INTRODUCTION The genesis of Carnival was attributed to the influx of French settlers who came with large numbers of slaves to Trinidad in the late eighteenth century. The island was later captured by the British and was made a crown colony of Great Britain. The Carnival celebrations was the most influential culture that was originally defined in culture if Trinidad; the celebration was practiced by two distinctly different social streams, the upper class and the lower class. Africans and persons of mixed race were forbidden by the law to participate in street festivities. Owing to this historical and situational progression of carnival, it can be deduced that class and colonization impacted on the development of carnival in Trinidad and Tobago. …show more content…
The chapter begins with the Genesis of what begun the influential disparities in carnival. The reintroduction of the middle and upper class citizens or settlers into the street mascaraed, because of colonization of Trinidad and Tobago by the British. With it, they came with their European values and embarked on removing the heavily misunderstood traditions and symbolisms of African culture. This would have been compounded by the already preconceived stereotype about the uneducated, violent, vulgar, aggressive nature of the African. This was done as an attempt to keep the classes and races from interaction with each …show more content…
Tamboo Bamboo was symbolic in the agricultural lay out of Trinidad and Tobago. The steel pan signified a new economic structure however, their social issues were the same, therefore the same anger that pounded the bamboo to the ground was now played out through the steel pan. This gave the steelpan players a stigma of being referred as worthless, low class and ruthless. due to this stereotype, they were shone by people of their own economic class. this was compounded by the clashes these steel bands had in the streets. It was not until 1949 when the coloured middle and upper class college boys participated in the steel band which played in parities, concerts and private functions for the upper class that caused them to change their perception of Pan and began giving them the respect they
The costumes of the Halloween have intensely portrayed the black community in an upsetting manner. The costumes have often depicted the black community as superstitious and often compared them to zombies, vampires, and animals. The concepts appropriated are the superstitious nature of the blacks their depiction as less intelligent creatures. In contrast, the costumes depict the whites as knowledgeable, intelligent and upright. According to Savan, the media has greatly exploited the back culture with a mass advertisement from the corporations who get huge profits from the celebrations in the sale of costumes. Although an effort is made in connecting with the blacks, the idea behind it is not in understanding the backs and their culture but rather is an exploitative one. It had an adverse impact on the black community by degrading their esteem and status in the community. For many years, the political process also had been influenced by the same ideas and had ignored the black population in the political process (Belk,
The National Archives | Exhibitions & Learning online | Black presence | Africa and the Caribbean. (n.d.). Retrieved March 18, 2014, from http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/pathways/blackhistory/africa_caribbean/africa_trade.htm
Marcus Garvey once said, “The Black skin is not a badge of shame, but rather a glorious symbol of national greatness,” exemplifying not only that the African blood that flows through our veins is indeed wonderful, but is more a national treasure than a national tragedy. Countries across the world, in some form have been altered by the touch of the African influence whether that is socially and/or culturally. The same fate lies with the islands of the Caribbean, especially the island of Puerto Rico located in the Greater Antilles. Of all the African influential branches, Puerto Rican music would be one social phenomenon to be ultimately shaped and modified by African influence directly. Beginning with the African slaves, this paper covers the musically genres created over time containing West African elements, as well as covering the ways in which the Puerto Rican society influenced the music as well as how the music effected the society. This paper will also include the ways in which African descendants in Puerto Rico [musicians] would rise to fame despite existing in an era of open racism. Ultimately, explaining how the music and the people go hand in hand.
Until the early 1800’s, Spain created an empire that lasted around three hundred years and was considered “the most powerful country in Europe” (Mini Q). During the late 18th century, the Spanish colonies had an uncompromising social structure to which people were placed in different classes based on their heritage. The Creoles, people born in the colonies but of pure Spanish blood, lead the fight in the struggle for independence because of the economic and social conditions as well as the attempt to gain political power.
The Caribbean has been an unexplained region throughout the test of time because there are many different depictions of what actually is happening. The ranging cultures in the Caribbean bring about many different points of view. A perfect example is how Cliff, Mintz, and Benitez-Rojo describe their version of the Caribbean. They discuss affairs in the Caribbean from the days of slave trading to present day issues. In analyzing their anecdotes and books, one can find not only similarities between them, but discrepancies as well. All three authors express their thoughts vividly, unleashing ideas about the Caribbean. Among the most important themes of these ideas were that of the plantation, identity, and social hierarchy.
The genius of the film is that it synthesizes a multitude of cultural and musical elements and still manages to function rhetorically on separate but parallel levels of communication. The fundamental message for Jamaican audiences was to document, authenticate, and value the Jamaican reality. As Henzel notes in his running commentary, a special feature of the DVD, Jamaicans cheered the film's opening scenes wildly, simply because they recognized themselves and their world in a powerful global medium that had paid them no mind until then. "There is no thrill in moviedom like people seeing themselves on the screen for the first time." The experience and the legacy of colonialism accustoms people who suffer it to literature and film that depicts the lives and perspectives of the colonizers, not the colonized. As Jamaica Kincaid explains in a memoir of a Carribean childhood, all of her reading was from books set in England. Her land and its people were not worthy of literary attention. While finally getting such cinematic attention is a joyful, liberating, and affirming interaction for the Jamaican audience, it has an ironic dimension too in that the downpressed are joyous because at last they see themselves if not through the downpressor's lens, at least on his screen.
When someone hears, “New Orleans,” they immediately think of Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras is a tradition that can survive, and thrive, no matter what the circumstances. Take, for example, after Hurricane Katrina hit the city, there was much argument as to whether or not to even have the celebration, but many of the citizens were in favor of it, with one of them saying, “it’s what New Orleans spirit is all about,” (Mitchell, 791). Among those who were in favor of keeping with traditions after the decimation of their city were The Mardi Gras Indians. A group of people who wish to pay homage to their ancestors, they dress up in ceremonial garb and parade around the city. The Mardi Gras Indians are an important part of not only the Mardi Gras celebrations, though, they also play a part in New Orleanian culture as a whole, as exemplified by the study of social, economic, and cultural patterns that are closely associated with them.
When carnival was created it was a day for the peasants to have freedom to do what they wanted to the kings and the hierarchy above them, but my question is why did the kings take it to heart? If what the Kings do to the peasants on a daily basis is not accepted when it is done to them on the day of carnival, then why do it at all?
“The origins of the Santiago Carnival go back to the end of the seventeenth century when processions would wind their way through the city streets celebrating the feast day of Santiago, the Patron Saint of the city.” Cuba Absolutely. “Carnival de Santiago de Cuba.” July 21-29, 2014. The Spanish would celebrate ST. James in their own way and then allowed the African slaves to celebrate it, they added their music and dances to the tradition. People then began seeing this tradition as a way to celebrate “el pueblo.” This mixed is was created how carnivals are celebrated in modern Cuba today. The Carnival dates were extended to celebrate other saints during the months of June, July and August and of course to party more. Different cities around Cuba chose what days they will celebrate it, they usually last a week long. Carnivals are full of life, lights and music. People spend the whole year preparing for this day. Dancers have to practice their choreographies, and groups of people have to prepare for the parade, they prepare for the order in which the Carnival goes and the people participating. The carnival starts with children parades, that time is dedicated to all the children. Following that are the walks, people walk and dance to the rhythm of the music and drums. They also do a commemoration to the Cuban heroes. Then the carousels start making their way in, it is very creative, making it perfect! They have different theme carousels with people dancing to the congas and the music. Street vendors also prepare for this celebration, which is a day of great compensation for them. Most of them sell “bocadito” which is sold a lot during carnival days, it is a ripped pork sandwich, and Cuban pizza which is homemade and it’s delicious! The party does not end when the carousel show is over, most kiosk, restaurants and bars are open for the after
Identified as one of the many critical components in the Triangular Slave Trade and leading cash crops, the history of rum continues to capture the attention of many historians. Caribbean Rum: A Social & Economic History written by Frederick H. Smith, an Anthropologist/ Archeologist and Associate Professor at the College of William and Mary, examines alcohol’s impact on the Caribbean during the seventeenth century and the many forces that has shaped its development in Caribbean societies and cultures to the present day. His book is both a depiction of a political and economic view of rum at times referred to as the “spirit”, distilled from sugarcane and its byproducts. Frederick Smith takes the historical archeology approach toward the forces that made rum a necessity, a staple commodity to colonist and the countries in which they developed. He analyzes central importance for economic development in the Caribbean colonies which became a focal point of political conflict as the colonizing European countries fought one another for domination over the regions and control of the sugar industry.
The documentary “Rize” by David LaChapelle, focuses on the lives of Black Americans who live in South Central Los Angeles and the struggles they go through in their daily lives. Moreover the film also introduces two types of dancing groups that they have in the community. These dance groups are meant to keep the youths and children occupied and distracted from all the problems that have been going on in their community, such as the LA riot. The two styles of dancing are Clowning and Krumping. Clowning was created by Tommy the Clown in 1992. Tommy used to be a formal drug dealer, he went from having his life together to losing all his money and house. However, instead of doing nothing productive with his life, he decided to help his community by changing the lives of others through entertainment. In addition, not only did this dancing group help him get to a better place in life but also the group members are like his family. His main goal was to help put similes on people’s faces and help get some of these children and youths away from gangs. On the other hand, Krumping was also generated from Clowning, however Krumpers believe that their form of entertainment is different from clowning. Moreover, these dancing groups main focus is to distract the youths and children in the community by giving them the opportunity to do something they love, which is dancing. Furthermore, passion, spiritual connections and connection to the African culture are conveyed through the film by Clowning and Krumping.
English colonial rule began in Jamaica in the year 1655. The growth of a plantation culture in the West Indies quickly changed the need for labor in the area. Between 1700 and 1786, more than 600,000 African slaves were brought to Jamaica. These slaves were required to work for their English colonial masters who would purchase them from slave traders at various ports around the island.
Before long, Spain colonized the island and by year 1532, the domain had officially selected somebody to administer the region. It was a period when slave exchange was widespread and keeping in mind that the first pioneers of the island were either exhausted to death or exiled from their country, African slaves were dispatched in Trinidad. By the seventeenth century, the island by and by experienced intrusions, this time from the Dutch and the French. Amid the French transformation, various French families from alternate islands of the West Indies came to Trinidad. Some time inside the unrest, February 1797 to be correct, Trinidad respected the British and in 1802, formalized by the Treaty of Amiens, the island was surrendered to Great Britain. In 1833, subjection was abrogated and decades from that point onward, Muslim and Hindu Indians touched base in Trinidad and were made to work set up of the slaves in British estates.Trinidad and Tobago formally turned into a free state and an individual from the Commonwealth of Nations, on Aug. 31, 1962. Amid this period, the People's National Movement assumed control. In 1967, the joint islands turned out to be a piece of the Organization of American States and before long, it shaped the Caribbean Free Trade Area, now known as the Caribbean Common Market. In September 1976, at that point Prime Minister Williams delivered another constitution bringing forth the Republic of Trinidad and
As the Hispanic Caribbean has evolved it has managed to grow and thrive beyond belief, whether one is discussing art, music or just the culture alone the Hispanic Caribbean is truly reaping the benefits of allowing themselves to be influenced by many other cultures. While the Hispanic Caribbean is thriving they are still facing the many new found struggles that come along with the territory of becoming more affluent as well as more accepting to other cultures and their beliefs. Often with the growth of large proportions comes many problems, problems also can come about when incorporating of different cultures as a whole as well as just bringing in their beliefs and mannerisms. None the less it can be argued that the struggles being faced in