Finden-Crofts, Justin J;
(1998)
The consumption of calypso music in Trinidad.
Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
This thesis will explore, through the use of ethnographic and historical data, the nature of calypso and the functions it has served in its host society. Ultimately it will show how the music fits into, and has evolved within its social context, and the effect it can have on social processes. It will show, through example, what may be termed, the "power" of music. It will not concern itself with the process of creating music, or how it is performed, but rather will look at how it is consumed and transformed through consumption. There are ten chapters and a conclusion. The first chapter discusses the theories and literature relating to Caribbean and Trinidadian society, music consumption and carnival, that have had a significant influence on the research and its presentation. The second chapter comprises a brief political and social history of Trinidad and an ethnography composed of the area and members of the family with whom the researcher resided. The third chapter presents a history of calypso and carnival in context, while the fourth chapter discusses the nature of calypso stressing its underlying dualism and highlighting evidence of present day attitudes. The rest of the thesis shows the impact that calypso has on different facets of Trinidadian society such as gender and ethnicity. It will also show how it structures itself through competition and has been structured as a commodity. This will lead to the crux of the thesis which, in the final chapter, will concentrate solely on its consumption. This shows how consumption can lead to the music itself taking on secondary meanings through its use in advertising and politics, for example, and highlights instances where calypso music has had a direct influence on social and political processes.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Qualification: | Ph.D |
| Title: | The consumption of calypso music in Trinidad |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | Thesis digitised by ProQuest. |
| Keywords: | Social sciences; Communication and the arts; Calypso music; Trinidad |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10103687 |
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