Eli Carter

Eli Carter is an Associate Professor in the Department of Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese at the University of Virginia's College of Arts and Sciences. He specializes in Brazilian film, television, and cultural studies, with a focus on media's role in shaping national identity, race, and socio-political discourse in Brazil.

His research centers on the evolution of Brazilian media in the digital age, particularly how streaming platforms, Pay-TV regulations, and independent production have transformed cultural representation. He explores themes such as modernity, globalization, racial identity, and aesthetic innovation, especially in the works of director Luiz Fernando Carvalho.

His publications include two major scholarly books and several peer-reviewed articles that analyze shifts in Brazilian television and film. The trends in his work reflect a deep engagement with media aesthetics, critical race theory, and the political economy of cultural production in Brazil.

• 2019 LARR-Pitt Best Article Award
• Honorable Mention from Latin American Studies Association – Brazil Section (2018)

Professor Carter mentors students through thesis supervision and dissertation committees, and has led study abroad programs in Brazil and Portugal. He has served in academic leadership roles, including Director of the Undergraduate Program in Portuguese and former Director of Latin American Studies. He also contributes to the field through editorial work for leading journals.

He is actively involved in interdisciplinary teaching and curriculum development, offering courses in both English and Portuguese that critically examine media, literature, and cultural identity in Brazil.