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PORT10110

Academic Year 2025/2026

Postcolonial Portuguese World (PORT10110)

Subject:
Portuguese
College:
Arts & Humanities
School:
Languages, Cultures & Linguis
Level:
1 (Introductory)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Ana Vera
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module provides an interdisciplinary introduction to the history, cultures and societies of the Portuguese-speaking world, commonly referred to as the Lusophone world. Through a post-colonial framework, this module examines how centuries of Portuguese expansion, colonisation, and cultural exchange have shaped diverse regions across Europe, Africa, Asia and the Americas.
From the urban beats of Lisbon to the vibrant rhythms of Brazil, from the volcanic landscapes of Cape Verde to the post-independence narratives of Mozambique and Angola, this module will provide an understanding of the complexities and nuances of the Portuguese-speaking world.
Throughout the module, students will engage critically with primary and secondary sources, including historical documents, cultural artefacts, music, visual arts, film, and scholarly articles, to examine how legacies of colonisation, slavery, and independence movements continue to inform contemporary realities. Emphasis will be placed on key theoretical concepts such as colonialism, postcolonialism, hybridity, Lusotropicalism, and nationalism, enabling students to analyse cultural production in its historical and political contexts.
By the end of the module, students will gain insights into the diversity and dynamism of Lusophone cultures and societies, as well as the ongoing challenges and opportunities they face in the contemporary global landscape.

Note: This module is designed for non-specialists, so prior knowledge of the Portuguese language or familiarity with the Portuguese-speaking world is not required, making the course accessible to students from all disciplines with an interest in history, culture, and global studies.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

1. Identify and explain the historical interconnectedness between the Portuguese-speaking world, recognising common legacies and distinctive trajectories.
2. Analyse major historical, political and cultural moments in the Portuguese-speaking world, from maritime expansion to postcolonial realities.
3. Develop an informed understanding of key critical concepts (e.g. Colonialism, post-colonialism, hybridity, Lusotropicalism, Nationalism)
4. Examine a variety of cultural objects of the Portuguese-speaking world, including music, art, and film within their specific historical and social contexts.
5. Develop and communicate coherent arguments, both orally and in writing, that draw on primary and secondary sources
6. Reflect critically on the legacies of empire and their impact on contemporary debates around identity, memory, race, and cultural belonging in Portuguese-speaking societies.

Indicative Module Content:

Whilst the module's content may vary, it is envisaged that the course will include some of the following topics:
1. Portuguese expansion and the making of the colonial order
2. The Portuguese Atlantic: Slavery and Resistance
3. Lusotropicalism and Colonialism in Africa
4. Revolution, Decolonisation and Postcolonial Identities
5. Language and Linguistic diversity in the postcolony: Creole languages and their significance.
7. Diaspora: memory and migration
8. Music and Resistance
9. Race, gender and Representation

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

12
Tutorial

12
Specified Learning Activities

36
Autonomous Student Learning

50
Total

110

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The module incorporates various teaching and learning approaches, including lectures, class discussions, problem-based learning, debates, readings, and presentations. Active participation in classes is recommended, and students are expected to fully engage with the module material and in-class learning activities.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Individual Project: Individual or small group oral presentations related to one of the topics and material of the module Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No
40
 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Contributions to in-class discussions, tasks and learning activities throughout the semester Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 9 Graded No
10
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Essay: 1000-word critical essay related to one of the topics studied Week 15 Graded No
50
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Remediation Type Remediation Timing
In-Module Resit Prior to relevant Programme Exam Board
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Students are not required to purchase any materials for this module. All readings and specified learning materials will be made available on Brightspace.

Name Role
Dr Pascale Baker Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Thurs 12:00 - 12:50
Autumn Seminar Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Tues 11:00 - 11:50
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