On Last Thursday a handful of my classmates and I went to the African American Museum and witnessed a powerful play about the 1811 Slave Revolt. The play was set around the Andry plantation where the slave revolt started. In relating this play to Sociology I noticed a few things. Something that was quoted in my Sociology notes on 8.30.11 was "Culture is a way of life". I totally agree with that quote! When talking about culture I think about religion, food, ritual, music, clothing, and language. Around the time of the slave revolt most Africans were practicing Voodoo, etc. These were religions they practiced I'm their homeland. When they were brought to the United Sates and forced to accept the Catholic Religion. When it came to their language they spoke they were forced to speak the language of slave owner. As for as food and clothes They dresses in the style most people preferred to dress in the 19 century.
Another thing I realized was some Gender Structure. Most (light skinned) women worked in the house as maids and the men worked in the field.
Overall I really enjoyed the play and saw a couple of relations between the play and sociology. I would have enjoyed that my whole class could have experienced this with me , but maybe next time.
-Buttercup/Breanna C.
Breanna,
ReplyDeleteThat's a great analysis of culture and the way slaves were forced to practice the cultural traditions-or ways of life-of the white, european slave owners. What does this suggest about the way culture is used to control and manipulate?
The fact that there was a slave revolt, despite these conditions shows that there is always resistance and that control is constant work.
How do you think you can see cultural control as well as resistance in the school system and from the stuff we covered in class?
Keen recognition of the way skin tone and gender structure where the slaves worked. There's a status hierarchy that's fueled by the consumption of dominant groups (type in "Orientalism" and "Edward Said" into youtube to see more of this but on a global scale). Hair texture might be added to today's signs of distinction as well.
Sounds like a really interesting play. Glad you went.
Mr. Ostertag