Caribbean Languages and Societies Commons^™

Conga Santiaguera: A Century Of Innovation And Competition, Nick Herman

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Santiago de Cuba is home to the island’s biggest, oldest, and most famous carnival.  Any local resident will confirm that “sin conga no hay carnaval (without conga there is no carnival).” In Santiago, conga refers to a vibrant street procession, the music that drives it, and the ensemble that makes the music.  Conga Santiaguera: A Century of Innovation and Competition presents a musical history of the conga from roughly 1910 to 2010.  This project, https://cuny.manifoldapp.org/projects/conga employs an eBook, musical analysis, oral histories, and audiovisual media to show how the conga has been constantly reinvigorated by innovation, competition, and Afro-Diasporic …

Identity And Intervention: United States' Foreign Policy Toward The Dominican Republic, Eileen Ledesma

College Honors Program

Constructivist theory provides a framework for understanding United States foreign policy toward the Dominican Republic during the U.S. occupation (1916-1924), the rise and consolidation of Rafael Leónidas Trujillo’s dictatorship, and the regime’s eventual political isolation during the Cold War. This thesis argues that U.S. foreign policy was shaped by identity narratives and political culture, also identified through historically constructed understandings and the repeated performance of legitimacy and order. By situating U.S.-Dominican Republic relations within broader debates in international relations theory, this thesis highlights the explanatory value of constructivism in understanding the evolution and contradictions of U.S. policy in Latin America. …

Autoconvocadxs: Interpretaciones Biopolíticas Y Psicopolíticas Del Poder Popular, El Archivo Y La Memoria En La Cultura Popular De Puerto Rico, Jose A. Acosta-Seda

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Autoconvocadxs analizan el nacimiento, el desarrollo y la consolidación de la asamblea popular como un mecanismo para fiscalizar la labor del Estado. Este, insuficiente y al servicio de las instituciones imperiales, se ha desentendido de las necesidades del pueblo en momentos de crisis. Al servicio de la agenda imperial estadounidense, el gobierno puertorriqueño echó mano de diversas estrategias de coerción y vigilancia que perjudicaron el desarrollo social, económico y político de Puerto Rico. Sin embargo, dichas estrategias e instrumentos de vigilancia han evolucionado a través del tiempo: desde una perspectiva biopolítica en los años 1970, hasta el triunfo de la …

Caribbean Sensibility, Olivia A. Davis

MA Projects

The Caribbean is a region with a complex history, from the displacement of Indigenous communities to the forced migrations of the transatlantic slave trade and the arrival of indentured laborers from Asia. This has produced a region where questions of identity and belonging remain constant. Caribbean Sensibility explores how artists form the Caribbean and its diasporas navigate these complexities, transforming histories of displacement into creative expression. The exhibition draws on Trinidadian scholar Patricia Mohammed’s concept of a “Caribbean sensibility,” an emotional and aesthetic orientation based in hybridity. It is “the dissonance between a seemingly imported religion and our homegrown private …

Demystifying Dominican Artist Yoryi Morel And His Approach To Painting, Zoila Neris Sosa Veras

MA in Fine and Decorative Art and Design Dissertations

During the period between 1930-1961, the Dominican Republic experienced one of the longest and most brutal totalitarian dictatorship regimes of modern times, imposed by a tyrant named Rafael Leonidas Trujillo.1 During this period, nothing could be said or done without the consent of the so-called “Benefactor of the fatherland”. Artists' creativity and self-expressions were not allowed to be used as means to disapprove of the regime, but to please and adulate the dictator. Some artists stopped painting and some others went to live in exile. However, there was an artist whose career flourished during the era, his name is Jorge …

Herejías En La Ciudad Global: Legados De Tercermundismo, Asimilación Y Desplazamiento Urbano En Las Narrativas Literarias Contemporáneas Latinx Y Afroportuguesa (2000-2022)., Ricardo Martín Coloma

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Esta tesis examina de manera comparativa dos corpus de novelas contemporáneas que interrogan los múltiples espacios de poder y vulnerabilidad que experimentan las diásporas latinx y africanas que logran movilidad social a través del trabajo en las ciudades globales de Nueva York y Lisboa. Mediante el análisis de autores tan diversos como la mexicano-puertorriqueña Xochitl González, la dominicana Cleyvis Natera, el puertorriqueño-ecuatoriano Ernesto Quiñonez, la angoleña-portuguesa Telma Tvon, la angoleña-portuguesa Djamilia Pereira y el angoleño Kalaf Epalanga, establezco un diálogo entre las narrativas literarias de autores caribeños de la diáspora sobre la ciudad de Nueva York y las diásporas africanas …

"La Vida Es Un Carnaval": An Exploration Of Cuban Identity And Nostalgia Through Dance/Movement Therapy - A Community Engagement Project, Maria Fernanda Mendez Mendoza

Expressive Therapies Theses

“La Vida Es Un Carnaval” is a community engagement project and thesis that explores how identity and nostalgic resilience show up through dance/movement therapy with Cuban immigrants living in the United States, specifically Massachusetts. This project brought together six Cuban-born participants, ages 26 to 67, each with their own unique migration stories; from the Rafter Balsero Crisis of 1994, to the “Wet-Foot/Dry-Foot” policy, and family reunification. Through a mix of in-person and online sessions, participants explored their experiences using intermodal activities including dance/movement therapy techniques, conversation, journaling, artwork, and music. Themes of cultural pride, “Cubanía” – Cuban-ness, culture shock, and …

“Translating Blackness In 19th-Century Afro-Brazilian Literature: Unsilencing The Archive”, Apoliana Da Conceição Dos Santos

ELIN Graduate Theses

No abstract provided.

A Home In Both Places: Gender, Afro-Caribbean Migration, And Transnational Home-Making In Central Brooklyn, 1920–1980, Ruth Edwards

ELIN Graduate Theses

No abstract provided.

Catalysta Proyecto: A Hybrid Approach To Showcasing Latin American Art In The Dominican Republic, Valerie Cabrera Brugal

MA Projects

Catalysta is a contemporary online art gallery that exclusively features Latin American artists, creating a dedicated platform for these voices to be seen and celebrated on the global stage. Our mission is to simplify the often-overwhelming experience of entering the art world, especially for young collectors who are new to the process. Our product offers a streamlined and accessible way to discover and purchase high-quality artwork without the traditional barriers. By providing information on the artist’s background, a description of the artwork and full disclosure of the price we offer a simple way of accessing and acquiring an art piece. …

Hugo Chávez, El Camino Hagiográfico: Religión Y Bolivarianismo En La Construcción Discursiva Del Culto A Un Presidente, Lilia Malavé Conley

Theses and Dissertations--Hispanic Studies

This dissertation examines the discursive construction of the political-religious cult surrounding Hugo Chávez through a theoretical and methodological approach that integrates Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and Multimodal Discourse Analysis (MDA). Its central objective is to identify and interpret the incorporation of elements from the Venezuelan religious imaginary–particularly from popular Christianity–into the symbolic configuration of Chávez as a sacred figure within official discourse. The corpus analyzed includes official transcripts from the television program Aló Presidente, as well as two animated short films titled Chávez Nuestro que Estás en el Cielo (“Our Chávez Who Art in Heaven”), broadcast on Venezuelan public …

Cultural Immersion And Practices: Ellie Mannette’S Steel Pan Building Processes In Morgantown, West Virginia., Timothy Clark Friedhaber

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports (ETD)

Ellie Mannette, among others, was one of the first builders of the modern steel pan. Born and raised in Trinidad, Mannette started building steel pans at a young age. Eventually, he gained employment with the United States Naval Steel Band, which opened opportunities for him to grow in his field. Through these opportunities and connections, Mannette arrived in the United States permanently in 1967. In the later part of his life, he moved to Morgantown, West Virginia, where he continued building, teaching his building processes, and tuning steel pans. The study aims to serve as an aid for other scholars …

Revelations: Spirituality As Privileged Perspectivism In Magical Realist Distortions, Isabella Scala-Kazanecki

Dissertations and Theses

This thesis examines the role of spiritual beliefs in the literary mode now known as magical realism in Cuban Alejo Carpentier’s The Kingdom of This World (1949), Indian-Born British and American Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses (1988), and a lesser-known novel, Household Saints (1981) by Francine Prose, an American writer. The Kingdom of This World, itself the originator of the mode of magical realism, has allowed me to conclude with Carpentier that magical realism arises from “privileged revelations,” as he notes in the preface to his seminal book. But these revelations in magical realism are not necessarily always of the …

A Story Of Oppression A Psychological And Creative Approach, Juan R. Morillo

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The aim of this project is to survey the manner in which oppression is expressed in selected works of literature. It is a topic that not only am I familiar with through my studies of literature and psychology, but one that I, as well as every Venezuelan expatriate has witnessed and felt for their country. The project focuses on social and political oppression, using the current Venezuelan crisis as a focal point, and selected literary sources as a framework. I will analyze dystopian classics such as George Orwell's 1984 and Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, as well as Margaret Atwood’s The …

Geotransformación And Overcoming Underdevelopment In Socialist Cuba, Danny Meza Keane

Comparative Literature M.A. Essays

The term geotransformación, coined and theorized by Cuban geographer and revolutionary Antonio Núñez Jiménez in his 1968 book Geotransformación de Cuba, is an analytic frame which emphasizes the interconnectedness of social and natural transformation. As such, geotransformación functions as a conceptual weapon against not only theories of geographic determinism attempting to depoliticize history, but also grand historical narratives which center the human by overstating its independence from the forces of nature. Taking geotransformación as a conceptual compass for a return to the Cuban Revolution’s decisive early years, I engage in close readings of primary texts including geographic treatises, legal documents, …

Death, Dreaming, And Diaspora: Achieving Orientation Through Afro-Spirituality, Liz Johnston, Jaime Elizabeth Johnston

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Enslavement, colonization, and the systems that uphold racial injustice were and still are a series of new, unfathomable, and challenging experiences that prompt individuals within the diaspora to seek orientation. How does a human cope with centuries of attempts at the systematic destruction of their humanity, culture, and identity? How can they reclaim that identity, especially when so much of it seems lost? I address these questions by utilizing texts from the expansive body of work regarding ethnographic-historical-religious studies on Afro-spiritual practices to better analyze instances in literature in the ongoing practice of diasporic orientation. In this project, I argue …

Does The Constitution Follow The Flag? The Paradox Of Puerto Rican Identity And Citizenship, Laura Somoza Velez

CMC Senior Theses

How do identity and citizenship interact? Puerto Rico’s current political status is that of an unincorporated, organized territory of the United States, under the shiny title of ‘Commonwealth.’ Although they have US Citizenship, Puerto Rican residents aren’t protected by the US Constitution. This source of dual identification, American and Puerto Rican, creates a unique circumstance where questions of identity, and belonging naturally arise. In this thesis, I aim to answer how the citizenship condition created in Puerto Rico and how it is experienced measure up to current debates and scholarship surrounding citizenship. Achieved through a historical analysis of the formation …

Ecuadorian Vocal Anthology In Four Rhythms, Wagner Mauricio Pástor Pazmiño Dr.

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Ecuador is a pluricultural and multilingual territory with four natural regions, several musical genres, and interpretations. Amazon, Galápagos, Mountain Range, and Coastal region. In the following dissertation, the author develops concepts of four traditional rhythms, their composers, and harmonic and phonetic characteristics from the mountain range region of his homeland, Ecuador.

The present document is a descriptive study of vocal Andean music and the application of the operatic style in classical vocal technique for performance practice.

The dissertation will support a lecture recital to fulfill the doctoral program's requirement in voice performance from the University of Kentucky.

Interrogando El Espejo Distorsionado: La Tipificación, La Estereotipificación, Y La Interseccionalidad En Representaciones Ficticias Del Trujillato, Meadow Jones

Scripps Senior Theses

Un estudio sobre la historia y literatura de la República Dominicana sería incompleto sin considerar los impactos de la dictadura de Rafael Leónidas Trujillo Molina, 1930-1961. Como nota Ana Gallego Cuiñas en su tesis doctoral sobre el dictador, “Trujillo sigue vivo en la sociedad y en la literatura dominicana dentro y fuera de sus fronteras” (1). Los trabajos sobre las representaciones literarias del Trujillato se tratan de temas como la mitificación de Trujillo, el feminismo, revoluciones y resistencias individuales, y las construcciones del poder del régimen. Además de los temas mencionados, mi tesis considera las maneras en que cinco fuentes …

Classic Taíno Foodways And Ritual Practices: A Comparative Paleoethnobotanical Analysis From Cinnamon Bay, St. John, Anna N. Chitwood

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

Macrobotanical analysis of Taíno habitation sites throughout the Caribbean has provided evidence of what comprised the Taíno diet. Although those analyses are important to our understanding of the Taíno, there has been a lack of analysis from ritual sites, and the data recovered from existing sites are limited. This thesis presents the results of analysis of paleoethnobotanical remains from Cinnamon Bay (VIIS 191), a shoreline Taíno ritual site located on St. John in the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) that dates to approximately 1000 CE – 1490 CE, in order to gain a better understand how Indigenous Taíno people interacted …

Shades Of Justice: Exploring Colorism In The Hispanic Community And Its Legal Battle For Equity, Christel A. Infante

Honors Undergraduate Theses

This thesis focuses on the racial disparity within the Hispanic and Latinx communities as injustices exist within the community and the workplace. Racial disparities in the United States have been a persistent and deeply rooted issue that has plagued the nation for centuries. Despite significant progress in civil rights and anti-discrimination legislation, disparities in areas such as education, employment, and criminal justice persist. Understanding the factors contributing to these disparities is essential for addressing systemic inequalities and fostering a more just society. The analysis of this thesis primarily focuses on the cases and ramifications of Hispanic persons within the workplace, …

Desde La Fiesta, Hasta La Costa, Dashiell M B Allen

Capstones

Grupos de inmigrantes garífunas de Centroamérica se unen en la Ciudad de Nueva York para apoyar a sus pueblos mientras disfrutan de su cultura afro-indígena.

https://medium.com/@dashiell-allen1/desde-la-fiesta-hasta-la-costa-ce2f726852ca

La Fiesta Del Espiritu Santo: An Original Work For Choir, Soloists, And Small Ensemble Influenced By The Santeria Music Of The African-Dominican Community In The Dominican Republic, Rafael Scarfullery

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

This study examines the role of Santería music as practiced by African Dominicans in Villa Mella, a neighborhood of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. This musical tradition comes from the culture and religion of the Yoruba people who were brought as slaves from Africa, and features complex drum rhythms and call-and-response chants. This paper deals with the historical and social context of Santería music within the Dominican Republic, but its principal objective is to adopt the musical language of this tradition and use it to create a new contemporary work for mixed choir and small ensemble.

One of the most …

A Dance Of Resistance: The Puerto Rican Bomba As A Means To Challenge Intersections Of Discrimination On The Island, Daniel Loving

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis examines the Puerto Rican Bomba as a multifaceted cultural and political phenomenon, focusing on its pivotal role in challenging and subverting the enduring issues of racial and gender discrimination on the Island. Drawing from an interdisciplinary framework that encompasses cultural studies, anthropology, history, performance and film studies, this research elucidates the complex interplay between Bomba's rhythmic and choreographic elements, its historical evolution, and its contemporary significance in the context of Puerto Rico's sociopolitical landscape. By analyzing Bomba's historical roots in African and indigenous traditions, its adaptation during colonial and post-colonial eras, and its ongoing relevance in the struggle …

The Greatest Show On Earth: Is Trinidad’S Carnival Perpetuating A Society Of Elitism And Class Struggle?, Charisse A. Lewis

Student Theses and Dissertations

Trinidad's Carnival, often hailed as "The Greatest Show on Earth," embodies a vibrant celebration of culture, identity, and liberation. Over the last two decades Trinidad’s Carnival has become a popularized, global phenomenon. A highly anticipated event that remains a top-notch experience year in year out. The Carnival that was once known for its traditional characters, calypso, J’ouvert and “pretty mas” has now become a globalized event that not only represents the country’s attempt to increase its foreign revenue through tourism but also appears to perpetuate the class struggle that has existed throughout the history of Trinidad. Beneath its colorful surface …

Hoping As A Transformational Imperative In Puerto Rico: A Phenomenological And Grounded Theory Study Within Colonized Space, José Luiggi-Hernández

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

As the United States continues to restrict Puerto Rico’s self-determination and imposes oppressive institutions such as the Oversight Board, the people of the archipelago live in precarity and hopelessness. Limited psychological research on colonialism has focused on the detrimental impact of oppression and its influence on the development of fatalism and the inferiority complex. On the other hand, existing psychological theories of hope fail to describe how it is lived within the post-colonial context and to explain the ways in which this psychological phenomenon arises even in the face of systematic dehumanization. As Puerto Ricans show evident signs of hope …

Cultural Folk, Political Lore: The Politics Of Folklore During The United States Occupation Of Haiti From 1915 To 1934, Cheyla G. Muñoz Ramos

Honors Theses

My project focuses on Haitian folklore in the early twentieth century in connection to the first United States’ occupation of Haiti. The United States’ Marine Corps occupied Haiti from 1915 to 1934. This nineteenth-year occupation brought violence and racial stereotypes towards the Haitian population, especially the peasantry. United States Americans coming to Haiti intensified these stereotypes. During this period, Haitian upper-and middle-class members heavily politized Haitian folklore and used it to defend Haiti against these stereotypes. Scholars have long discussed the anthropological works of ethno-anthropologist Jean Price-Mars as someone who tried to show the value of Haitian folklore, especially the …

Dulce Sueños De Tierra, Sweet Dreams Of Earth, Jordany Genao

Theses and Dissertations

Jordany's paper congregates their archival research into an art practice that examines the decolonial impulse to excavate the self and produce autonomy. Using ceramics to reference and re-animate Taino ritual objects found in museums, resulting in alternative museology, their work seeks to honor Caribbean ancestors by subverting colonial history.

Pepper Pot And Callaloo: Caribbean Cuisine As Embodiment Of "Otherness" And Resistance, Sheina Senat

Honors Undergraduate Theses

The thesis intends to analyze the Caribbean as more than "elsewhere" in modernism through food research. The Eurocentric viewpoint is that the islands are the "other" and that the Caribbean's contributions are not central to the past and present. Representations of food in Caribbean literature reveal dualism, such as Western/African in the tropic's identity, and this dualism can lead to identity issues. Chapter 1 analyzes Caribbean cuisine's mosaic origins from Indian, European, Native, and African influences. Food imagery in Caribbean literature does not separate the Caribbean from its complicated past. However, it notes that the islands should embrace their differences …

Black Migrants In Harlem, 1900-1942: West Indian Migrants And The Ideologies That Helped Shape Garveyism And Black Politics In New York City's Interwar Period And Harlem Renaissance, Aminah Zanette Wallace

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

ABSTRACT This dissertation tells a new story of Harlem black radicalism by inserting four West Indian migrants' experiences in advancing and enriching conversations on Harlem’s black radicalism, on Garveyism and on black politics during the interwar period and Harlem Renaissance era in Harlem. These four men include Hubert Harrison of St. Croix, Wilfred A. Domingo and Marcus Garvey of Jamaica and Cyril Briggs of Nevis of St. Kitts-Nevis. It writes a new history of Harlem black radicalism that inserts these four West Indian thinkers into the conversation and brings all these thinkers together under one history. This dissertation makes a …