Directed reading on the subject of Jamaican Marronage. Our readings and discussions will explore the ways that pre-emancipation, colonial, and "post-colonial" histories are mediated through the music, dance, and performance practices of Jamaican Maroons. We will closely examine the impact of those histories on present-day Jamaican Maroon communities, especially as they relate to land rights, and Maroon claims of autonomy, sovereignty, and a cultural and national distinction apart from other Jamaicans. How do music and dance get used in arguments for or against those claims? What if any influence do Maroon histories have on their economic realities and their visibility on a global scale?
- Teacher: Tracey Stewart