In this course, we analyze the interaction between Brazilian cultural productions and the environment. The class begins by reflecting upon the environmental humanities, ecocriticism and their methods of research and upon topics like the Anthropocene and environmental justice. We will then turn to central areas of environmental thought in Brazil, including the Amazon Rainforest and […]
Ler MAis
This presentation explores relational frameworks through which Makushi villagers in Surama interact with eco-tourists in Guyana. It shows how eco-tourists and their leaders are positioned in ways similar to shamanic spirits and how these relations resonate with early Makushi encounters with Anglican missionaries during the nineteenth century. It describes how Makushi groups have formed strategic […]
Ler MAis
This photography exhibition reflects on the utopias and ruins of extractive cities in the Brazilian Amazon. These urban zones, created as vehicles for the exploitation of natural resources, are ghostly evocations of the Anthropocene. They show us the future of increasingly larger areas of the Amazon and the world, as human beings continue to privilege […]
Ler MAis
This photography exhibition reflects on the utopias and ruins of extractive cities in the Brazilian Amazon. These urban zones, created as vehicles for the exploitation of natural resources, are ghostly evocations of the Anthropocene. They show us the future of increasingly larger areas of the Amazon and the world, as human beings continue to privilege […]
Ler MAis
We live in times of climatic, environmental, social, mental, and spiritual catastrophes, in a fractured planet in which entire worlds are silenced by colonial habitation and capitalist exploitation. How did we get here? And how can we imagine futures—not ideal, but possible—within the cracks that persist? This event seeks to reflect on these questions through […]
Ler MAis
This talk invites us to reflect on how anthropology can help transform the way we see and relate to plants. Thanks to the insights of the Environmental Humanities, we no longer think of nature as a mere backdrop to human life but as a complex web of interdependent beings. Yet, in the enthusiasm to recognize […]
Ler MAis
Biodiversity loss and climate change exert deep and interconnected impacts on Brazilian biomes, compromising their ecological integrity and the ecosystem services vital to human life. Land-use change, deforestation, and habitat fragmentation reduce ecosystem resilience, making them more vulnerable to extreme climatic events such as droughts and fires. These combined effects alter species distribution and disrupt […]
Ler MAis
Lianas are woody climbing plants that play a vital role in the ecology of the Amazon rainforest, forming tangled suspension bridges between the treetops. In this presentation, we explore the connections between humans and certain companion lianas, with a particular focus on yoco (Paullinia yoco). This liana belongs to the Sapindaceae family, is rich in […]
Ler MAis
In this session, we will discuss ancestral/traditional and ritualistic uses of psychedelic plants and fungi, as well as the recent “renaissance” of research on this topic. We will address the uses of psychedelic plants and fungi in mental health treatment, including of conditions such as resistant depression, post-traumatic stress, and other comorbidities. The debate will […]
Ler MAis
This session will be dedicated to so-called “petrofiction,” a term designating cultural productions that address the topic of oil and its ubiquitous presence in contemporary societies, especially since the so-called “great acceleration” (~1950-present). Petrofiction highlights humanity’s dependence on fossil fuels as an energy source, as well as the negative environmental and social consequences of oil […]
Ler MAis