Caribbean Studies module 1

1
Caribbean Studies module 1

• Caribbean Society Culture

2
Location and definition of the Caribbean region

• Geographic location
• Names of territories
• Sub-regions Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles,
  western Caribbean, Southern Caribbean, The
  Bahamas
• Position of the Caribbean in relation to the
  Caribbean sea, Atlantic Ocean and the continental
  land masses.

3
Definitions of the Caribbean

• Geographical
• Geological
• Historical
• Political
• Caribbean identity and culture

4
Characteristics of society

• Shared common purpose
• A defined territorial space
• Continuity over time and space
• Citizenship within a space

5
Culture

• Learned behaviour common to all human beings
• Norms and values which provide a guide to
  behaviour
• Institutions which prescribe behaviour

6
Characteristics of Caribbean Society and Culture

• Cultural diversity
• Positive and negative effects of cultural
  diversity
• Ethnic and cultural differences
• Accommodation made among different ethnic groups
  with respect to space, political and economic
  power and social visibility

7
Social Stratification

• Plantation society and its impact on Caribbean
  social stratification (race, colour, money)
• Education as basis for new class formation and
  upward mobility (social mobility)
• Concepts such as plantocracy, intelligentsia,
  middle class, bourgeoise, working class,
  underclass, caste

8
Hybridization

• Factors such as racial admixture and colour in
  the formation of Caribbean society and culture,
  terms like mulatto, mestizo, dougla,
  transculturation, creole
• Erasure, retention and renewal of cultural
  practices

9
Impact of Historical Processes

• Migratory movements and the establishment of
  patterns of settlement by different groups within
  the Caribbean from pre-Columbian times to the
  present
• The development of systems of production
  encomienda, slavery, indentureship, the
  plantation system

10
History cont

• Responses of Caribbean people to oppression and
  genocide resistance, development of peasant
  groups
• Movements towards independence
• Political enfranchisement

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Political enfranchisement

• Adult suffrage
• Internal self-government
• Economic enfranchisement
• Entrepreneurial activities, including shopkeeping
  and savings societies

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Geographical impact on society and culture

• Plate tectonics
• Definition
• Location and movement of the Caribbean plate
• Earthquakes and volcanoes social displacement
• hurricanes

13
Geographical impact cont

• Soils erosion, conservation
• Coral reefs coastal protection, sustainability
  of fishing industry
• droughts

14
Impact of societal institutions

• Family
• Education
• Religion
• Justice System

15
Caribbean-Global Interactions

• Consumption patterns goods and services
• Creative expressions festivals, music, theatre
  arts, culinary practices
• Education impact of colonialism the information
  age, language curriculum reforms, for example,
  teaching Caribbean Studies in universities in the
  UK

16
Global interactions Political influences

• Westminster System Constitutional monarchy
  (Jamaica, Barbados and Bahamas)
• Rule of law
• Electoral process first-past-the post system
• Caribbean contribution to the political life of
  the host communities of Europe and north America

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Global impact continued

• Labour influence of migratory labour
• Sport- cricket, soccer, basketball, track and
  field
• Religion traditional and non-traditional
  religious practices
• Mass Media
• Tourism

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Caribbean influences on extra-regional countries

• Important political issues created within
  countries of Europe and North America by presence
  of large numbers of Caribbean people (for
  example, impact of Haitians and Cubans living in
  Florida upon the politics of that State)

19
Caribbean impact abroad cont

• The impact of Caribbean festivals like Notting
  Hill Carnival in the United Kingdom, Labour Day
  in Brooklyn, Carnival in Miami and Caribana in
  Canada on the economies of the areas where they
  occur the impact of migrant labour on the
  economies of the countries of North America

20
Caribbean impact abroad cont

• The impact of festivals and music of the
  Caribbean (for example, carnival, calypso,
  reggae, Punta, salsa, zouk), upon the festivals,
  music, pageants and street parades of the
  countries of North America, Europe, Africa and
  Japan
• Impact of Rastafarianism
• Influence of Caribbean culinary practices