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The University of the West IndiesFOUN 1101Caribbean CivilisationPortfolio

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The University of the West IndiesFOUN 1101Caribbean CivilisationPortfolio

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Student name: Rebecca rampersad

Student ID number: 815006855

Degree Program: Human nutrition and dietetics

Faculty: Food and Agriculture

Campus: St. Augustine

Date: 21/04/17

Title of Portfolio: Caribbean Civilization

Link/web address: https://padlet.com/trinistar177/m85ebo0lrytg

I certify that this is my own work and by attaching this cover sheet certify further that there are no instances of plagiarism contained herein. I submit to any penalty imposed by the Faculty for any instance of plagiarism found in my work howsoever caused.

Signed: Rebecca Rampersad

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Beckles, H. M. (2000) Property Rights in Pleaser: The Marketing of Enslaved Women’s Sexuality. Caribbean Slavery in the Atlantic World. A Students Reader. Ian Randle Publishers. Jamaica

Caribbeanhistoryarchives.blogspot.com

cxc.org

support.cxc.org

www.ncctt.org

http://wired868.com/2016/02/14/divided-masquerade-trinidad-carnival-is-increasingly-a-minority-sport/

https://www.google.tt/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjxyqOttK_TAhVGPiYKHcm-DfcQFggtMAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fnews%2Fmorning-mix%2Fwp%2F2016%2F02%2F12%2Foutrage-in-trinidad-after-mayor-blames-carnival-killing-on-dancers-lewd-behavior%2F&usg=AFQjCNGH9GRu19XEL4WJvVfDzeQMEW1WzQ.

https://youtu.be/RrljXlDerV8

http://www.coha.org/trinidad-and-tobago-education-reform-and-societal-mobilization/

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Music is an extremely powerful force in today’s Caribbean culture. Dancehall, a genre that largely comes from the island of Jamaica has had a powerful influence on how the Caribbean folk view and treat with different issues. One such issues is the treatment of women in society as objects. Alkaline, a Jamaican artist in his song “123” and many of his other songs portrays women as objects. He talks about sex and as women being “easy”. He is saying that he can have sex with a woman easily. In the song he also says he doesn’t believe and marriage and love.

With this being displayed throughout the media which could influence the way of thinking with young males. This is a form of stereotype. This can be related back in history during the Caribbean sugar society. The concept of male sexual predation is a dominant theme. The white men used to rape the African women.  Sexism today can seem like an insurmountable obstacle. Beckles (2000) in his piece on the marketing of enslaved women’s sexuality spoke about the raping of the enslaved woman being one of the first attack on her as a woman.  The slave woman was exploited sexually, whether as a concubine or prostitute, no value was placed on their sexuality. Beckles indicated that although some of them even gained social mobility through these exploits such as material wealth or even freedom they were still objectified. The rape culture that existed during slavery put women in a very unfair position. A position that is still endemic in today’s society. Alkaline in his song indicated, ‘Life unfair but a so di thing go”, relating the callous nature with which women’s sexuality is treated. Women are still seen as objects, not just by the white master but now by her own counterpart, the black man. This scenario brings to the forefront the psychological effects of the exploitation that were long lasting and is perpetuated by mainstream culture, specifically music.

https://youtu.be/RrljXlDerV8

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Males have tended to dominate Caribbean history writing. During slavery the issue of gender and sexuality could have been seen, here are some instances where this can be seen:

1.       Christianity thought about the duties of a good wife. For example obedience to her husband. From the outset Christianity reaffirmed certain traditional gender roles.

2.       In the Neo-Indian society there was gendered division of labour. Women were responsible for nurturing and harvesting food crops. Men were assigned more manual labour like fishing and hunting.

3.       Even on the sugar plantations there was division of gender.

Today through the Caribbean you can still see issues of genderism. The following article raises awareness of this issue.  https://www.google.tt/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjxyqOttK_TAhVGPiYKHcm-DfcQFggtMAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fnews%2Fmorning-mix%2Fwp%2F2016%2F02%2F12%2Foutrage-in-trinidad-after-mayor-blames-carnival-killing-on-dancers-lewd-behavior%2F&usg=AFQjCNGH9GRu19XEL4WJvVfDzeQMEW1WzQ.

This article talks about the murder of the Japanese tourist on carnival 2016. She was raped and murdered. The mayor of Port of Spain suggested that by dressing in a revealing costume and dancing, Nagakiya was to blame for her own killing. He also said at a press conference “The woman has the responsibility to ensure that [she is] not abused.” Yes women has a responsibility to themselves, but that doesn’t give anyone the right to use that as an excuse to attempt to inappropriately act upon a woman. Women has a right to dress however she wants without having to worry about if they would be “raped” or not. Everyone has a right to expressing themselves through way of clothes and dance. Time has proven that the mind set of people, men in particular hasn’t changed throughout history. There is still the issue of demeaning of women and seeing “us” as an object.

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Education and the first model schools- Both parties, masters and slaves were engulfed by the rumors of the impending emancipation. They insisted that any sudden freeing of the slaves would mean absolute ruin for the colony. Estates would be abandon. With that being said, one of the controlling factors of slavery was access to learning. Most of the schools were catholic and to grant access to learning the ex-slaves had to be converted.

Lord Harris was convinced that these religious bodies were competing for increased numbers in their religion. He advocated a state school system which was secular and in the hands of the government. The creation of the education ordinance in 1851 which established a school in every ward, free and secular under the control of a board of education with salaried inspectors, was a landmark event in Trinidad, according to Dr.Bridget Brereton’s book.

The Caribbean has regionally integrated its education scheme. CXC and CAPE are two good examples of this. CXC- Caribbean Examination Council was established in 1972. CAPE- Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination. It is considered a post- secondary education qualification. Another example is the University of the West Indies. There are three main campuses location within the Caribbean region. It allows for cultural and regional diversity. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in numerous fields of study: Arts, Sciences, Business, Law and the Humanities.

Education fosters Caribbean growth and integration.

http://www.coha.org/trinidad-and-tobago-education-reform-and-societal-mobilization/  this article supports my point above. Trinidad and Tobago has come a long way from the British education system. The education system has reformed a lot. It allows much more support and much more persons can obtain an education at university level. This allows for a stronger and more developed system and is also beneficial to the country.

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Caribbean culture can be viewed as a body of learned behaviors common to the Caribbean region, and which is passed on from generation to generation. Trinidad has developed as a nation, as well as the Caribbean at large. This integration can be seen through festivals and music. Some examples of this are Diwali, Eid-Ul-Fitr, Christmas, Phagwa, and Carnival.

The festival I will be focusing on is carnival. Carnival in Trinidad commencement of the Lenten season. The Africans started to participate in the festivities from 1833 after the emancipation Bill was passed. The Africans brought Canboulary to its festivities, Canboulary was first played on August 1st, emancipation day, but subsequently took place after midnight on Dimanche Gras, the Sunday before carnival. In early celebration of the festival by the masses activities were held over the three days preceding Ash Wednesday. However in the face of over 60 years of criticism from the upper class about the low standard of carnival, in 1943 carnival on the streets were restricted to the Monday and Tuesday.

The festivities of carnival has spread throughout the entire Caribbean. Carnival is a mixed culture of African, European and Asian influences. Trinidad and Tobago carnival brings together people of diverse background.

http://wired868.com/2016/02/14/divided-masquerade-trinidad-carnival-is-increasingly-a-minority-sport/. The above article talks about the dying art that is carnival. Carnival has now become a “party”, it no longer displays the culture through music and costumes. The questionable status of Carnival as a national festival is underlined by the clear division between the participation of those who buy membership in expensive all-inclusive bands, whether for J’ouvert or the main parade, and those outside the rope without access to the funds or perceived social status required to be part of the all-inclusive. The true art of carnival is not displayed anymore, rather masquerades in “skimpy” costumes, consuming alcohol and dancing to the soca music. An example to support my point “the suggestion that moko jumbie was not mas or that it should be confined to the ole time category and the Victoria Square venue. That suggestion is reflective of the level of divisiveness in our society and the contempt for valid mas traditions.”

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SELF-EVALUATION OF LEARNING FOR THE SEMESTER. 

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SELF-EVALUATION OF LEARNING FOR THE SEMESTER. 

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Initially, the course Caribbean civilization appeared to be grounded upon strictly history. However as the semester proceeded that quickly changed. Caribbean Civilization thought me how to look at the development of society through a different perspective, during the semester I learned about many different topics gender, education, religion, sports and much more. The concept of civilization peaked my interest the most. As I recall this was my first lecture, it gave me a different sense of thinking about the society and life at large. The tutorials were very beneficial because they allowed you to be involved in practical activities. Although I enjoyed the convenience of online lectures, I would have preferred face to face lectures. This is a very interesting course and “sit-in” lectures would have been more interactive and fun. Nonetheless I now have a better appreciation for the past and a better understanding of the development of the Caribbean.

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This portfolio reflect my opinion of social issues. This represents an appreciation for my society and the region at large. Studying Caribbean Civilization has broadened this horizon. A self-evaluation of learning was done. Firstly I will talk about the importance of festival and music in the Caribbean. Secondly the development of education, thirdly the issues of feminism. Lastly an analysis of the song”123” by Alkaline.