Published: 2013-01-01

Kingston: Kolonialne ślady w tożsamości przestrzennej

Łukasz Kaczmarek , Izabella Parowicz

Abstract

Following the decolonisation in 1962, Jamaica has experienced massive inner migration from rural to urban areas. The towns have grown in size, and their social profiles have changed. Colonial urban class structure has largely atrophied with the disappearance of rich landowner class and pauperisation of the “bourgeoisie”. As a result, while the better-off Jamaican citizens have gradually left their traditional, old fashioned residences in search for new living spaces, the abandoned districts and houses were gradually inhabited by the new population originating from the lower social strata. This led to the degradation of large urban areas; numerous old buildings, squares and whole parts of towns are often in a dramatic state of preservation – abandoned by the old landlords, misused by the new ones, and neglected by the authorities. The present paper explores the socio-cultural background of the contemporary spatial identity of the inhabitants of Kingston and their attitude towards the colonial architectural heritage. The data and reflection derive from ethnographic research conducted in Jamaica between January and July 2011

Keywords:

colonial heritage, collective memory, identity construction, urban development, heritage appropriation

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Citation rules

Kaczmarek, Łukasz, & Parowicz, I. (2013). Kingston: Kolonialne ślady w tożsamości przestrzennej. Journal of Urban Ethnology, 11, 35–47. Retrieved from https://journals.iaepan.pl/jue/article/view/650

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