Dr. João Leal speaks on the “Imperadores and Queens: Travels of a Ritual across the North Atlantic” and book launch of “Azorean Identity in Brazil and the United States: Arguments about History, Culture, and Transnational Connections” – March 24th, UMass Dartmouth

What: Talk by anthropologist, Dr. João Leal on the “Imperadores and Queens: Travels of a Ritual across the North Atlantic” and launch of his book: Azorean Identity in Brazil and the United States: Arguments about History, Culture, and Transnational Connections

Where: Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives, Claire T. Carney Library, UMass Dartmouth

When: 6:00 – 7:30 pm, March 24, 2011

Light refreshments will be served.

Please join us for the launch of Azorean Identity in Brazil and the United States: Arguments about History, Culture, and Transnational Connections published by Tagus Press at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

At the launching, the author, anthropologist, Dr. João Leal, will deliver a talk titled “Imperadores and Queens: Travels of a Ritual across the North Atlantic” and will be on hand to sign copies of the book

Dr. João Leal is an associate professor in the Department of Anthropology at the Universidade Nova de Lisboa and a senior researcher at CRIA (Centre for Anthropological Research) in Lisbon.  Dr. Leal’s presentation at the launching of Azorean Identity in Brazil and the United States will explore the importance of transnational links between Azorean communities in the Azores and the USA in the maintenance and transformation of the Holy Ghost festas. Based on two case studies carried out in the islands of Pico and Santa Maria, he will show how the innovations introduced into the Holy Ghost festas in the U.S. have transformed these rituals in their place of origin–the Azores.

The Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives are a joint collaboration between the Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture and the Claire T. Carney Library.

The entrance to the Ferreira-Mendes Portuguese-American Archives is located on the campus side of the Claire T. Carney Library.  For access during library construction as you approach from Lot 13, enter the library basement and proceed to the first floor, exit the building, and proceed to the right to the Archives entrance.

For further information, contact 508-999-8684 or email spacheco@umassd.edu.