Cinema has different genres of movies. One of those is the musical. This genre was influenced by theather, especially musicals, for example: Broadway's show. However, musicals don't have only people who sing, but also can include some coreographed dances. Thus, when the cinema cultur emerged, it absorbed the genre of the theater.

Initially muted, the musicals were concerned about registering theatrical performance, including dance, such as the pioneering  "The Mexican Dancer" in 1898. This is the beginning of a project to reproduce and distribute others forms of art, directing them to the masses - with a comercial purpose. After the frist thirty years of the cinema, the frist film with synchronized sound track recorded appeared in 1927: "The Jazz Singer", tells the story of a wannabe singer who suffered prejudice from tradicional jazz singers, because he hada white skim.

The 1927 year, is doubly remakeble for the musical spectacle. Techinically, there was the possiblility of lauching films with music. In language, the play "Show Boat"revolutionizes the narrative genre, intrisically tying the letters to the plot and themes addressed in innovating (racial conflit, alcoholism, gambling addiction an all whithou the happy end).

Immediately the producers noticed the possibility of investing in a new genre. In just two years, it was produced 80 musical titles and the number increased to 104 in 1930. However, many of the early productions weren't constructed based on music, but about music, especialy popular compositions.

Still in that time, it was an appropriation of th cultural industry by itself. Thus, other title were filmed based on Broadway musical performances, hits as "Rio Rita" (1929). Although, rare in the early years, this type of reintepratation became in a shot time the procuction model, adding some literaly works for musical theater ans musical theater for films.

Actually we can see a great upgrading in this genre. New songs, new dance styles influenced it, giving to the musicals a new visual. If you wish go back in time just wacth a musical movie. If you want a new inspiration, just feel what the movies can provide you. The musical movies can make you dream by dancing.

By: Victor Leite

Um peixe fora d’água

I never really enjoyed studying English. It has been always very difficult for me. I did not understand anything in English. Also, English was not an interesting language for me because it was not very similar to Portuguese - I am fascinated with Romance languages, such as Spanish and Italian.

Initially, in my Elementary School I did not learn English very well. It was tought in a mechanical way and we did not practice writing or reading in class. So, I did not recognize the importance of  studying English. For this reason, English has never fascinated me.

Some years later when I started to study Biology at UFPA, I found it difficult because all the articles, scientific studies, new Biology discoveries are written in English. “What will I do now”? I asked myself. Since then, I understood that English is essential and I must learn.

Then I had my first experience in an English course through “Inglês Sem Fronteiras”, this year. I started to study in the English Grammar Course. In the beginning it was terrible! I did not know anything in English and did not understand what the teacher and my classmates were speaking. For this situation, I would call it in Portuguese: “me senti como um peixe fora d’água”, this expression is used when you do not understand anything and for this reason you do not feel confortable in an place.

What did I do for change it? Well, I have been following some steps to learn English, such as practicing every day with others English’s students and by myself; also I review words, expressions, verbs, etc and do a list of achievements and goals that I desire. Undoubtely being patient and not giving up when I made mistakes helped me a lot in the learning process. All these steps are important but the most important thing you can do to learn a second language is believing in yourself.

And about today? So, I have been studying in the Writing and Reading Course, from “Inglês Sem Fronteiras” . It is other time which has been very important for me. I am learning some strategies to have a background knowledge in the reading and writing process.

Since then I have been perceived that I am improving gradually. Some times I cannot believe that I understand texts, songs and movies in English; or ever better: I understand what a native speaker says. However, I recognize that I need to learn more.

So, if you think that English is hard to learn, do not be afraid! You can start to study it even today. You will really be glad when you start understanding English! And about de old “peixe fora d’água”? The “Ingles Sem Fronteiras” with native and Brazilian teachers tought me how to jump in to the water.

By: Marcel Pires

The reading as a strategy for learn English

I have always loved literature. I have read lots of books during my life. Obviously that I read these books in Portuguese. But, recently, I have chose the literature as an important strategy to learn English.

Actually, I have other ways to learn English (differently from grammar books), for instance, watching movies and sitcoms with subtitles in English. Sometimes, when I have time I listen to music and read the lyrics to practice the language.

Currently, I am trying to read a good book in English because more than new words and idiomatic expressions, I will learn some social aspects and history of the countries where people speak English.

I am reading “Pride and prejudice” written by Jane Austen. The book tells us the love story between Elizabeth and Darcy, where both have strong personality but fall in love after some situations.

        I loved the characters! Elizabeth is amazing! She is very  intelligent, sensible and perceptive! It seems that she is a woman on the 21st century. About Darcy, he is handsome, rich and very “pride” male protagonist. But, the most important    thing is that he is a good man. In fact, he is a gentleman!

 What I think is the most interesting in this reading is the fact that the story was written more than 200 years ago, and the main characters are wonderful and current. It is incredible! Despite that some people say that the romantic hero was created from the author’s dolls , it does not change the importance of character.

There are accented different personalities between Elizabeth and her four sisters. Each one has a personality, abilities and behaviors different from each other. Besides that, through the reading, it is possible to think about the importance role of women on the society.

The story shows us some characteristics of the women who lived in England society on the 19^th century. They worry about marriage, education, good manners, and their family. Currently, it is not much different despite they do many things that in the last century they could not do. For example working out, having right to vote and they are independent in many aspects.

 I am enjoying so much that book. I am very anxious to finish the reading because I want to watch the BBC miniseries. I heard that the miniseries are faithful to the book’s story, so it should be wonderful!

And you… do like to read? What kind of books do you usually read?  

                              Written by Anna Rosa Moraes.

Maniçoba

Do you know maniçoba is?

Well, maniçoba is one of the most important dishes of Paraense cuisine. It is also called “feijoada Paraense”.
Maniçoba is an exotic food made with manioc leaves boiled with water during seven days to eliminate toxic substances.
This dish originates from an indigenous culture. In the past, the indigenous people made this food on special occasions. Similarly, today it is traditionally served during the religious festival, called “Círio de Nazaré”.
The procession of Círio de Nazaré is celebrated in almost every municipality in Pará, but the most famous one occurs in Belém on the second Sunday in October.
If you want to taste it, but you don’t want to wait until October to do that, how about learning how to cook this delicious typical Paraense food?

Recipe for Maniçoba

Preparation time: 7 days

Serving size: 25 portions

Ingredients

3 kg of ground manioc leaves

½ kg of bacon

½ kg of dried meat

½ kg of Portuguese sausage                               Some of the ingredients used to cook it

½ kg of Paio sausage

½ kg of roasted meat

½ kg of Pork loin

Minced garlic (to taste)

Pepper (to taste)

How to prepare

On the first day, put the ground manioc leaves in a large pot with some water. Let it boil all day on low heat without drying out. Repeat that every day for seven days.

On the sixth day, boil all of the meat, and add it to the ground manioc leaves, stirring occasionally.

On the following day, add the garlic and pepper to the pot and let it boil for 6 more hours, stirring occasionally.

 

  

Serve with white rice

Don’t be scared by the first impression because despite its dark look it has a delicious taste!

Come visit Belém, where you’ll enjoy getting to know our touristic points and tasting our delicious food!

Monteiro Lopes

History

Monteiro Lopes is a delicate cookie made with chocolate and covered in sugar crystals. It is a typical cookie from this region. Its name is a tribute to the family that created the recipe.

Between 1850 and 1870, in Santa Maria de Belém do Grão Pará (Belem’s old name), there were two bakers: one on the oriental Ver-o-Peso side and the other on the occidental side. One was Manoel Monteiro, a mulatto, and the other, Antônio Lopes, a Portuguese. They were rivals, and, traditionally, each one produced cookies with different tastes and colors. Their kids, after their fathers died, married and stopped being rivals. They brought together the colors and the flavors into one cookie,which is called Monteiro Lopes.

You can taste these delicious cookies in any bakery. So, if you are coming to Belém or you plan to travel, you can enjoy Monteiro Lopes!

Ingredients

500g of wheat flour

250g of butter

Pinch of salt

3 tablespoons of sweetened cocoa powder

2 tablespoons of water

5 tablespoons of sugar

How you make it

1. Mix the flour, butter and a pinch of salt in a bowl until the mixture becomes a dough-like consistancy;
2. Next, start making small quarter-sized balls, then roll them into crescent-shaped strips
3. Place on an ungreased baking dish without covering in sugar;
4. Bake for approximately 25 minutes;
5. They will be ready when they become golden brown;
6. Remove from oven and let cool;
7. Meanwhile mix three scoops of chocolate and 2 tablespoons of water at room temperature in a cup;
8. After the cookies cool, take each one and dip it only halfway in chocolate;
9. After doing this cover each cookie in sugar.

Açaí: The Delicious Fruit From Pará

 

Açaí (Euterpe oleracea, Mart.) is a typical Amazonian fruit found mostly in Pará. The biggest production of açaí is in Abaetetuba, Cumbu island and Igarapé-Miri. Açaí has a long harvest, starting in August and finishing in December.

The açaí fruit is important because it contributes as a source of income to the “ribeirinhos” (the people who live by the rivers) by improving Pará’s economy.

Consuming the açaí fruit is more than just a nutritious habit, it is also a cultural habit in Pará. In the culinary world, this exotic fruit is consumed with salted shrimp and fried fish, and it is also made into ice cream.

This fruit has become known around the world for its bioactive compost, principally for its fenolic compost. The anthocyanins in açaí are natural antioxidants, and this fruit also contains many vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber and omega 6 and 9. These properties of açaí help to prevent chronic degenerative diseases and cardiovascular diseases.

This small fruit, only about 1 centimeter with a purplish-black color, has many benefits. Anyone who tries açaí fruit also tries our culture and tradition. We invite you to come to know this wonderful fruit and experience its benefits!

Pato-no-tucupi

History

One Amazon legend called First Water tells us that Jacy (the moon) and Lassytatassu (Dalva star) decided to visit the earth center (Ibiapité) .

One night they left Ibacupuranga (the beautiful sky) and went down to the earth center. When they were about to arrive at the center, CaninanaTyba (snake) bit the white Jacy’s face.Jacy felt pain, and shed bitter tears on a big crop of manioc. Since then, Jacy’s face has never been the same.

The tucupi was created from Jacy’s tears. It is dangerous! It is poisonous! But the oldwomen discovered two ways to get rid of the poison in the tucupi. The first way is to expose the liquid for three days to sun light. The other way is to leave the mixture alone (for approximately one day) to allow the sediment to settle out, after which to boil the liquid for one or two hours.

What is it?

One of the most famous dishes from Belém do Pará, Brazil, Pato-no-tucupi is prepared and appreciated once a year, in an event called Círio de Nazaré, which is considered our Christmas.

Círio without pato-no-tucupi is not Círio. So, the importance of this dish is not only culinary, but also cultural.

Tucupi and jambú are key ingredients that are combined to create a taste incomparable to anything else. Tucupi is a yellow juice extracted from manioc. Since the tucupi is poisonous, it has to be boiled to get rid of the poison. Jambú is one vegetable commonly utilized in Para’s cuisine, known for its taste and for making your lips go numb and tingle.

So, what are you waiting for? Come to visit Belém do Pará to eat this fabulous dish!

Círio de Nazaré: It is a traditional and religious event that has been celebrated in Belém, Pará for over two centuries. It happens on the second Sunday of October. People from different regions of Brazil and even from other countries come here to participate in this event; a million people go out into the streets to follow the image of NossaSenhora de Nazaré, Jesus’s mother.

Ingredients

- One big duck

- Two liters of tucupi

- Six leaves of chicoria (Cichoriumendivia.)

- One spoon of salt

- Leaves of alfavaca (Ocimumamericanum)

- 3 cloves of garlic

Chicória: Vegetable with a strong smell and an incomparable taste, often utilized in certain dishes in Pará, like caldeirada.

Alfavaca: It’s commonly used in Paraensecuisine, but it is also used in the cosmetic industry and in folk medicine.

How you make it

In one little pot with water in the botton of it, cook the duck with one tomato and one chopped onion, colorau, some leaves of alfavaca, chicória and a pinch of salt. Cook until the meat is soft. After, put the duck in the oven to roast on high temperature. After it is finished roasting, quarter the duck.Put it aside. In another pot, boil the tucupi, add chicoria and alfavaca leaves, some cloves of garlic and salt. Put the duck and jambu together. Let this mixture boil for ten minutes. Serve with white rice and farinhad’água .

Colorau: It is a regional spice with a red color, and people from Belém usually use it to spice their foods.

Farinha d´água: It is made from manioc. The manioc is tritured and squeezed. After it is roasted in a big fournace, we can have farinha d´água.