In Search of Legitimacy: How Outsiders Become Part of the Afro-Brazilian Capoeira Tradition
- Author: Griffith, Lauren Miller
In Search of Legitimacy: How Outsiders Become Part of the Afro-Brazilian Capoeira Tradition
- Author: Griffith, Lauren Miller
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About
Every year, countless young adults from affluent, Western nations travel to Brazil to train in capoeira, the dance/martial art form that is one of the most visible strands of the Afro-Brazilian cultural tradition. In Search of Legitimacy explores why “first world” men and women leave behind their jobs, families, and friends to pursue a strenuous training regimen in a historically disparaged and marginalized practice. Using the concept of apprenticeship pilgrimage—studying with a local master at a historical point of origin—the author examines how non-Brazilian capoeiristas learn their art and claim legitimacy while navigating the complexities of wealth disparity, racial discrimination, and cultural appropriation.
Contents
- List of Figures
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- Chapter 1 . A Brief History of Capoeira
- Chapter 2 . The Challenges of Teaching and Learning Capoeira Abroad
- Chapter 3 . Travel as a Way to Overcome Doubts
- Chapter 4 . Preparing for the Pilgrimage
- Chapter 5 . A World in which the Black Brazilian Man Is King
- Chapter 6 . How the Rest of Us Get Our Foot in the Door
- Chapter 7 . Does Form Really Matter?
- Chapter 8 . Will I Ever Be Good Enough?
- Chapter 9 .
- Conclusion and Future Directions
- Glossary
- Bibliography
- Index
