History of Brazilian Soccer

Description

‘Futebol-arte choreographed major themes within Brazilian society and as such proved to be a potent symbol of national identity and a shared idiom for exploring community consciousness (…) football proved to be a crucial political and social site where Afro-Brazilians spoke out, not in celebration of the racial democracy thesis, but celebrating the roguish malandro, a figure from the slave quarters and urban slums who pitted his wits against authority and who challenged his former masters by cunning, contrivance, and uncontrollable spontaneity.’ (Richard Follett) Discuss the above quote in relation to the history of Brazilian soccer in the twentieth century. How did it come to be such a crucial site for the matizing class and race divisions as well as for ‘resolving’ these in a ritual and playful fashion? Write a short, approximately 2 page (double-spaced) essay for each question you choose. You may include quotations from literary and critical readings but you don’t have to – when prompted to refer to texts or films, it’s fine for you to paraphrase or sum up in your own words those aspects you will be discussing.