Caribbean Culture in a Changing World - Research Paper Example

Caribbean Culture in a Changing World Introduction Nuzzled in between the Caribbean Sea, splendid scenery and landscape, entirely wonderful in miscellany, colorful and beaming in nature, and inspiring in sounds, this is the vivacious tapping that describe the Caribbean culture. Caribbean culture explains the literary, musical, artistic, religious and social rudiments that reflect the Caribbean to all over the world. History shows that the Caribbean culture has been influenced by British, Spanish and French culture. With the passage of time, rudiments of African culture and other populations have been integrated into Caribbean culture. Moreover, American culture also influenced its economic and linguistic situations. Different laws, institutions and programs were launched by Caribbean government to support its culture. The creation of Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation was helpful to promote Caribbean culture through media. The Caribbean culture, like most of the other countries of the world, is a result of its history, geographic region and political structure. Being an anthology of colonist populations, the Caribbean has been formed by migrated nations that have united to structure an exclusive mingle of culture and traditions that have manifested the socio-cultural expansion of the nation. None of the whole world culture has had an affirmative and eternal effect on the rest of the world than that of the Caribbean region. Ranging from the most internationally famous music named as Soca to proficiently spiced gastronomy and from great scholars to well known festival named as utopia; most living beings are strapping out its splendor to the whole world. It is no bombshell that majority of the world’s famous athletes, celebrities, prominent personalities and universal business owners’ belong to the Caribbean, escaping from the world’s catastrophe and taking shelter on Caribbean islands. Caribbean culture has developed altering with shared times and economic expansion nevertheless, it has always preserved its validity. It has reformed and added to the changing miscellany that is now marked with multicultural Britain and has influenced massively to the British way of living. Carnival was the only way to express liberty given to people and it was created during the gloomy times of British, French and Spanish political history.  Starting from a Christian carnival and liberty merriment, it has involved more carnivals precisely and now has been one of the most fabulous shows on earth. These carnivals draw massive attentions of the crowds belonging to the different races and regions. It has really been a significant part of Caribbean life with events starting from the history sets up. The fervor, excitement and patriotism are being exhibit during these carnival times. After the Christmas preparations in exhibiting unison amongst people, these carnivals carry second significance of merry-making festivities. Caribbean culture The culture of Caribbean refugee in Britain has been very complex and continually diverse. Caribbean culture in Britain appeared in result of two powerful influences. First, it was necessary for the refugees to adapt new changing circumstances in the state of Caribbean as they had accessed Britain to face different way of life. Secondly, there was a need to protect Caribbean culture and identity. Emerging culture has been reshaped with over last few years; that is why, refugees brought new cultures with them and Britain way of life to experience it with other races as interaction with different landscapes, event and carnivals was the only way to preserve it. Caribbean culture has had an influence on British culture, particularly in the fields of music and the arts. Mintz has reviewed Caribbean culture during his work on Caribbean people examining their history, customs and traditions. His point of view is really interesting that Caribbean refashions their mixed culture continuously and in multi-racialism society, refashioning is just near to encounter with the whole western world. From the seventeenth century, the process of refashioning represented a societal and cultural liberalism, which was occurring in the colonies before the Europe adapted this [Min96]. The survival for migrants in Caribbean was not a hard thing. At the start of 20th century, they had to face the problem of discrimination by the inhabitants. Culture adaptation for them was quite easy many of the migrants stated entertaining people with their artistic skills. Today, we come across culture called Black British because their identity is recognized from migrant background and Britain living experience which form a mixed culture in UK. Henry has the point of view that the current situation of Caribbean must tend towards its indigenous identity like its food, religion, music and arts [Hen87] Festivals English and Caribbean festivals have few similarities. Due to the assortment of the population based on people who migrated from Caribbean, these festivals depict pure Caribbean rituals and customs. An exceptional ritual of these festivals is the carnival that evolved from slave festivity. It is about mirroring balls and dances of experts. Some of its part is taken from Catholic and Mediterranean traditions and some from traces of West African festivity as a whole. Tradition of dressing up and dance in public known as ‘masquerade’ was seen in some areas of Eastern Caribbean. Hence, the carnival tradition expanded greatly in Trinidad celebrated before Easter. It generated its own trade, traditions and stars. Some great singers like Mighty Sparrow and Lord Kitchener were among most popular ones in 1950s Caribbean and then carnival culture became very popular in England Music Music is a very influential mean representing Caribbean culture that strengthens the individuality of migrants. First post war migrants brought records with them that were the result of advanced recording techniques. Not only the typical calypso, Caribbean music had a touch of Jamaican rhythm as well, that had an influence of African American Music charts. This type of music is rare in Britain available only in clubs and home parties. Another important part of their traditions is ‘Blue Parties’ that are arranged in private homes, it is like a good source of money. In such areas people used to hang decorated colored sheets to attract the people passing by. Ska music developed due to classy listening tools. Migrants after sending a reasonable amount of their income to their homes, used to immediately buy a radiogram with heavy beat bass. For Caribbean people music is a very strong instrument for restoring their migrant characteristics. Food It was not easy to introduce Caribbean food in Britain and make it popular over there. But it provided an ease, an opportunity to have cultural networking and progress economically. Caribbean cuisine is an assorted form of European cuisine with an added flavor of Asian, African and native South American ingredients, and a diversity of cooking techniques. Colonialism and Slavery eras emerged the pure Caribbean food. Caribbean Islands were famous for providing affordable European products including clean fish, root vegetable, assorted fruits and vegetables, brought by sailing ships. Different techniques of cooking food could be shadow of other cultures like, Portuguese, South Indian, Chinese or African. But the specific area may have effect on tastes, for instance extra usage of chili. Caribbean also loved fried and roasted food, fruits and vegetables. Literature Caribbean culture is divided into Spanish, French and English literature rooted from Spain, France and Britain correspondingly. Hence, the collection of this mixed culture is called Caribbean. Here, 22 % people speak French and only 1% people speak Dutch. The Caribbean culture reflects its nature, landscape, religion and living style whether written in English, French or Spanish. Caribbean position in whole world is strongly known from its literature. Its literature is also subdivided according to Asian, European or Irish Caribbean literature. Arts Another very influential part of migrated people was their creative people like writers, musicians and journalists that heavily influenced British and European cultures. Rudolph Dunber from Guyana and Errol John from Trinidad were famous in music and drama industry in early 20th century and in 1950s respectively. Errol’s master piece dramas lead him to become a well known Hollywood actor a famous sculptor Ronald Moody from Jamaica became quite popular and his work is still recognized. Conclusion In concluding, the main drive of the paper has been that the Caribbean cultural is one that has always put positive effects on the rest of the world because of its multi-racialism society. With strong historical background, their values, behaviors hold a significant identity and leave long lasting effects on different people experiences. It’s not a wonder that optimistic approached is being advocated in the paper; it’s only because, it focuses on cultural change in the world eliminating the discrimination factor. Currently, the researchers are putting their efforts to educate the Caribbean inhabitants to preserve their natural identity. Like, Henry always asserts on maintaining local ownership in different sectors. For the betterment of the state and economic development, cultural expansion must sustain. Heavy structures of industries and corporate transition would take place in the result of economic growth. Bibliography Henry, Paget. Caliban’s Reason. New York: Routledge, 1987. Mintz, Sidney W. "Enduring substances, trying theories: the Caribbean region as oikoumenê." The Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 2.2 (1996): 289-311. Read More