Ecocriticism and Representations of the Sea in the Arts in Portugal
On 5-6 November 2026 Universidade Católica Portuguesa will be hosting the conference Ecocriticism and Representations of the Sea in the Arts in Portugal, organized by the Research Centre for Communication and Culture.
About
On 5-6 November 2026 Universidade Católica Portuguesa will be hosting the conference Ecocriticism and Representations of the Sea in the Arts in Portugal, organized by the Research Centre for Communication and Culture.
The sea and marine life are fundamental pillars of cultural heritage, identity, and collective memories in Portugal. From fado, with its narratives of saudade and loss, to the songs that rhythmically paced fishermen’s work, the Portuguese musical repertoire has functioned as a living archive of human interaction with the environment.
Beyond its material and economic dimension, the sea in Portugal remains a territory of imagination and transformation. As evoked in the songs of José Afonso, the sea is not just a space of identity and return, but also a place of alterity and utopia. By singing the sea, we evoke the possibility of a new era, where culture and Nature reunite in a project of common humanity.
Check the Programme and sign up.
