...Jamaica includes Jamaican folk music and many other popular genres. Therefore, Jamaican popular music since 1960 can be roughly divided into four eras each of which had a distinctive beat – ska, rocksteady, reggae, and dancehall. (Chang and Chen W, 1998, x) But this African dance musical genre “reggae” has gained immense popularity since it was first introduced in the music world and since then it is one of the most popular genres of music. Hence, it is one of the most significant music genres in Western musical market. In my paper, the focus of the reggae music genre is from 1965 till 1975 as these were considered as the major years or a decade for reggae music when it flourished. This was the time period during which the culture of reggae music was civilized and spread widely in the parts of Jamaica. Bob Marley is known as one of the best artists of this genre and the impact he made and contributed has made beyond the shores of Jamaica and globally as well. Reggae was created by the Jamaicans and still it is the only music genre which is so much popular and not created by Europeans or Americans. It has gained immense popularity since its introduction and in the recent years as well that it is the first model in which a third world country is exporting, selling, and trading its culture to various audience and market. ORIGINS Reggae was created by the Jamaicans and still it is the only music genre which is so much popular and not created by Europeans or Americans. It has gained...
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...will learn about Jamaican and Haitian culture and their outlooks on disability. Laster on you will see the comparisons between those two cultures and the American culture. I selected the Jamaican culture because it has always been a dream of mine to visit Jamaica. I selected Haiti because I am not well educated on their culture. In that Jamaican cultural concepts that influence disability originate from their religious beliefs that are related to Christianity and Afro- Christian sects. The beliefs that Jamaicans have majorly influence that way they look at disability. They believe that disability is a punishment for wrong doing. Even professionals and the educated middle class tend that a disability is a result of sin. The Jamaican people re firm believer sin the power of God who tells the difference between good and evil that happens in their daily lives. The people who partake in sin or commit a wrongful act will result in punishment. If this person partakes in these actions their off spring will result in negative effects, in their case a disability. ( Stone, 98) Families in Jamaica do not like it when the public knows that there is someone in the family has a disability. They do not want to be shamed upon. Some neighbors might know that the child has a disability, however they will not have direct contact with them or a close view of the child. People who believe that disabilities are a natural cause are often considered sophisticated in the Jamaican society. The believe...
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...Jamaica 1 Running Head: JAMAICA Jamaica: Course Project for Diversity in American Society The University of Akron- Wayne College Jamaica: Course Project for Diversity in American Society Jamaica is a beautiful island nation that is rich with a unique and spirited people. The nation has seen its share of hardship that somewhat continues even today. Despite a struggling economy, as well as mass emigration, those that remain have kept many rich traditions alive. In this project, I’d like to introduce you to the nation of Jamaica. It is a very unique nation with an extensive history. However, I will summarize some of the broad facts and information surrounding this country to at least present a rounded image of what Jamaica provides to our world. I’ll begin with a general outline of the demographics, history, and culture. Following, I’d like to approach a few topics that I found to be interesting and also relevant to our course. Localization Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, 145 miles in length and as much as 50 miles in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. It is about 90 miles south of Cuba and 120 miles west of the island of Hispaniola, on which Haiti and the Dominican Republic are situated. It has an area of 4,244 square miles, which is roughly the size of Connecticut. Population The population of Jamaica in 2003 was estimated by the United Nations at 2,651,000, which placed it as number...
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...Analysis of how and where the influence of bass culture has occurred in the United Kingdom Name Institution Introduction Bass culture began as one of the key musical paradigm shift of the rave and breakbeat hardcore in the United Kingdom in the early years of the 1990. Since its introduction in the 1980’'s, bass culture has undergone significant transformation in terms of style and incorporating dance elements from different music genres such as dancehall, hip hop, funk, and electro music among other music genres. Some of the pioneers considered having brought the bass to the UK between the years 1980-1990 include Joey Beltram, CJ Bolland, L.A. Style, and Richie Hawtin. However, historical analysis shows the period 1898 to 1992 as the period of “cross pollination” of the bass culture. This period saw the incorporation of the UK hard-core sound into the bass culture. The process included incorporating hard-core sounds from different countries such as the Belgium, Germany, and the Holland. Therefore, this essay discusses the ways in which the bass culture had developed in the UK and period when it witnessed greatest significant influence on the culture. How the Bass Culture occurred in the United Kingdom over the Last 6 Decades The bass culture was introduced in the UK by the influx of the Jamaican reggae musicians in the early ages of the 1950’s. However, it did not emerge as expected due to constraints such as violence...
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...Both Claude McKay and Langston Hughes were primary contributors to the Harlem Renaissance (This isn’t a very strong start). McKay’s poems challenge white authority and his disdain for racism, whereas Hughes’s poems supply a voice to Black women in society, fighting against injustices they have faced. (He voices for the oppressed not just woman) In doing so, both men faced daunting critique towards their personal conflictions of self and racial identity, although in different ways. This paper will analyze McKay’s and Hughes’ beginnings, influences on their subsequent writings, how their ideals affected their view on society, the differences in their writing, how “The White House” and “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” is typical of McKay and Hughes,...
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...music, blended from a religious movement, Rastafarian, and numerous musical influences such as rhythm and blues, rock steady, African, and ska, emerged in Jamaica and spread quickly throughout the world. The music known as reggae, defined a nation of people for decades and helped develop various musical movements worldwide. This paper discusses the history of reggae and the major artists of the art form. Further, the writer discusses how the art has changed, both in its original nation as well as how the music has been altered for American audiences. "Reggae music, born of a combination of R&B, blues, jazz, and traditional African music, and combined with a religious tradition, was unique to Jamaica at a time when the country was looking for her identity. The combination of political messages, religious connotation, and raw sound was ideal for the changing society of the time. However, to be pushed to international stardom, the music was altered and rerecorded by milder, less powerful white British artists who helped internationalize the genre. Jamaica music can be divided into several genres. The most notable genre of Jamaica music is reggae music, which incidentally it can be divided into several subsections. Other popular Jamaica music genres include mento, ska and dub music. Jamaica music is akin to Jamaican culture and uses a plethora of beats that is really known as the grandfather of American rap and hip hop. Jamaica music has been the catalyst for other types of Caribbean...
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...Professor Lindo African American Arts May 5, 2010 Exploring African Influence on the West Indian/Caribbean Culture It is rather interesting that in a “progressive” society, our behavior and practices are firmly rooted in our past. It is ever possible to wrest ourselves from the harsh realities of slavery and its ensuing impact upon Caribbean way of life? Probably to do so may mean rewriting history (our-story) or maybe knowledge of where we are coming from is what we need to help us embrace those parts of our history that must be held on to and celebrated and relinquish the undesirable parts: our acceptance of being powerless; our antagonistic propensities. The impact of West Indian slavery on the cultural landscape of the Caribbean cannot be under estimated or taken for granted. In the entire discourse on West Indian slavery, it is often taken for granted that the discussion centers solely on enslaved Africans. However, slavery brought to the region not only African but Europeans (Spaniards, French and British) and consequent to its abolition, there was the advent of the east Indians. We see the impact of their influence in the names of places; the foods we eat; our music and dance; our arts and craft, gender and sexuality. As these and other anecdotal evidences are examined and the academic contributions of others are analysed, Caribbean culture will be clearly defined and its origin established. Slavery and its attending impact upon Caribbean culture have been both positive...
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...Analysis of Music Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation One of the advantages of breaking rules and exploring beyond is that one comes out with something that has never been experienced before. For this reason, Beethoven and The Beatles established themselves in the music industry because they created a norm that every new artiste followed. Composers that followed them always tried to be like them. On the other hand, there is a cost in breaking the existing musical rules. People always want to hear what they love from their past musical experiences. Introducing a new genre may not auger well with the popular style. Despite being radical composer, Beethoven actually composed what people liked. R. Murray Schafer has been successful in breaking the musical composition rules. One of his radical music was East, composed in the year 1972. It was totally different from the traditional techniques at that time. It had slow glissandos and the performers sung and hummed on top of playing the instruments. Generally, Murray employed his compositional creativity to challenge his listeners as well as the performers of his music. The spice girls joined the Pop music in the 90s and became successful. Their strength was largely due to the perfect combination of each individual talent and voice in addition to their youthful vigor. Michael Jackson broke the rules of the existing Pop music and introduced a style that was outstanding for four decades. Michael introduced sophisticated...
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... Film 1006: Post-War World Cinema 15/5/09 Critical Essay: Jamaican Cinema (focus – The Harder They Come (Perry Henzell, Jamaica, 1971) ‘Representing Jamaican culture on the screen, how The Harder They Come triggered the development of Jamaican cinema.’ The Harder They Come was the first movie made in Jamaica, directed by a Jamaican and with a Jamaican theme. The film opened the country’s eyes to the creation of film and the industry that surrounds it. It also gave the world (particularly the West) its first filmic taste of the cultural, social and historical issues of 20th century Jamaica. It was not only successful in the eyes of its audience but also in the eyes of film critics worldwide. Geoff Parker writes “Indisputably the greatest Jamaican film ever made, The Harder They Come is also one of the finest films yet made about the third world.” (2001). At first glance Perry Henzell appears to be using a narrative to document Jamaican roots Reggae music (especially that of Jimmy Cliff); but although The Harder They Come went a long way towards creating a huge global Reggae following the film had many other underlying issues. Even though most critics (Cham, Parker, Yearwood and others) discuss the film as the one that popularised Reggae music in the West it is the task here to illustrate that The Harder They Come brought Jamaican society and its culture into cinematic visibility. Cinema in Jamaica had only a western and predominantly...
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...musical expression and artistic subculture that originated in African-American and Hispanic-American communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx.[1][2][3] DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, B-boying and graffiti writing.[4][5][6][7] [8] Since its emergence in the South Bronx, hip hop culture has spread to both urban and suburban communities throughout the world.[9] Hip hop music first emerged with disc jockeys creating rhythmic beats by looping breaks (small portions of songs emphasizing a percussive pattern) on two turntables, more commonly referred to as sampling. This was later accompanied by "rap", a rhythmic style of chanting or poetry presented in 16 bar measures or time frames, and beatboxing, a vocal technique mainly used to imitate percussive elements of the music and various technical effects of hip hop DJ's. An original form of dancing and particular styles of dress arose among fans of this new music. These elements experienced considerable refinement and development over the course of the history of the culture. The relationship between graffiti and hip hop culture arises from the appearance of new and increasingly elaborate and pervasive forms of the practice in areas where other elements of hip hop were evolving as art forms, with a heavy overlap between those who wrote graffiti and those who practiced other elements of the culture. Today, graffiti remains part of hip hop, while crossing into the...
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...(Western political and economic domination and cultural imperialism) with the help of reggae music, make Rastafari a highly visible movement and "one of the most powerful cultural forces among youths in Jamaica" and in countries around the world where one least expects to find elements of Afro-Caribbean culture. Between the 1930s and the 1950s, few people bothered to study the significance of the political and ideological concepts in Rastafarian culture. Even Jamaicans who may have understood the philosophy of the movement regarded Rastafari as another passing fad, which would die a natural death once the novelty wore off. Former Rastafarian and practicing psychologist Leahcim Tefani Semaj noted that during this phase of the movement, the dominant public opinion toward the Rastafarians was "The damn Rasta dem, wey de Rasta dem want, we just put dem in a damn boat and put dem out in the sea and sink the boat-say dem want go Africa!" Prior to the 1970s, images of the unsanitary-looking, marijuana-smoking "Natty Dread" with unkempt dreadlocks, often controlling crime-infested streets of Kingston, New York City, or London were the most common perceptions of Rastafarian culture. These stereotypes still persist today among some people in the Caribbean, the United States, and Great Britain. Since the early 1970s, however, Rastafari (the movement's self-styled name) has been recognized not only as one of the most popular Afro-Caribbean religions of the...
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...Outcasts to Culture Bearers Ennis Barrington Edmonds 2003 198 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016 Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford It furthers the University's objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in Oxford New York Auckland Bangkok Buenos Aires Cape Town Chennai Dar es Salaam Delhi Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi Kolkata Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Mumbai Nairobi São Paulo Shanghai Taipei Tokyo Toronto Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries Copyright © 2003 by Ennis Barrington Edmonds The moral rights of the authors have been asserted Database right Oxford University Press (maker) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above You must not circulate this book in any other binding or cover and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Edmonds, Ennis Barrington. Rastafari : from outcasts to culture bearers /...
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...Introduction “Up, you mighty race, accomplish what you will.” Marcus Garvey Rastafarianism is a religious movement born out of black slums of Jamaica which harnessed the teachings of the Jamaican born black nationalists, Marcus Garvey and conditionally uses selective Old Testament Christian writings to support its teachings and practices. Among Jamaican society, members of the Rastafarian movement were commonly perceived as social outcasts because of their anti-establishment way of life and their pride in identifying themselves as people of African ancestry. The inspiration which led to its genesis in the 1930’s was Messianic or millenarian in nature has been sustained and pervaded by a sense of African triumphalism. Although physical repatriation to Africa has not been fulfilled as Garvey or the founding Rastafarianism originally hoped, followers learned the “idea of Africa as home” can be a psychologically, culturally and spiritually empowering experience- all of which are important ingredients for creating positive ethno-racial self- conceptions of self and community. (Singh 2001) To participate in a form of active engagement towards liberation, Rastafarianism practice “reasonings”. The purpose is to heighten awareness by discussing local and worldly issues in an open communal environment and also emulating what theologian and educator Paulo Freire called conscientization. Conscientization arouse people’s consciousness and sense of self-redemption from the bottom up...
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...Bronx in 1973 by Jamaican-born Kool DJ Herc. At a Halloween dance party thrown by his younger sister, Herc used an innovative turntable technique to stretch a song's drum break by playing the break portion of two identical records consecutively. The popularity of the extended break lent its name to "breakdancing"--a style specific to hip-hop culture, which was facilitated by extended drumbreaks played by DJs at New York dance parties. By the mid-1970s, New York's hip-hop scene was dominated by seminal turntablists DJ Grandmaster Flash, Afrika Bambaataa, and Herc. The rappers of Sugarhill Gang produced hip-hop's first commercially successful hit, "Rapper's Delight," in 1979'. The local popularity of the rhythmic music served by DJs at dance parties and clubs, combined with an increase in "b-boys"--breakdancers--and graffiti artists and the growing importance of MCs, created a distinctive culture known as hip-hop. For the most part, hip-hop culture was defined and embraced by young, urban, working-class African-Americans. Hip-hop music originated from a combination of traditionally African-American forms of music--including jazz, soul, gospel, and reggae. It was created by working-class African-Americans, who, like Herc, took advantage of available tools--vinyl records and turntables--to invent a new form of music that both expressed and shaped the culture of black New York City youth in the 1970s. Rap shares its roots with other forms of traditionally African-American music, such...
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...their own unique way. The most famous Rastafarian and Reggae artist of them all was Bob Marley. His way of expressing his political opinions and messages in hit songs not only influenced in Jamaica, it had an impact on the entire world. He gave Rastafari an international identity and is the reason some people converted. Famous groups like the Rudeboys and Maytals helped Reggae to become what it is today. Reggae music was not always the most popular form of music in Jamaica. Reggae was influenced by the music genre of Jazz that was sweeping the nation. A lot of Jamaicans used Jazz to entertain the tourists. In the 1950’s Jazz Bebop became the new fad music for the youth of Jamaica and Jazz orchestras weren’t as common as in years past. In the 1960’s Ska was introduced and was the first style of music created by Jamaicans, this gave them a sense of identity. Ska was created by working class Jamaicans and they used it to express themselves and tell their stories. It was important because R&B singles weren’t being released as often, and didn’t attract as many listeners as it once did. Ska music consisted of the combination of Caribbean mento, calypso, and Jazz. The main reason for Ska’s popularity was because the music fit the moods of the time. People had the mind state to accept anything unique to Jamaica especially because they just got their independence. The only downside of Ska music was that it was very fast and people exerted so much energy so they couldn’t...
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