Brazilian Architecture
The beginning centuries in Brazil looked to Europe for inspiration for architecture. Generally, the early building stlyes in Brazil came from the Portuguese people's culture. However, during the gold boom in the 18th century, changed the style of Brazilian architecture. Streets were being built with granite and iron slate, and were steep. Builings were built with gold covered interiors. Many buildings are built with a baroque or rococo styles now.
http://www.kidscornerbrazil.org/content/art.php
http://www.kidscornerbrazil.org/content/art.php
Brazilian Art
Brazilian art began in the 16th century when Brazil was primarily filled with Portuguese people. Therefore, the art in Brazil began almost wholly dependent on European culture. Some of the first sculptures is Brazil were used for religious purposes and were generally made to be religious characters. The type of art that became extremely popular in the 19th century is Baroque. Baroque is an art form that used big, exaggerated motions that are easily caught by other people. During the 20th century, Modern and Contemporary art was just being introduced. Brazil is now starting to incorporrate modernism in their art and architecture.
http://www.kidscornerbrazil.org/content/art.php
http://www.kidscornerbrazil.org/content/art.php
Brazilian Music
The most popular music in Brazil is the Samba which comes froms the African style of music mixed with Portuguese and Indian influence. The samba is the heart of all carnivals and parades in Brazil. Bossa Nova is another popular kind of music that is a mixture of American Jazz and Samba. Classical music is a part of the Brazilian culture. Heitor Villa is Brazil's most famous classical composer of operas and symphonies. Classical music in Brazil combines folk melodies and classical orchestra music making a very unique style of music. There is an instrument called a Berimbau that has a metal wire attached to a gourd at the bottom. The player shakes the gourd to make the seeds rattle. This instrument originated from the Africans.
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2000/5/00.05.03.x.html
http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2000/5/00.05.03.x.html
Brazilian Technology
Brazil has been making advances in technology, but many people are not able to afford them. PC's (portable computers) are available in Brazil, but only 12 percent of people in Brazil own a PC. Many schools do not have PC's either. There is a program called the Committee for Democracy in Information Technology to help make computer technology available to many more Brazilian's who previously could not afford it. This committee uses older computers that buisnesses have discarded and makes them usable again. Over 900 schools have benefited from this committee. Voting machines were just introduced in the year 2000 to collect ballots electronically.
http://www.technologyreview.com/featured-story/403888/brazil/
http://www.technologyreview.com/featured-story/403888/brazil/