Title
Caribbean Middlebrow: Leisure Culture and the Middle Class,New
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It is commonly assumed that Caribbean culture is split into elite highbrow culturewhich is considered derivative of Europe and not rooted in the Caribbeanand authentic workingclass culture, which is often identified with such iconic island activities as salsa, carnival, calypso, and reggae. In Caribbean Middlebrow, Belinda Edmondson recovers a middle ground, a genuine popular culture in the Englishspeaking Caribbean that stretches back into the nineteenth century.Edmondson shows that popular novels, beauty pageants, and music festivals are examples of Caribbean culture that are mostly created, maintained, and consumed by the Anglophone middle class. Much of middleclass culture, she finds, is further gendered as 'female': women are more apt to be considered recreational readers of fiction, for example, and women's behavior outside the home is often taken as a measure of their community's respectability. Edmondson also highlights the influence of American popular culture, especially African American popular culture, as early as the nineteenth century. This is counter to the notion that the islands were exclusively under the sway of British tastes and trends. She finds the origins of today's 'dub' or spokenword Jamaican poetry in earlier traditions of genteel dialect poetryas exemplified by the work of the Jamaican folklorist, actress, and poet Louise 'Miss Lou' Bennett Coverleyand considers the impact of early Caribbean novels including Emmanuel Appadocca (1853) and Jane's Career (1913).
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- Q: What is the main theme of 'Caribbean Middlebrow'? A: 'Caribbean Middlebrow' explores the notion of a middle ground in Caribbean culture, highlighting a popular culture that is created, maintained, and consumed by the Anglophone middle class, contrasting the assumptions of elite and working-class cultural divides.
- Q: Who is the author of 'Caribbean Middlebrow'? A: The author of 'Caribbean Middlebrow: Leisure Culture and the Middle Class' is Belinda Edmondson.
- Q: When was 'Caribbean Middlebrow' published? A: 'Caribbean Middlebrow' was published on November 15, 2009.
- Q: What type of binding does 'Caribbean Middlebrow' have? A: 'Caribbean Middlebrow' is available in a hardcover binding.
- Q: How many pages are in 'Caribbean Middlebrow'? A: 'Caribbean Middlebrow' contains a total of 240 pages.
- Q: What cultural influences are discussed in 'Caribbean Middlebrow'? A: The book discusses the influence of American popular culture, particularly African American culture, on Caribbean culture, challenging the idea that British influences were predominant.
- Q: Does 'Caribbean Middlebrow' include discussions on gender roles? A: Yes, the book highlights how much of middle-class Caribbean culture is gendered, particularly noting women's roles as readers and their influence on community respectability.
- Q: What are some examples of Caribbean culture mentioned in the book? A: Examples of Caribbean culture discussed in 'Caribbean Middlebrow' include popular novels, beauty pageants, and music festivals, particularly those associated with the Anglophone middle class.
- Q: Is 'Caribbean Middlebrow' suitable for academic study? A: 'Caribbean Middlebrow' may be suitable for academic study as it presents a scholarly analysis of Caribbean culture and its complexities, making it a valuable resource for students and researchers.
- Q: What is the edition of 'Caribbean Middlebrow'? A: 'Caribbean Middlebrow' is available in its first edition.