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See all the wonderful things Daniella Swanson has made

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Kroeber & Kluckhohn (1952) says "Culture consists of patterns, explicit and implicit, of and for behaviour acquired and transmitted by symbols, constituting the distinctive achievements of human groups, including their embodiment in artifacts; the essential core of culture consists of traditional (i.e. historically derived and selected) ideas and especially their attached values; culture systems may, on the one hand, be considered as products of action, on the other, as conditional elements of future action."
In a simpler form, British Anthropologist Edward Tylor (1871) defined culture as “that complex whole which includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom, and any other capabilities and habits acquired by man as a member of society”.

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Personal identity answers the questions, 'Who am I?" and "Who will I become?" It is the concept one develops on their own and it evolves over the course of their life. This may include aspects of their life that they have no control over, such as where they grew up or skin colour, as well as  life choices, such as how time is spent and personal beliefs. Personal identity is also outwardly portrayed through clothing and interactions with other people. There are, however, some elements of personal identity kept to oneself, even when those parts are very important.

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Caribbean culture is a term that explains the various aspects of a collective society. The artistic, musical, literary, culinary, political and social elements are all representative of the culture of Caribbean people all over the world. Historically, there have been influences by that of African, European, Amerindian, and Asian traditions to shape the Caribbean into what it is today. contemporary society, however has been influenced by American society.
In light of the demographic and cultural diversity of the Caribbean and the range of factors that can impact on identity, Girvan (2001) states that it is fashionable to speak of a Caribbean identity, but it is more realistic to accept that there are many cultural identities co-existing within a society and more so in the region.

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ASPECTS OF CARIBBEAN CULTURE AND IDENTITY

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ASPECTS OF CARIBBEAN CULTURE AND IDENTITY

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The Caribbean's unique culture comprises of many components that give the society their identity. The features of the Caribbean in relation to culture that will be discussed include: music, food, festivals and events, and history. On the other hand, it has been argued that there is no such thing as a single Caribbean Identity.

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The music genres Caribbean are very diverse. The sounds of the Caribbean are as assorted as the islands themselves. From the tinkling of steel pan drums, an instrument originated in Trinidad and Tobago, that puts one in a tropical frame of mind, to reggae beats that portray stories of the hardships endured on the islands.
Music has always played an important part of the Caribbean identity, providing its people with a meaningful, expressive form of art, a method of escape, and a means of mere entertainment. They are each comprised of African, European, Indian and Indigenous sounds, mainly due to the various historical contributors of African and East Indian descent, along with other communities.
Some of the styles to be recognized outside of the Caribbean include calypso, chutney, chutney-soca, dancehall, parang, reggae, reggaeton, salsa and soca. Caribbean music is also similar to Central American and South American music.
Here is one example of the genre of music called Reggae.  The song commemorates the importance of African American soldiers who played a part in widening the American territories through their honourable "fight for survival." While the song was hugely popular, the men behind it were not, until Bob Marley made their story famous. The music itself is very groovy and could be said as catchy. Some of the instruments include: a regular drum kit, the timbale, shakers, maracas and tambourine.

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Caribbean cuisine is one of the most distinctive cuisines due to its historical background and varied cultural identities. It can mainly be described as a blend of African, Chinese, Amerindian, Spanish/Latin American, Cajun, Creole, European, Portuguese, Arab, East Indian/South Asian, Jewish, and Javanese/Indonesian cuisine. In addition to the traditional dishes and methods brought to the region, the population has created unique different twists on their distinctive cuisine.
Ingredients that are common in most of the islands' dishes are rice, beans, beans, tomatoes, spices (such as nutmeg and cinnamon), bell peppers, cassava, sweet potatoes, herbs (such as thyme and cilantro), chickpeas, coconut, and any of wide variety of meats that are locally available like beef, fish, pork and poultry. As the Caribbean is rich in fruits and vegetables which grow in the tropical climate, the lifestyle of its people is generally healthy.
Traditional dishes are also very important to Caribbean culture that, for example, the local version of Caribbean goat stew has been chosen as the official national dish of Montserrat and is also one of the signature dishes of St. Kitts and Nevis. Another popular dish in the Anglophone Caribbean is called "Cook-up", or Pelau. Ackee and saltfish is another popular dish that is unique to Jamaica. Here is a video showing some local Caribbean dishes.

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Can These 8 Americans Handle Caribbean Food?

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Caribbean Festivals and Events are a main tourist attraction which incurs seasonal revenue for the islands' governments. Some of the most unique festivals and events in the world are these celebrations which display the various native cultures and identities.
Eid and Divali are some of the most popular religious festivals which are usually celebrated by all different types of people. Based on the nature of all festivals and events, the Caribbean is heavily impacted by its diverse ancestral backgrounds as their culture is of great importance.
The following are some of the more popular non- religious festivals held on select Caribbean islands: Carnival (Port of Spain, Trinidad and Santiago, Dominican Republic) , Junkanoo (the Bahamas), Crop Over Festival (Barbados), St. Lucia Jazz Festival (St. Lucia), and Reggae Sumfest (Montego Bay, Jamaica).
Below is a picture showing modern day Carnival in Trinidad. This festival is an annual event held on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday on the island. People come from all parts of the globe to take part in this vibrant and exuberant celebration. Colourful costumes and even traditional wear parade the streets while Calypso and Soca music are played. Carnival is also celebrated in cities worldwide including Toronto's Caribana, Miami's Miami Carnival, Houston Carifest and London's Notting Hill Carnival.
The Mas tradition began in the late 18th century where the French plantation owners would organize masquerades (mas) and balls before enduring the fasting of Lent. The slaves however, were not allowed to partake in Carnival, created their own, similar celebration called "Canboulay". Canboulay (from the French cannes brulées, meaning burnt cane) is a predecessor of Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, and has played a very important role in the development of the identity, as well as music of Trinidad and Tobago.

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The Caribbean is a diverse cultural society. History is a major part of modern day life and it is seen everywhere, from food, clothing, music and language to architecture. The modern day Caribbean society is heavily impacted by its history.  The history of the Caribbean reveals the important role that the region played in the colonial battle of European powers since the 15th century.
In the 20th century, the Caribbean was part of the decolonization wave during the post-war period. Genocide, slavery, colonialism, immigration and rivalry between world powers have given Caribbean history a major impact in comparison to the size of this small region.
The region is not only distinct because of geographic differences but also by cultural, historical and linguistic differences. The main languages spoken are English, Spanish, French and Dutch. Cultural dissimilarities, such as sport and religion, cannot only be explained by colonization of regions but also by recent high levels of migrations.
Below is the site known as the Compte de Lopinot Historical Complex or Count Lopinot's House is located at the top of the Lopinot Valley in East Trinidad. This historical site is a part of Trinidad’s culture. It is famous for its Spanish roots, named after Charles Joseph, Compte de Lopinot, a Knight of the Military order of St. Louis, Lieutenant General of the French Army and Brigadier France in 1738. Today, the Lopinot mansion has been transformed into a museum.
(This photo was taken by myself on 03/02/17)

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APPLICATION OF LEARNING IN THE CARIBBEAN CIVILIZATION COURSE

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APPLICATION OF LEARNING IN THE CARIBBEAN CIVILIZATION COURSE

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Overall, Caribbean Civilization was a very informative and interesting subject which aided in a better understanding of my cultural background and identity via my history. I feel as though with the information learnt in this course I can teach others and appreciate my country more.
Also, I believe that it is important to know where you come from as well as others in your social and geographic environment. This subject teaches how to interact with people on a daily basis within one's formal and informal groups. In this course, I had the opportunity of visiting some historical sites in my country that I had no idea was there. I am exceedingly glad I was pushed to actually see parts of history.
In recent times, culture has not been receiving the respect it deserves as in the article below, taken from the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. One of the most important responsibilities we have as a society is to preserve our culture. It is who we are. Cultural degradation is defined as the loss of a particular culture through assimilation, lack of interest, or vanishing of a language or patois. This will happen eventually if culture is not maintained. It can be seen that it has already begun as we slip away more and more from our culture and grasp at those of the American and European regions.
(This article was written on 18/04/17)

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Trinidad and Tobago's Newsday : newsday.co.tt :

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Portal of Trinidad and Tobago with always fresh news on sport, business, culture and entertainment