Often only recognized as the home of reggae, the countries of the Caribbean have numerous rich and diverse cultures. This course will move beyond regional stereotypes to examine the role of cultural performance-festivals, rituals, music and dance-in linking everyday practices of Caribbean people to larger social forces: politics, citizenship and the economy. How do these postcolonial states mobilize culture in building nations, constructing identities, and staking positions in the global economy? In the face of commodification, globalization, and competing interests, how do cultural practices express and reflect the lives of people? Do cultural performances offer a critique of social and economic relations? In answering these questions we will consider theories of culture, especially in reference to the African Diaspora and the Caribbean. We will explore the dynamics of classic anthropological theories of Caribbean society and culture (e.g., respectability/reputation and stratification/plurality) by looking at popular and public cultural forms, including Trinidad Carnival, Cuban Santeria, and Jamaican Dancehall. Course materials will be drawn from articles, ethnographies, DVDs and audio CDs. Format: seminar. Requirements: active class participation, midterm, and final paper. Open to non-majors. Enrollment limit: 25 (expected: 22.)

Hour: CASTOR