Exploring Brazilian Culture
ERIKA ROBB LARKINS
Anthropology and Sociology

Dr. Erika Robb Larkins directs SDSU’s Behner Stiefel Center for Brazilian Studies, which focuses on the interdisciplinary examination of globally relevant issues in Brazil. 

The center collaborates with Brazilian scholars and community members to bring programming and educational activities to SDSU. One of Dr. Larkins’ recent programs featured the Afro-Brazilian cultural traditions of Northeastern Brazil. With funding from the Consulate General of Brazil in Los Angeles, the center hosted a travelling art exhibit to discuss Brazilian history and culture. The center’s new virtual initiative, the Digital Brazil Project, expands access to Brazilian studies for the SDSU community and beyond.

Dr. Larkins’ three-week seminar, The Making of Modern Brazil, was attended by faculty from around the United States. This National Endowment for the Humanities-supported seminar examined the social, racial and cultural diversity of Brazil through films, music, ethnographic texts, fiction, and historical images and documents (FS-267176-19). 

“Our goal is to foster research that is interdisciplinary in nature, a focus that reflects our perspective that today’s challenges can only be solved by working across academic borders.” -Erika Robb Larkins

https://brazil.sdsu.edu/

https://www.digitalbrazilproject.com/

Street art depicting prominent human rights activist, Marielle Franco. Photo by Erika Robb Larkins

Street art depicting prominent human rights activist, Marielle Franco. Photo by Erika Robb Larkins

Images from Rio de Janeiro, where Larkins’ research is focused. Photo by Kathryn Sanchez.

Images from Rio de Janeiro, where Larkins’ research is focused. Photo by Kathryn Sanchez.

 

A traveling art exhibit brought Afro-Brazilian culture to campus. Photo by Joel Ortiz

A traveling art exhibit brought Afro-Brazilian culture to campus. Photo by Joel Ortiz.

Dr. Erika Robb Larkins. Photo by Jacque Braun.

Dr. Erika Robb Larkins. Photo by Jacque Braun.