Who Is Brazil?

Initially beginning this trip, I had little to no concept of what Brazil would be. Aside from international futbol matches and images of the rainforests, I've never really had any exposure or education of Brazil and its people. In a way, this was one of the largest draws towards this dialog, as it was completely unknown and uncomfortable. Add in the zika outbreak, Olympic development issues in Rio, and political turmoil, and it had been shaping up to be an interesting trip. Everything was new to me, and I learned so much about a foreign place with so much to offer. 

As we discussed in class, Brazil at its core is a country without its own true culture. This became evident as we began our journey in Sao Paulo, as Brazil seemed to have many influences from different areas, but few things that I had seen for the first time. The vast majority of Brazil's traditions and customs come from a blend of African and Portuguese roots, which becomes evident in the people's way of life, the architecture of the city and state, and the foods of the region. Immigration has also brought many new facets of culture throughout Brazil's history, such as the Italians, Japanese, and North American aspects. In many ways, these individual cultures intertwine, creating something unique to Brazil. From a country without its own true identity, Brazil's comes from its people's understanding of where they came from, what brought them here, and how that makes them stand out among the world. 

One of the very first concepts of Brazilian culture that we explored in class is the idea of the cordial man. The idea arose from historic slaveholders, and its still prevalent throughout much of Brazil today. The cordial man is a man of friends and family, holding those close to him near and putting their needs over the needs of society. He is not afraid to hide his inhibitions, unlike his North American counterparts, and is passionate in his lust and pursuits. This really helped to explain how the people of Brazil worked on a daily basis, as the entire city seems far more relaxed and welcoming than any city in the United States. Public displays of affection are common place in Sao Paulo, and every restaurant owner seems to do their very best to make us feel as if we are eating with them at their family dinner table. Away from the street, the cordial man can be found in media such as movies, futbol, and music. This mindset drives Brazil's laid-back lifestyle, where "on-time" means within 15-20 minutes, and the people are welcoming and eager to help. This culture simply isn't found anywhere in the US, and it provides a great contrast to how different countries operate under different population's mindsets. The American people are more focused on careers and money making, and often times family takes a back seat. In addition, Americans tend to hide their passions and desires, either in fear of judgement or because of public perception. These tendencies are amplified in the northeast, where I've lived all my life, and is known as one of the fastest and busiest areas in all of the world.

In addition to street life, this idea is present in futbol culture as well. Brazilian players play the game with a sort of cocky swagger, relying on pure talent and raw skills to overpower their opponents, rather than the European strategic style of play. Brazilians more or less play the game how they want to, and follow their intuitions and feel of the game to make plays. Fans live and die by their teams, unlike any sport following we can find in the US. Clubs represent local areas and the ideologies of various sub-cultures, making futbol matches more of a battle between two large populations rather than a game between 11 vs 11 men in specific uniforms. The passion is unmatched, and having the opportunity to see this first hand was an amazing experience.

The dances of Brazil further echo the countries mixed background culture. Samba, salsa, and capoiera all illustrate this in their own unique ways. Samba is very unique to Brazil, originating from the slave trade and ultimately developing over time throughout the region and mixing with the Portuguese traditions. Salsa is purely latin-american, and embodies the free-spirit of the Brazilian people through its smooth rhythmic movements and freedom of expression. Capoiera, which is by far the most unique of the group, roots back to the times of slavery, when slaves would practice fighting while passing it off as dancing in front of masters. All of these were a blast to learn, and truly helped me better understand how all of these historic events have led to create what Brazil is today. 

One of the most defining aspects of a civilization is its politics. As a developing country, Brazil seems to be in a constant state of instability to some degree, as the country attempts to continue moving forward, while balancing underdeveloped areas and a portion of the population that does not yet understand the responsibility of voting in a world-power democracy. As I understand, the politics are largely controlled by PMDB, a large political faction that through corruption controls the politics of the nation. The group can flip-flop from the left to the right side whenever they see fit, allowing their own to rise to power. This is allegedly what has happened with the current presidential impeachment, causing more unrest in an already news-worthy summer for Brazil. The best way to improve this corruption and clean out the system is through education, as often times voters blindly choose representatives without any knowledge of their policies or political affiliations. Since everyone is required by law to vote, many do not take the process seriously, and this causes the wide-spread issues to continue. This can be attributed to the counties laid-back and carefree lifestyle, as people seem to passionately care about issues for a moment, only to be completely forgotten a moment later as the focus switches to something else. In many ways these political issues do not directly affect a person and their family on a physical, visual level (ironic, as these very issues are what determines region's economic opportunities) which may cause voters to cast votes without proper due diligence. 

Ultimately, Brazil is a beautiful country, with amazing potential for economic, political, and global growth. It is home to a passionate, kind, and loyal people, all proud of their heritage, more so than the United States and much of the outside world. Although Brazil doesn't quite have its own culture in the eyes of the world, its web of multi-cultural customs and traditions creates a unique system that has come to define Brazil in its own individualistic way. Brazil is already a world super power in the futbol world, and as the country develops further, will find its place among the world leaders economically and politically as time goes on. I couldn't have picked a better place to study abroad, and will always remember the welcoming atmosphere (and Brazilian barbecues) of Sao Paulo. 

The Idea of the Coridal Man and How it Manifests in Futbol Culture

The cordial man is a common theme across Brazilian culture. This lifestyle manifests itself in many of Brazil’s customs and traditions, and none more so than futbol. The cordial man’s values of family, friends, refusal to hide his inhibitions, and ability to lead his own life without the influence of others is prevalent in futbol culture in both how clubs are represented and the style of its players. From local clubs to the Brazil national team, the Brazilian persona can be observed in the stands and on the field.

As we learned in class, each individual club largely represents a unique group of people and subcultures within Brazil. The Palmeiras represent and Italian style of play, which is much more strategic and planned. Sao Paulo FC represents a more middle-upper class group, and are often viewed as ‘soft’ in the eyes of opposing fans. The Corinthians, known as the working class team, have the largest fan base in the state, suggesting that many people connect with the message of the lower-class, and likely with an underdog mentality. In many ways, fans aren’t only rooting for a single team, but for their own ideological ideas, ways of life, and the place they call home. This stems from the cordial man’s tendency to put his home and family first, while the needs of the community take a backseat. It’s these additional layers that fuel the passion of futbol in Brazil, creating an atmosphere that isn’t matched anywhere else in the world, much less the United States.

Photo with two Corinthian players we met at the Curitiba Airport

We had the opportunity to see this passion first hand at a Curitiba FC match this past Sunday in Curitiba. While we sat in the area of the stadium meant primarily for family and casual fans, but even in this section everyone knew every chant, and we would still hear the occasional insult aimed at the Flamengo’s keeper. The die-hard fan section was to our left, and was truly the heart of the stadium. There were beating drums, 20 foot-tall waving flags, and giant banners/flags that draped from the top row all the way down to field-level. You could sense that these fans live and die with their team, and were not too pleased to see Curitiba lose 2-0.

In the case of the national team, the idea of the cordial man can be seen in the team’s style of play. Unlike European clubs, who use a more strategic game plan to gain an advantage, Brazil relies heavily on the raw talent of players to overpower opponents. While strategy is still involved, the Brazilian’s largely rely on their own feel, and instincts of the game throughout the match. This is related to the cordial man’s philosophy of refusing to hide his inhibitions, and trusting his own feelings to guide his actions. Brazilian players are less worried about adhering to every strategy and rule guideline but instead trust their own natural abilities and playmaking styles to dominate the competition. This often works, as some of the world’s most talented players of all time (Pele, Ronaldo, Ronalinho, and today, Neymar) have led Brazil’s teams throughout history.

Overall, the idea of the cordial man is still prevalent throughout Brazilian culture today, and can be seen in futbol across all levels. Players rely on intuition and talent rather than strategy and rolls, adhering to the cordial man’s philosophy of putting himself and his close companions above the needs of society, as well as the idea of refusing to hide his inhibitions. Fans are incredibly passionate about their teams, more so than anywhere else in the world, which can be connected to the theme of family and a loyalty to a specific area to call home. Futbol matches are much more than a simple game between two clubs, but a battle between ideologies and cultures that in many ways has impacts far deeper than a win.