Matte مصر Tropicália

The course has as the main focus a collective learning. It is an experiment in itself, practicing openness, care and listening, with a total engagement with ourselves and the conversations which will happen. To exercise this philosophy of decolonization we will practice and study different subjects and contexts, attempting to find intersections between Latin America and the Arab World. The central theme will be the Tropicália movement from Brazil, which is relevant until today no only due to the ways it created dialogue between disciplines but as well as its close relationship with today’s Egypt.

The poets were making sculpture and discussing translation, the filmmakers were engaged with politics and social-history, the artists interacted with the relationship between the body, space, and experience. These profound relations and modes of inquiry greatly influenced the political change that was happening at the time. We will be also questioning the impact of these modes of resistance in the Brazilian as well as the Egyptian case and their impacts in both contexts.

The activities will have different approaches, varying from text readings, films screenings, experiencial exercises, presentations made by the students as well as guests(regarding the themes currently discussed). An important part of the activities will be to relate the subjects discussed with the surrounding, with the outside. In other words: how does the discussed concepts materialize themselves in the public sphere and the daily life. This part will start after the third week so we can create bounds and develop it collectively. During the course we will be looking on texts and films by: Lygia Clark, Suely Rolnik, Glauber Rocha, Helio Oiticica Etc’s.

**Why apply**

To engage with critical thinking and social-historical facts on Latin America.

To engage with manifestations of tri-continental relationships, specifically between Latin-America and the Arab world.

To address important topics of today’s époque as colonization, historiography, narratives, as well as formulate ways of acting, thinking, and existing within those new perspectives.

**What to expect**

Sharing and creating knowledge through readings, screenings, presentations, and exercises

Brazilian guests coming and sharing their thoughts, ideas and time

Building an understanding of the materialization of concepts in the public sphere, in the outside.

Collectively honoring each other’s time and rediscovering meanings of respecting this valuable thing