Day 3- Corcadova and Naive Art

Day 3 Wed May 28 Arrival in Rio de Janero, Brazil

9:15 am Group convenes in hostel lobby
9:30 am group leaves for city central on public transportation to Estasco Trem do Corcovado
Ride tram up Corcavado mountain to Christo Redentor (one of the 7 wonders of the world)
2 PM Tour of Museum International De Arte Naif, Feira de Sao Cristovao (beside tram station)

We took a tram to see the statue of Jesus Christ on one of the highest mountains of Rio De Janero. This was a view of the entire city looking out. From there we went to the museum international de Art Naif. This museum was of "Naive" Art the art from the people of Brazil or what is known as vernacular art. Lots of paintings and there was a mural where there was a large mural towards the ceiling that gave the history and making of the country of Brazil from the Indians and early settlers from Portugal. The Jesuits, slavery and the industrial revolution to contemporary times.

The museum was really fascinating because these are stories from the people of Brazil. Their interpretation of Brazil and its history which may not have been told in a traditional museum.



Journal Entry
Wed. May 28 2009 10:27 AM

We are waiting for the bus man and the professors to negotiate our trip for the week. Ana the SAIC rep, doesn’t want us to go to the favelas but Drea finds it necessary because there are people we know that are doing work there.
What is ringing a bell with me is gentrification and dark politics. The way I’m seen as a dark Black person to the rest of the world,, how Brazilians treat the darkest people. The area that we live in for hostiles is in Copacabana is nice. Its blocks away from the beach. And there is a market across the street with fresh fruit vegetables and fish and poultry.
Last night Nicole and I were talking about the politics of education about what it is to be Black in this situation and our connections to the people who are oppressed and the similarities of a favela in Brazil verses the projects in the south side of Chicago or the 9th ward in New Orleans.

The fact that I’m here with this group is a political action itself. How I look what I wear, how I’m perceived. The other girls talked about men hitting on them in the market. No one hit on me. I was invisible I did get a good morning. But is it assumed cause I’m dark I have no money? That I’m not worth bargaining with? Although my clothes and style may look like a foreigner, am I seen as an “assimilado” like Amiliar Cabril when the Portuguese only collected a small percent of Africans to go to grad school and run the country to their means? But they turned on the ruling class and used there education to liberate others.

I know we are going to the favelas today. This is where I’ll really get to see people who look like me. The only dark people around the hostel and this area are the maids and the men cleaning the park and picking up trash.

Class is definitely a skin color issue. But how do you relate that to gentrification? We were talking last night about what happens when those who are in power want to move people out of the favelas to make condos like in Chicago, when they tore down Cabrini Green or the Bayview Hunter’s Point projects in San Francisco, or Fort Green projects in Brooklyn.

Related readings
Literacy: Reading the Word and the World
by Paulo Freire & Donaldo Macedo
Chapter 5, Literacy in Guinea-Bissau Revisited


Portuguese phrases

Good Morning Bom dia (Bom jia)

Good Evening Boa noite

Good-bye Até logo/ Tchau

How are you? Tu do bem?
(informal)

Fine, thanks Tu do bem.
(informal)

How are you? Como vai o senhour
(formal) a senhora

Fine, thanks and you? Múito bem. Obrigada
(formal)

Please Por favor

Thank you Obrigada

Thank you very much Múito Obrigada

No thank you Não, Obrigada

I’m sorry Sinto múito / desculpe

Pardon me Dá Liçenca
(informal)

Pardon me com liçenca / meperdoe / perdão
(formal)

That’s okay tu do bem
Tu do certo

Do you speak English Você fala ingles?

I don’t know. Eu não tem.

I’d like Eu gustaria

I need Eu precisuo (de) ...

What would you like? Em que posso servi –lo?

Please bring me Por favor traga-me