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| Painting showing various aspects of Trinidadian culture, Queens Park Savannah POS. |
To begin this blog entry I would like to reiterate the point that culture occurs on a range of scales (local, national, regional and global). Generally local culture is understood as being the term used to describe a group of persons/community who reside in a particular geographic area/place/space and share norms and values with eachother in a manner that ensures the preservation of such norms and values. This is done in an attempt to be unique and distinguish themselves from other communities/groups. From the perspective of urban geography and the geography of cities, local culture is culture that was hostorically derived within a 'tightly defined spatial scale' (Hall and Barrett 2012). In other words the local culture of a city is the set of norms and values that originated within the specific geographic area that the city covers over a period of several generations. An example of this, as mentioned by Hall and Barrett (2012), is a dialect (form of language that is specific to a certain group of persons/religion etc) that emerged historically in a particalar community and is dying out as migrants infiltrate the community bringing in new languages.
Trinidad has its own distinct set of cultures (local, global, regional etc) that make up its 'own' unique culture. Hence the reason the nation is often described as being culturally diverse. With respect to local culture, POS being the country's capital, is a popular place where aspects of local culture come to life. One of the major mediums through which local culture is expressed in Trinidad and Tobago is art (drawings, paintings etc.) Hence the reason the painting above caught my attention as I was walking past a local museum around the Queens Park Savannah.
The painting is actually larger in terms of length than the photograph reveals, however, within the small section of the painting that I was able to capture, there were several aspects of local culture integrated. The setting of the painting appeared to be downtown POS during the carnival season. This is evident due to the presence of feamle masqueraders in their costumes dancing and traditional carnival characters such as the Midnight Robber. Carnival is considered to be a part of our local culture because it has its roots in the Caribbean, not to mention the fact that most carnival activities take place either on the streets of POS or in various spaces and buildings within the capital. Another aspect of local culture can be seen in the titles of the local newspapers (Newsday, Punch, Express) that various persons in the painting are holding up e.g. "Guns and Amo". These all reflect the social status of the country as well as political issues that are occuring locally. Also included in the painting were important landmark buildings (buildings that identify the city) such as KFC and The Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (RBTT) formaly known as the Royal Bank of Canada.
Based on your knowledge of global culture from my previous blog entry you may be asking yourself how is it that KFC and RBTT being global/ internationally owned businesses are aspects of POS's local culture. Well, in order to understand this, one should know that in all spaces of most cities elements of local and global cultures co-exist, and the key to understanding this is through looking at their interactions in local contexts (Hall and Barrett 2012). Due to the fact that the businesses mentioned have been a part of POS for so long they have been incorporated into Trinidad's wholistic culture and have therefore become accepted as being 'local'. This is a good example of how culture changes through time.
Music BREAK! :)
Here is a photo of Denyse Plummer. She is one of Trinidad's most recognised calypsonians and is most known for her beautiful song "Nah Leaving". I included the link to this song because I believe that it tells the story of Trinidad's local culture which is emanated by the city of POS. Do enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrwcb0HXiwI
Live performance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W05DLMBmv34
To conclude I would like to state that local culture in urban spaces (e.g. cities), can be incorporated into the urban landscape in several ways. To me one of the most effective ways of doing this is through the use of art in the form of paintings, drawings and even graffiti. Whether it be a beautiful mural on a building wall or illlegal graffiti on abandoned buildings, local culture can be discovered anywhere. YOU just have to be observant! ;)
The painting is actually larger in terms of length than the photograph reveals, however, within the small section of the painting that I was able to capture, there were several aspects of local culture integrated. The setting of the painting appeared to be downtown POS during the carnival season. This is evident due to the presence of feamle masqueraders in their costumes dancing and traditional carnival characters such as the Midnight Robber. Carnival is considered to be a part of our local culture because it has its roots in the Caribbean, not to mention the fact that most carnival activities take place either on the streets of POS or in various spaces and buildings within the capital. Another aspect of local culture can be seen in the titles of the local newspapers (Newsday, Punch, Express) that various persons in the painting are holding up e.g. "Guns and Amo". These all reflect the social status of the country as well as political issues that are occuring locally. Also included in the painting were important landmark buildings (buildings that identify the city) such as KFC and The Royal Bank of Trinidad and Tobago (RBTT) formaly known as the Royal Bank of Canada.
Based on your knowledge of global culture from my previous blog entry you may be asking yourself how is it that KFC and RBTT being global/ internationally owned businesses are aspects of POS's local culture. Well, in order to understand this, one should know that in all spaces of most cities elements of local and global cultures co-exist, and the key to understanding this is through looking at their interactions in local contexts (Hall and Barrett 2012). Due to the fact that the businesses mentioned have been a part of POS for so long they have been incorporated into Trinidad's wholistic culture and have therefore become accepted as being 'local'. This is a good example of how culture changes through time.
Music BREAK! :)
Here is a photo of Denyse Plummer. She is one of Trinidad's most recognised calypsonians and is most known for her beautiful song "Nah Leaving". I included the link to this song because I believe that it tells the story of Trinidad's local culture which is emanated by the city of POS. Do enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vrwcb0HXiwI
Live performance
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W05DLMBmv34
To conclude I would like to state that local culture in urban spaces (e.g. cities), can be incorporated into the urban landscape in several ways. To me one of the most effective ways of doing this is through the use of art in the form of paintings, drawings and even graffiti. Whether it be a beautiful mural on a building wall or illlegal graffiti on abandoned buildings, local culture can be discovered anywhere. YOU just have to be observant! ;)
*SINGS* Nah leaving! Is here they conceive meh is here ah go dead!
ReplyDeleteQuite an interesting read. You made an interesting point of companies like KFC being considered/accepted as local. This is so true!
I think over time and with lot's of marketing adapted to our local marketing multinational companies have become a very part of our culture BP and BG and several banks like RBC and insurance companies are some good examples.
I think we tend to forget that these companies/brands aren't exactly local.
Girl, you had me at "Local Culture"
ReplyDeleteI love everything that deals with the arts and that is creative and the music break at the end, very refreshing to read.
I especially like your choice of photo, since it shows not only the good but the bad aswell!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting -- can you say a little more about the location of "culture" and power and politics?
ReplyDeleteWonderful.