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The Exoticism
of
Jamaica
&
The Exploitation
of
the
Rasta Religion
Each year thousands of western tourists venture down to Jamaica
to "feel allright." They go for sun, sand, sea, sex and drugs.
Images portrayed by the media, past visitors, and the tourist industry
encourage these images. Hedonism is big business in Jamaica, but
what is this type of promotion doing to Jamaican culture? What is
this type of shameless self promotion doing to the Rastas, whose religion
has become vastly commercialized due to the tourist industry?
Rastafarianism is reduced to a selling point for the island of Jamaica
and their ritual use of marijuana is promoted to the tourists as a way
of indulging in Jamaican culture. By making Rastafarianism a commodity
to be sold, rather than a religion to be respected, the Rastas stand little
chance of being recognized as anything more than just pot smoking drifters.
The element of exoticism enters analysis because it is
important to note that what attracts people to Jamaica and what causes
them to indulge in hedonistic behavior. Misunderstanding Jamaican
and Rasta culture, framing these people as "the other" and somehow more
wild, free, and closer to nature exoticizes the island, making it more
of a fantasy land than a struggling island. Tourists believe that
they are somewhere exotic, surrounded by exotic people, in an exotic climate,
thus they can behave exotically.
Interestingly, it is accepted for westerners to indulge
in sex, even with members of a different race, and drugs while in another
country, in this case Jamaica, but such indulgences are considered taboo
in one's home country. In other words, it's ok to have these vices
around as long as they don't penetrate our society.
Links:
Jamaica's Official Travel
Site
Discover Jamaica
Virtual Tour of Jamaica
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