Member-only story

Insurgency and Consumption in Caribbean Popular Culture: A Critical Caribbean Perspective

Ken Follett

·15.3k Followers· Follow

Published in Buyers Beware: Insurgency And Consumption In Caribbean Popular Culture (Critical Caribbean Studies)

4 min read

633 View Claps

59 Respond

Save

Listen

The Caribbean region has a long and complex history of insurgency and consumption, two forces that have profoundly shaped the region's culture and society. This article explores the complex relationship between these two forces, examining how they shape and are shaped by each other within the context of the region's colonial and postcolonial history.

Buyers Beware: Insurgency and Consumption in Caribbean Popular Culture (Critical Caribbean Studies)

by Patricia Joan Saunders

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	22488 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	233 pages

Insurgency is defined as "an organized attempt to overthrow a government or established order." Consumption is defined as "the act of using or buying goods and services." In the Caribbean, insurgency and consumption have been closely intertwined since the arrival of European colonizers in the region. Colonizers used consumption to control and exploit the indigenous population, and indigenous people used consumption to resist and subvert colonial rule.

Insurgency as Resistance

In the Caribbean, insurgency has often taken the form of resistance to colonial and postcolonial oppression. This resistance has been expressed through a variety of means, including armed struggle, political activism, and cultural production.

Armed struggle was a common form of resistance in the Caribbean during the colonial period. Slave rebellions, such as the Haitian Revolution (1791-1804),were often led by enslaved Africans who used violence to overthrow their oppressors. In the 20th century, armed struggle continued to be a form of resistance in the Caribbean, with groups such as the Black Power movement in Trinidad and Tobago and the Rastafari movement in Jamaica using violence to challenge the established order.

Political activism was another form of resistance in the Caribbean. This activism often took the form of organizing labor unions, political parties, and other groups to advocate for the rights of the working class and the poor. In the 20th century, political activism was a major force in the Caribbean, with groups such as the People's National Party in Jamaica and the Democratic Labour Party in Barbados leading the fight for independence from colonial rule.

Cultural production was also a form of resistance in the Caribbean. This production included music, literature, art, and other forms of creative expression. Cultural production allowed Caribbean people to express their own identity and culture, and to challenge the dominant narratives of the colonizers.

Consumption as Resistance

In addition to being a form of resistance, consumption can also be a form of insurgency. This is because consumption can be used to challenge the established order and to create new forms of identity.

In the Caribbean, consumption has been used to challenge the established order in a variety of ways. For example, during the colonial period, enslaved Africans used consumption to express their resistance to slavery. They would often refuse to buy goods from their enslavers, and they would often create their own goods and services.

In the postcolonial period, consumption has continued to be a form of resistance in the Caribbean. For example, the Rastafari movement in Jamaica has used consumption to create a new form of identity that is based on African culture. Rastafari people often refuse to buy goods from mainstream stores, and they often create their own goods and services.

The relationship between insurgency and consumption in Caribbean popular culture is complex and ever-changing. However, it is clear that these two forces have a profound impact on each other, and that they continue to shape the region's culture and society.

Buyers Beware: Insurgency and Consumption in Caribbean Popular Culture (Critical Caribbean Studies)

by Patricia Joan Saunders

4.7 out of 5