alteridade
1. The quality or state of being different, foreign, or distinct from what is familiar or oneself
The otherness of the foreign culture fascinated the anthropologist.
A alteridade da cultura estrangeira fascinou o antropólogo.
2. In philosophy and critical theory, the condition of being an 'other' or the state of being perceived as fundamentally different from a dominant group
Postcolonial theory examines otherness and how colonized peoples were marginalized.
A teoria pós-colonial examina a alteridade e como povos colonizados foram marginalizados.
3. The quality of something that makes it appear alien, strange, or unfamiliar
There was an uncanny otherness to the avant-garde artwork.
Havia uma alteridade estranha na obra de arte de vanguarda.
In both Brazilian and American academic contexts, 'otherness' is a key term in postcolonial studies, critical race theory, and cultural studies. In Brazil, particularly within discussions of racial democracy and Indigenous peoples, the concept of 'alteridade' is essential to understanding power dynamics and representation. The term gained prominence through theorists like Emmanuel Levinas and Edward Said, and is frequently discussed in university humanities curricula in both countries.
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