Brazil has been "the country of the future" longer than it has been an independent nation. This course will introduce students to the many contradictions hinted at in that label-for beyond a patriotic boosterism, the phrase also suggests frustrations that Brazilians have felt, as their country failed to reach what they considered its magnificent potential. While they can celebrate their World Cup victories or the size of their economy (among the ten largest in the world, and heavily industrialized for a "developing nation"), they also have to acknowledge a series of troubling paradoxes: the mixture of fluidity and hierarchy apparent in racial and gender relations; the persistence of political authoritarianism and rampant social violence amidst struggles for citizenship; the endless inventiveness of Brazilian music, religion, and futebol and government attempts to co-opt such forms of popular culture. Combining cultural, political, and social analyses, we will examine a range of written texts and other sources to understand these and other themes in the history of "the U.S. of South America." Evaluation will be based on class participation, two short papers, and a longer (10-12 page) final essay. Expected enrollment: 12-15. Group C