scholarly journals Nature Writing, American Exceptionalism, and Philosophical Thoughts in Edward Bliss Emerson's Caribbean Journal

Author(s):  
Raúl Mayo-Santana

Through the use of qualitative content analysis (Patton, 2002), this essay examines the philosophical thoughts presented in the journal and family letters of Edward B. Emerson for 1831-1834, written in the Caribbean while he was seeking relief from consumption (tuberculosis). The analysis focused on the themes of nature writing, American Exceptionalism, and the journal as evidence of a liminal life-death event. Edward was actively engaged in the genres of travel and nature writing, where Transcendentalist ideas were not evident. In contrast, important elements of that movement emerged in his philosophical expressions. Edward evinced an acute and creative mind until the end of his life, and his philosophical thoughts can be placed under the rubric of the philosophy of life. Edward's texts manifest a prejudiced contempt toward the people and culture of Puerto Rico and showed a sense of elitism that reflects American Exceptionalism, but his beliefs of human perfectibility seem to derive from a religious model of absolute moral conceptions. Edward's liminal intimations of mortality elicited a textual silence on consumption and death. The figure of the tragic hero fits Edward's life and demise.

Author(s):  
Yvonne Daniel

This chapter examines the Carnival and other parade dancing that have brought the people of the African Diaspora together in festive merrymaking. More specifically, it highlights the Carnivalesque experience associated with Circum-Caribbean parading, from Carnaval in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, and Martinique to the Kanaval in Haiti, the Jonkonnu in Jamaica, and the Saints Day Processions in the Caribbean. The chapter begins with an overview of the characteristics of Carnival dance and goes on to describe and compare major masking and parade dance traditions in Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Cuba, Haiti, and Brazil. It argues that Carnival dancing not only functions as a form of entertainment, but in many cases as a medium for sociopolitical criticism, and especially for challenging social and cultural authority. The chapter concludes with an assessment of carnivalesque's contemporary messages.


2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Renken ◽  
W. C. Ward ◽  
I.P. Gill ◽  
Fernando Gómez-Gómez ◽  
Jesús Rodríguez-Martínez ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 285
Author(s):  
Yeni Maulina ◽  
Khairul Azmi

Pengkalan Kuras, Langgam, Kuala Kampar, and Bunut Subdistrict, Pelalawan Regency. Petalangan tribe has various cultures in the traditions of life. A good introduction to cultural heritage by the next generation can strengthen the nation's tradition in responding to the increasingly severe challenges of the future in this era of globalization. Cultural heritage in the form of moral-spiritual inheritance, one of which is obtained and known through the tradition of belief in the traditional proverb that exists in the community. The traditional adage in the Petalangan community, among others, explains the perspective on community life. This study aims to describe the style of language in the customary proverb that is related to the perspective of life in society. This research uses a qualitative approach with descriptive analysis method. The data source used was the book entitled Pepatah Adat, Istilah, dan Kosa kata Masyarakat Petalangan Kabupaten Pelalawan, Riau. There are 16 traditional proverbs used as data in this study, which then obtained 3 language styles based on sentence structure and 2 language styles based on meaning. By knowing and learning the style of language in this traditional proverb, the philosophy of life and aesthetic tastes of the people of Riau can be understood. Petalangan merupakan salah satu puak asli di Provinsi Riau yang bermukim di Kecamatan Pengkalan Kuras, Langgam, Kuala Kampar, dan Bunut, Kabupaten Pelalawan. Suku Petalangan ini memiliki beraneka kebudayaan dalam kehidupan. Pengenalan yang baik terhadap warisan kebudayaan oleh generasi penerus dapat memperteguh tradisi bangsa dalam menjawab tantangan masa depan yang semakin berat dalam era globalisasi ini. Warisan kebudayaan yang berupa warisan moral-spiritual, satu di antaranya didapatkan dan diketahui keyakinan terhadap pepatah adat yang ada pada masyarakat. Pepatah adat dalam masyarakat Petalangan antara lain menjelaskan cara pandang mengenai hidup bermasyarakat. Penelitian ini bertujuan mendeskripsikan gaya bahasa di dalam pepatah adat yang berhubungan dengan cara pandang dalam hidup bermasyarakat. Penelitian ini menggunakanpendekatan kualitatif dengan metode analisis deskriptif. Sumber data yang digunakan adalah buku Pepatah Adat, Istilah, dan Kosa kata Masyarakat Petalangan Kabupaten Pelalawan, Riau. Terdapat 16 pepatah adat yang dijadikan data dalam penelitian ini, yang kemudian diperoleh 3 gaya bahasa berdasarkan struktur kalimat dan 2 gaya bahasa berdasarkan makna. Dengan mengetahui dan mempelajari gaya bahasa dalam pepatah adat ini dapat dipahami filsafat hidup dan cita rasa estetika masyarakat Riau.


Author(s):  
Chaoqun Yao

Abstract The kinetoplastid protozoan Leishmania spp. cause leishmaniasis, which clinically exhibit mainly as a cutaneous, mucocutanous or visceral form depending upon the parasite species in humans. The disease is widespread geographically, leading to 20 000 annual deaths. Here, leishmaniases in both humans and animals, reservoirs and sand fly vectors on the Caribbean islands are reviewed. Autochthonous human infections by Leishmania spp. were found in the Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe and Martinique as well as Trinidad and Tobago; canine infections were found in St. Kitts and Grenada; and equine infections were found in Puerto Rico. Imported human cases have been reported in Cuba. The parasites included Leishmania amazonensis, Le. martiniquensis and Le. waltoni. Possible sand fly vectors included Lutzomyia christophei, Lu. atroclavatus, Lu. cayennensis and Lu. flaviscutellata as well as Phlebotomus guadeloupensis. Reservoirs included rats, rice rats and mouse opossum. An updated study is warranted for the control and elimination of leishmaniasis in the region because some of the data are four decades old.


2003 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 161-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne P. Crick

Tourism is the mainstay of the Caribbean and the attitude of the people in the region may have a significant impact on the success of the industry. This paper analyzes the way in which tourism authorities of three Caribbean destinations have internally marketed tourism to their host populations in order to encourage the desired attitudinal expressions. A matrix of five possible responses to tourism was developed and each of the three countries was found to occupy different positions in the matrix. An analysis of the internal marketing strategies determined that the countries adopted different approaches based on their particular challenges but none of the approaches had achieved lasting success. The study concludes with recommendations for future research.


The Auk ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Therese A Catanach ◽  
Matthew R Halley ◽  
Julie M Allen ◽  
Jeff A Johnson ◽  
Russell Thorstrom ◽  
...  

Abstract More than one-third of the bird species found in the Caribbean are endemic to a set of neighboring islands or a single island. However, we have little knowledge of the evolutionary history of the Caribbean avifauna, and the lack of phylogenetic studies limits our understanding of the extent of endemism in the region. The Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) occurs widely across the Americas and includes 3 endemic Caribbean taxa: venator on Puerto Rico, striatus on Hispaniola, and fringilloides on Cuba. These island populations have undergone extreme declines presumably due to ecosystem changes caused by anthropogenic factors, as well as due to severe hurricanes. Sharp-shinned Hawks, in general, and Caribbean Sharp-shinned Hawks, in particular, have not been placed in a modern phylogenetic context. However, the island taxa have historically been presumed to have some ongoing gene flow with mainland populations. Here we sequenced ultraconserved elements (UCEs) and their flanking regions from 38 samples, focusing on Caribbean taxa. Using a combination of UCEs, mitochondrial genome sequences, and single-nucleotide polymorphisms, we investigated the phylogenetic relationships among Caribbean lineages and their relationships to mainland taxa. We found that Caribbean Sharp-shinned Hawks are reciprocally monophyletic in all datasets with regard to mainland populations and among island taxa (with no shared mtDNA haplotypes) and that divergence in the NADH dehydrogenase 2 gene (ND2) between these mainland and island groups averaged 1.83%. Furthermore, sparse non-negative matrix factorization (sNMF) analysis indicated that Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, and mainland samples each form separate populations with limited admixture. We argue that our findings are consistent with the recognition of the 3 resident Caribbean populations as species-level taxa because nuclear and mitochondrial genetic data indicate reciprocal monophyly and have species-level divergences, there is no sharing of mitochondrial haplotypes among or between island taxa and those on the mainland; and they are diagnosable by plumage.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-37
Author(s):  
Úrsula A. Aragunde-Kohl ◽  
Yahaira Segarra-González ◽  
Liza M. Meléndez-Samó ◽  
Ivemarie Hernández-Rivera ◽  
Carolina Quiles-Peña

Abstract The purpose of this research was to better understand the beliefs and practices that the residents of Puerto Rico have regarding cockfighting, including their perception of the recently passed prohibition against nonhuman animal fighting on the island. It had an exploratory descriptive design consisting of three phases, where the qualitative data obtained from phase one would guide the process of identifying variables that could be measured. In the second phase, an instrument was developed, and in the third, it was administered. Most of the participants agreed with the prohibition of cockfighting in Puerto Rico and that it was necessary. The data showed that there is a disconnect between what the federal government of the United States legislated, what the local government and agencies that were supposed to enforce the prohibition did with the legislation, and what the people directly affected by the legislation received for education and guidance.


Zootaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 4281 (1) ◽  
pp. 63
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPHER H. DIETRICH

Borinctolania sakakibarai, n. gen. and n. sp. from Puerto Rico is described, illustrated, and placed in the subfamily Stegaspidinae. The new genus is morphologically similar to the previously described endemic Caribbean genera Antillotolania Ramos, Deiroderes Ramos and Togotolania Cryan & Deitz, all of which remain unplaced to tribe. A key to the Caribbean treehopper genera that lack a posterior pronotal process and a species checklist for this group are provided, and relationships of the new genus to other membracids are discussed. 


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