[Brazil@Harvard] Cultural Agents: Harvard College Thesis Presentation 04/20: Malê Debalê

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Cultural Agents Initiative is pleased to invite you to: The Second Annual Senior Thesis Forum Friday, April 20th 4:30 to 6:00 pm. Room S-50, CGIS South Building 1730 Cambridge St. Cambridge, MA 02138 *Reception will follow* Please join us to celebrate some of Harvard's most outstanding undergraduates as they share their research exploring diverse aspects of the ways in which the arts and creativity act as social resources. From a pool of highly-qualified entries, we've selected the three theses (with topics spanning three continents!) that most clearly illuminate the ways in which arts and culture can benefit society. Each student will speak about her work for 15-20 minutes, and then field questions. We will open the floor to additional questions and comments after the panelists' presentations. Speakers: Kavita Shah will present her thesis, "Experiments with Transnationalism: Constructing Diaspora in the bloco-afro Malê Debalê," which examines the rhetoric and music of the Afro-Carnival group as it is used to advocate for local conscientização (consciousness-raising) among the Afro-Brazilian community in Salvador. "An Alternative Method of Investment: Targeting Jua Kali Cluster Enterprises," the work of Chevelle Dixon, explores investment opportunities aimed at artisan clusters in Kenya's Kibera Slum and the impact of these craftsmen on their community. Laura Stafford researched the imagery of ancient Roman wall paintings, engraved gemstones, and decorative pottery to argue for the arts as a vehicle capable of altering acceptable sexual mores. Her thesis maps varying sexual imagery against the class and status of its image-makers and provides color on the tension between artistic freedom and one's social standing. -- Catalina Ocampo Initiative Coordinator Cultural Agents Initiative CGIS Building South, Room 222 1730 Cambridge St. Cambridge, MA 02138 (617)384-5349 cultagen(a)fas.harvard.edu http://www.culturalagents.org The Cultural Agents Initiative's mission is to activate art as a social resource by fostering creative and scholarly practices that make measurable contributions to the education and development of communities worldwide. We advance our mission by identifying creative agents of change, reflecting on best practices, and inspiring their replication in underserved communities through training, research, and public forums. We value creativity as vital to the health of democracies and are committed to developing moral imagination and resourcefulness in citizens. For more information, visit our website at: http://www.culturalagents.org.