Beyond Reggae: A Look at AV Archiving in Post-Independence Barbados and Jamaica
The Caribbean is known internationally for its music which in addition to being a source of entertainment and recreation is also a container of the history and memory of the region’s culture, history and other experiences. Of the musical idioms created and used as sonic documentary vessels of Caribbean heritage, reggae is the best known. Reggae’s influence extends beyond the region; it has traction internationally as a means of preserving history. Reggae and other musical genres however are not the only way in which the region’s historical memories are preserved – diverse formats such as film, video, photographs and postcards are important and influential re/sources of the region’s history and heritage. This paper will examine a number of the non sound media image formats which also document or serve as containers of the region’s historical memory. After a general overview, the presentation will focus on a number of specific references from Barbados and Jamaica. It will also discuss challenges, trends and issues associated with acquiring, accessing and preserving these archival formats. The presentation will be supported by samples of image recordings as appropriate.