Characteristics of Caribbean Society and Culture Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is society?
A group of people who share a common geographic space, cultural identity, history, values, and practices. It includes members with a shared purpose and collective identity
What is culture?
The learned way of life of a people, including material and non-material elements such as values, language, food, dress, music, religion, and customs
What is cultural identity?
The sense of belonging to a particular cultural group, shaped by shared traditions, values, beliefs, and heritage
What are the four main characteristics of Caribbean society according to the syllabus?
Shared common purpose
Defined territorial space
Continuity over time and space
Citizenship within a space
What does “shared common purpose” mean in Caribbean society?
Caribbean societies share values and experiences such as colonialism, resistance, and post-colonial struggles which unify diverse ethnic groups
How is “territorial space” defined in society?
A physical or geographical area where a group with shared identity resides. For example, Caribbean societies span across islands and mainland territories washed by the Caribbean Sea
What does “continuity over time and space” mean?
The preservation of cultural traits, identity, and practices across generations and physical movement (e.g. through diaspora)
What defines “citizenship within a space”?
Legal or cultural membership within a state or territory, whether by birth, migration, or naturalization
What are the five main characteristics of Caribbean culture?
Learned behaviour
Customs and traditions
Norms and values
Institutions (e.g. family, religion)
Gendered practices
What is the difference between material and non-material culture?
Material: Physical creations like food, clothing, art
Non-material: Intangible aspects like language, values, norms
Define enculturation.
The process through which individuals learn the culture of their society from birth, mainly through family and social institutions
Define socialisation.
The process by which individuals learn societal norms and roles through family, education, media, and peers
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What are gendered practices in Caribbean culture?
Social roles based on gender passed down through generations, e.g., women nurturing indoors, men doing outdoor tasks
Define popular culture.
Mainstream culture consumed by the masses (e.g., dancehall, reggae)
What is folk culture?
Local traditions, often rural, passed down informally through generations (e.g., oral stories, local rituals).
What is cultural diversity?
The coexistence of various cultural groups (race, religion, ethnicity) within one society
What is a plural society?
A society made up of separate ethnic or cultural groups coexisting with minimal mixing. Coined by M.G. Smith
Define creolisation.
The fusion of African, European, and Asian cultural elements into uniquely Caribbean forms
What is hybridisation?
The blending of different cultural traditions to create new ones (e.g., chutney music, Caribbean-style curry)
What is douglarisation?
A cultural and racial mix particularly between East Indian and African heritage in the Caribbean
Name one theorist associated with creolisation.
Edward Kamau Brathwaite.
How has Caribbean culture been shaped by historical processes?
Systems like slavery, indentureship, and colonialism brought diverse groups into contact, leading to cultural fusion and retention
Give THREE examples of cultural retention in the Caribbean.
Anansi folklore from West Africa
Hindu festivals like Divali
Use of African drums in music
What role do institutions play in maintaining culture?
Institutions like family, religion, and education pass on cultural norms and values across generations
