S\u00e3o Paulo \u2013 What social, political, historical and cultural context drives thousands of people in the Middle East to flee their countries and go to such remote locations as Brazil? What are the problems these immigrants face on adapting to a new culture and society? These and other topics will be discussed in the lecture Arab and Muslim World: Social and Subjective Ties, next Tuesday (15th) at 7:30 pm at the Bank of Brazil Cultural Centre (CCBB), in S\u00e3o Paulo.<\/p>\n
The event is part of debate and lecture cycle Immigrants and Refugees: Displacements in a World in Crisis, due in May, June and August. Psychoanalysts, social scientists and anthropologists will discuss issues and policies relating to refugees\u2019 rights, and the main challenges posed by Brazilian society in this respect.<\/p>\n
The program is curated by psychoanalyst Miriam Rosa, a doctor and professor at the University of S\u00e3o Paulo (USP) and at the Pontifical Catholic University of S\u00e3o Paulo (PUC-SP). The event arose out of the Migration and Culture Project (Projeto Migra\u00e7\u00e3o e Cultura) of Laborat\u00f3rio Psican\u00e1lise e Sociedade, a partnership between the two universities in which Rosa is involved. For seven years now, the project has conducted research and intervention activities with migrants, immigrants and refugees. <\/p>\n
Next week\u2019s debate is the third event in the cycle and will feature a lecture by the director of the Arab Culture Institute (Icarabe), Soraya Smaili. The event will also feature cultural activities, such as theatrical plays and screenings of film excerpts. <\/p>\n
On the 15th, participants will watch scenes from the movie Incendies, by the Canadian filmmaker Denis Villeneuve. It tells the story of a twin couple who learn that they have another brother, somewhere in the Middle East, after their Canada-based Arab mother dies. The young man shows no interest, but the woman sets out looking for her sibling. In her trip she finds out that her mother used to be a guerrilla, that she delivered her and her twin brother in a prison, and that their father was a torturer.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe mother is described by the children as aloof, weird and mad. The film characterizes immigrants who have a history of violent situations and children who are unaware of their parents\u2019 life stories. Silence is a striking feature of these types of situation,\u201d says Rosa.<\/p>\n
The refugees<\/b> <\/p>\n
She says the idea to promote the debate cycle evolved out of the work done under the Migration and Culture Project. \u201cWe worked with refugees from several different ethnical groups, who arrive in Brazil and engage in interaction with a different culture and a different language. We focus on forced migration, caused by violence or poverty,\u201d says Rosa. \u201cThe event is meant to reformulate the notion of foreigner, who is often regarded as a stranger or an enemy,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n
Rosa reveals that in most cases, it is hard to unearth the specific facts that forced these people to migrate, because simply telling the stories would cause them to relive painful experiences. \u201cWhenever these people arrive at a different country, they are very suspicious because they have suffered political persecution. They don\u2019t know who to trust,\u201d she says. \u201cAs a result, it is difficult for them to establish new relationships, new ties. They avoid reliving strong emotions. They want to start a new life, they don\u2019t want to pick their wounds.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the professor, in Brazil, even in long-settled communities such as the Arab, Japanese and Italian ones, it is common for descendants to be unaware of the story of how their families migrated. Still, she points out a unique feature of refugees from those regions as they arrive in Brazil. \u201cGroups with structured communities in Brazil develop ties with those communities and receive backing from them, and that makes all the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n
The association between the Islam, Arab people and terrorism will be another topic of debate. \u201cIn Europe and the United States, this is a terribly widespread misconception. \u201cBased on nationality, you create the picture of a criminal. This prejudice really detracts from their integration,\u201d she says. \u201cIn Brazil, this association is not as widespread, because we have Turks and Arabs living here in large numbers. According to the psychoanalyst, people need education and information about other cultures and religions. \u201cEducation about religious culture is very important,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Service <\/b><\/p>\n
Lecture Arab and Muslim World: Social and Subjective Ties
May 15th at 7:30 pm
Place: Bank of Brazil Cultural Centre
Rua \u00c1lvares Penteado, 112 \u2013 Centro – S\u00e3o Paulo
Seat capacity: 70
Information: +55 11 3113-3651\/ 3113-3652
www.bb.com.br\/cultura <\/p>\n
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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