Cody Case: community arts and public health in Salvador, Brazil

Through a FLAS scholarship and Latin American Studies mentors, ethnomusicology Ph.D. student pursues research on communal healing through music in Afro-bloco communities

BY ANTHONY BAXTER, JR.

Next year will find Cody Case, a Ph.D. student in ethnomusicology, conducting fieldwork research in Salvador, Brazil for the Fulbright-Hays fellowship he received. Cody's research seeks to investigate whether participating in Afro-bloco community music ensembles plays a significant role in creating healthier individuals and communities in Salvador, Brazil. His theoretical and methodological anchors weave together arts and public health— particularly resonant as Brazil recovers from the traumatic circumstances of COVID-19. Cody’s work will involve close collaboration with Bahian scholars, musicians, and community members with the intention of cultivating an ethical foundational network that leads to potential future public health, arts, and medicine projects between the University of Florida, the Federal University of Bahia, public health institutions, and government agencies in Salvador. Focusing on musical communal healing, resilience-building, and growth from personal and societal trauma, this research will advance applied medical ethnomusicology through infusing fieldwork with theories on syndemics, trauma, and necropolitics based on data collected in Salvador.

Cody Case

In the ongoing journey through his graduate studies, Cody has been guided by Center professor Dr. Tanya Saunders in building the theoretical foundation for his research proposal. Dr. Saunders's course "Black in the Americas" influenced Cody to pursue integrated discourses in sociology, popular music, Latin American Studies, Black studies, and post-colonial studies. Additionally, thanks to a FLAS scholarship, Cody received instrumental Portuguese language instruction from Center affiliate Andréa Ferreira.