Music of the Caribbean

3 units

Wanna get away? This and other tourism slogans depend on a popular conception of regions such as the Caribbean as distant and desirable, simple places out of sync with the modern world. This course critiques constructions of the Caribbean through engaging ethnomusicological literature representing the diversity of the region. It is a topical appraisal of Caribbean music, emphasizing history and memory, tourism, and cultural influence. The chosen readings are not meant to represent the entire region; rather, they are intended to prompt ideas and questions about regional discourses.