I find it extraordinary and amusing how we in Trinidad adapt our interpretation on 1st and new world characters who littered European and North American political and historical events. The names of our steelbands and old time gangs spring to mind.
Now Red Army pictured above proudly displays an image of Joseph Stalin on their banner, but I doubt whether many of the members participating know about or understand the man depicted.
We know that many of our Steelbands bore the names of Films of the 40s and 50s. Our street gangs of the same era also followed suite. Marabuntas, Applejackers, Navarone, Renegades, even Desperados. The whole thing must leave some foreigners quite perplexed.
Even in modern times names like Unruly Isis and Soca Taliban have entered the everyday speech. Although they don't always bear a resemblance to the original sources.
It seems our eagerness to somehow indulge a quaint escapism, aligned with a strange sensationalism have shaped our cultural development. Sweet Trinidad.
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I find it extraordinary and amusing how we in Trinidad adapt our interpretation on 1st and new world characters who littered European and North American political and historical events. The names of our steelbands and old time gangs spring to mind.
Now Red Army pictured above proudly displays an image of Joseph Stalin on their banner, but I doubt whether many of the members participating know about or understand the man depicted.
We know that many of our Steelbands bore the names of Films of the 40s and 50s. Our street gangs of the same era also followed suite. Marabuntas, Applejackers, Navarone, Renegades, even Desperados. The whole thing must leave some foreigners quite perplexed.
Even in modern times names like Unruly Isis and Soca Taliban have entered the everyday speech. Although they don't always bear a resemblance to the original sources.
It seems our eagerness to somehow indulge a quaint escapism, aligned with a strange sensationalism have shaped our cultural development. Sweet Trinidad.