Globalisation, diaspora and Caribbean popular culture /

Reflecting current theories of global interconnectedness, the articles in this anthology make a strong case for the increasing influence of Caribbean arts and culture outside the region. These studies are presented in sections focusing on carnival, music, cinema, and identity. Probably the section on music, including discussions of reggae and calypso, would be most familiar to a general audience, although some music hybrids, including "chutney soca," might be more meaningful to Caribbeanists. One of the more interesting pieces contrasts two films (one Australian and one West Indian) based on the Jean Rhys novel Wide Sargasso Sea and then explains why their focus is so different. Presented in conjunction with a showing of both films, it would make a wonderful study unit. Ultimately, all of the writing examines the inherent tension in this dispersion of Caribbean culture, i.e., balancing the inevitable cultural dilution in any diaspora with concerns for maintaining the purity of artistic forms. Intriguing and thoughtful. ^BSumming Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. R. M. Delson American Museum of Natural History