Making Samba

Making Samba: A New History of Race in Brazil

Author	Marc A. Hertzman
Language	English
Genre	Music criticism
Published	2013
Publisher	Duke University Press
Publication place	United States
Media type	Print (hardcover paperback)/ Online
ISBN	9780822354154

Making Samba: A New History of Race and Music in Brazil is a book by Marc A. Hertzman published by Duke University Press in 2013.^[1] Hertzman's concern with the historical narrative surrounding how Samba became one of Brazil's most valuable cultural staples prompted him to write this book. By tracing the careers of Donga and Gilberto Gil from the late nineteenth century to the 1970s, Hertzman explores various themes such as intellectual property claims, popular music, race, gender, national identity, and the history of Afro-Brazilians in Rio de Janeiro, and how they all contribute to the making of Samba within the Brazilian State.^[1]

Synopsis

Hertzman's main argument in this book is that the historical narrative surrounding the emergence of samba in Brazil has either been over-criticized, or exceedingly fetishized. By using wide-ranging evidence, such as Brazilian musicians' salary contracts, their involvement and activism with various musical associations, and their encounters with law enforcement, Hertzman explores their struggles in exerting their agency by claiming their music as what he calls, "intellectual property." While Hertzman's book explores different themes such as "musical blackface" and "the purity of samba," Hertzman discusses them within the context of Afro-Brazilian figures that were heavily involved with the progress of Samba so that his argument doesn't get off track.^[1]

Critical reception

Making Samba: A New History of Race and Music in Brazil has been highly praised by a variety of historical scholars. Three critical reviews come from Charles A. Perrone in the Luso-Brazilian Review 51 (2014): 209–213.^[2] Marshall Eakin in Social History 39 (2014): 287–289.^[3] As well as Paulina Alberto in Americas 73 (2016): 266–268.^[4] All of these scholars agree that Hertzman's work has been a big success in his field and that it "offers a substantial, indeed superb, contribution to the already robust literature about the birth of samba in the aftermath of slavery in Brazil and its rise to the status of national rhythm by the early twentieth century."^[4] Perrone adds, "Even seasoned veterans of this subject will find some edifying surprises."^[2]

Awards

The Latin American Studies Association awarded Making Samba Honorable Mention for the 2014 Bryce Wood Book Award.^[1]

• Conrad Humanities Scholar (2017–2022)
• New England Council of Latin American Studies Best Dissertation Prize (2009)
• Fulbright-Hays (2004)^[5]

References

1. "Making Samba". Duke University Press. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
2. Perrone, Charles A. (2014). "Review of Making Samba: A New History of Race & Music in Brazil by Marc A. Hertzman". Luso-Brazilian Review. 51: 209–213. doi:10.1353/lbr.2014.0018. S2CID 219217935.
3. Eakin, Marshall (2014). "Review of Making Samba: A New History of Race & Music in Brazil by Marc A. Hertzman". Social History. 39: 287–289. doi:10.1080/03071022.2014.896522. S2CID 144480695.
4. Alberto, Paulina L. (2016). "Cultural/Literary Studies - Making Samba: A New History of Race and Music in Brazil. By Marc Hertzman. Durham: Duke University Press, 2013. Pp. 392. Illustrations. $94.95 cloth". The Americas. 73 (2): 266–268. doi:10.1017/tam.2016.44. ISSN 0003-1615. S2CID 231656790.
5. "Marc Adam Hertzman PhD | History at Illinois". history.illinois.edu. Retrieved 2018-02-18.