341 C Reading: Sheller Natural hedonism

1. Looking at Sheller's argument, how do you think early representations of the Caribbean might have contributed to the justification for European invasion of the region.

2. What was the image of the Caribbean that was dominant in the 18th century and what impact did it have on imperialism?

3. What does Sheller mean when she says, "the Tourist gaze imbues tropical with moral meanings."?

4. How were White Caribbean people (Creoles in this text) defined by the dominant representations of the Caribbean?

Just so you know (this is not part of the question, this is just information because the world will pop up from time to time) the word 'creole' is a complex word of shifting meanings depending on location. It originated in linguistics and was used to describe languages that mixed different elements. It is used to identify different groups of people in different Caribbean territories. For example, in Trinidad and Guyana Creole is often used to mean the African descended people of those two countries, In other territories in the Caribbean Creole means the white Caribbean people. In other places it means people who have multiple heritages. Beyoncé, and many people in New Orleans use creole in this same multiracial way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqvPTdM3-3Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI2jn3lJTAE

5. How did 19th century representations of the Caribbean differ from 18th century representations?

6 If Sheller's argument is correct, how might representations of the Caribbean shape interactions between tourist and locals.?