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Cultural Analysis of Caribbean Literature
Outline for Caribbean Literature Study
Abroad.
Students will travel to a Caribbean island
during the Spring inter-session and participate
in experiences which will complete requirements
for a cultural analysis of the literature. This
is a three credit hour course. This course
fulfills the requirement for Other Worlds as is
required in SUNY general education.
Requirements:
- Two class meeting before the trip and
one class meeting after the trip.
- Participation in all the activities
while on the trip.
- Ten pages paper on analysis of one
aspect of culture presented in the text.
- Daily journal of observations while on
the trip.
- Complete analysis of the text of choice.
Grading
|
1. |
Journal |
200 |
| 2. |
Paper |
300 |
| 3. |
Participation |
500 |
Suggested texts for each
island
|
Island |
Text |
|
Jamaica: |
The Harder they come by
Micheal Thelwell
Banana Bottom by Claude McKay
Mayal by Erna Brodber |
|
St. Martins: |
Rainy Season by Drisana Jack |
|
Trinidad: |
Miguel Street by V.S. Naipaul |
|
Cuba: |
The Kingdom of the World by
Alejo Carpentier |
|
Martinique: |
I Tituba by Maryse Conde |
|
Haiti: |
Black Shack Alley by Joseph
Zobel |
|
Puerto Rico: |
Sweet Diamond Dust by Rosanno
Frere |
|
Barbados: |
In the Castle of My Skin by
George Lamming |
|
Guadalupe: |
The Bridge of Beyond by
Simone Swartz-Bart |
|
St. Kitts: |
Dream on Monkey Mountain by
Derek Walcott |
Topics in Cultural Analysis
Example of ideas to be discussed
 |
Cultural analysis of The Harder They
Come |
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Trip to Jamaica |
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Food: Food in the villages living off
the land and the sea food in the city food
as commodity; eating to live |
|
|
Dress: Dress as status, dress as
covering |
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Religion: Rastafarianism, American
Imported Religion, Garveyism, Pocomania |
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Education: Book learning vs. experience |
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Mores: Role of children; Working for a
living; respect for elders |
|
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Folkways: traditions of births and
deaths; ganga culture; work sharing |
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Entertainment: Storytelling ; Movie
theatre, folk music |
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Celebration: funerals;
|
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Politics: Proactive, the capture of
Kingston |
|
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Art: The artist in the village vs. the
artist in the town |
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Role of Music: Source of Income; voice
of the people; voice of protest |
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Role of Dance: Religious celebration,
entertainment
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Sample Class Schedule for Trip to Jamaica
|
Friday: |
Fly to Jamaica Montego Bay Go to
hotel Evening meal together
Accommodations: Bed and Breakfast |
|
Saturday: |
Visit Rose
Hall Museum Afternoon at the children’s
home Dinner at the McNishes |
|
Sunday : |
Free
Morning for church or Mass or beach
Travel to St Ann
Accommodations: Cottages at the beach |
|
Monday: |
Attend a
class at Browns Town community college
Mr. James Walsh Afternoon at First Hill
Primary school where we will read to
students and distribute books Mrs.
Burnett Principal |
|
Tuesday: |
Travel to Kingston Attend a play or the
pantomime
Accommodations: University of the West
Indies Students’ housing |
|
Wednesday: |
Audience
with the governor General, Hon Howard
Cook Lecture Demonstration dance at the
school of dance, Nicholeen Degrasse
Director of the school of dance Attend
performance of the National dance
theatre |
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Thursday: |
Visit the
J. Wray and Nephew factory, Mrs. Valrie
OConnor Lecture by the Medical Examiner
of Kingston and St Andrew Dr. Clyde
Morrison Dinner at the Donegals/Gordons |
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Friday: |
Discussion
with the Minister of Education Mr.
Whiteman Visit to the art gallery, the
national museum, Port Royal . Party/
Reception at the Deslandes |
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Saturday: |
Travel to
Montego Bay, day of shopping Free night
Accommodation: Bed and Breakfast |
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Sunday: |
Return to
the USA |
Dr. on call Dr. Clyde Morrison
Requirements for the trip
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Requirements
for the trip |
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Passport
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Light weight
comfortable clothing
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Formal
outfit for visit to the governor general
(includes ties for men
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Semiformal
outfit for theatre |
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Medication
if needed |
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An open
mind. Remember this is a cultural study
and you are not a tourist.
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