricted right to self-determination” -Che Guevara, speech
to the united nations, December 11, 1964
Books to Read:
Orientalism by Edward Said
Location of Culture- Homi Bhabha
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