Bob Marley’s Spiritual Rhetoric, the Spread of Jamaican...

Bob Marley’s Spiritual Rhetoric, the Spread of Jamaican Culture and Rastafarianism By Mark Haner Senior Seminar: Hst 499 Professor John L. Rector Western Oregon University June 16, 2007 Readers Professor John L. Rector Professor Kimberly Jensen Copyright  © Mark Haner, 2007 The spread of Jamaican culture and Rastafarianism can be accredited to many events and technical advances in communication. Bob Marley is one of the main influences the spread of Jamaican culture and Rastafarianism due to the lyrical rhetoric used in his popular music. Growing up as an impoverished youth, Marley struggled to create a music career where his voice as well as others could be heard globally. Bob Marley’s lyrics contributed to the†¦show more content†¦Gilroy defines Marley calling him the greatest man in reggae music and the greatest leader and proponent of the spread of the Rasta religion. This article poses Marley â€Å"as an icon for the struggle for justice, peace and human rights† 5 not just another musician or pop icon. Although opposed to many established governmental policies, Marley was not an anti-establishment advocate. He was an individual that believed governments and everyday people, such as those who may not be involved in politics, needed to look out for their fellow humans and treat all people equally regardless of ethnicity and income. Marley used his music to bring many social issues to the forefront that had previously been suppressed. Many of these issues were not suppressed because of their nature, but because of the lack of influence Jamaica had on the world. The country of Jamaica is highly dependant on tourism and agricultural exports such as raw sugar. By-products of the raw sugar production are molasses and rum. Due to these limited industries, most citizens of Jamaica are of the working class and this 4 Gilroy, Paul. â€Å"Could You Be Loved? Bob Marley, Anti-Politics and Universal Sufferation.† Critical Quarterly 47.1/(Spring 2005): 226-245. 5 Gilroy, 232. 5 creates a service and now, product-based economy typical of the developing world. Marley focuses on the situations he experienced both in hisShow MoreRelated Discontent Expressed through Blues, Jazz, Reggae, and Hip-hop5489 Words   |  22 PagesDiscontent Expressed through Blues, Jazz, Reggae, and Hip-hop In cultures all over the world, music can be seen encompassing many aspects of life for many individuals. It is a form of mass communication thatspeaks directly to society as a cultural form, and often reflects a collection and pattern of personal experiences (King 19). Music is so influential because it communicates on three different levels: the physical, emotional, and cognitive. Not only does it operate in a nondiscursive way, byRead MoreRastafarian79520 Words   |  319 PagesRastafari This page intentionally left blank Rastafari From Outcasts to Culture Bearers Ennis Barrington Edmonds 2003 198 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016 Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford It furthers the Universitys objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in Oxford New York Auckland Bangkok Buenos Aires Cape Town Chennai Dar es Salaam Delhi Hong Kong Istanbul Karachi Kolkata Kuala