German national and university student Linda RÖhl has written her bachelor’s thesis on Calypso in Dominica.
RÖhl presented a copy of her thesis to the Dominica Public Library recently.
In her work she traces Calypso from an individual pursuit to a team effort. She looks at the social and political role of the actors of Calypso with special focus on the intention and consequences of their actions.
She did her fieldwork over a two-month period at the height of the Calypso Season in 2015, experiencing firsthand the art form and conducting a number of interviews with some of the main players. Her thesis describes the structure of Calypso, the art of Calypso, and motivation and change in the Dominican context.
As a lover of music herself, Linda wants us to take a closer look at the potential and impact of Calypso on Dominican society. She also points us to the special relationship Calypso has developed with the modern media.
This work adds to a body of information built by a number of other local and regional writers. In fact, it is essential reading before attempting more detailed works on the subject of Calypso.
That’s good that she has made her work available to the people I’m sure other students hoard their work.
Lets hope she speaks about the origin of Calypso in that is was a toolused by slaves to gossip, plan and speak about /against the masters. Then in those times it was a very useful tool for those who could have been killed for saying the wrong things. Today that tool has been turned against ourself by ourselves. Calypso although may have “nice music – although most of the musical accompaniment sounds the same – is a maypwe music where we talk about each other, encourage slander and hearsay, promote gossip in a so called christian nation, and has been a tool for divisiveness. But the masses love because thats where their energy is. maypwe hearsay gossip and bad mind. i understand calypso and its use, but i dont support it here nor promote it. not how the industry is either. Also why is only swinging stars who backs them up? why not another band who may have better more original music to accompany the calypsonians. WE so stuck in one way of doing things here its nauseating
I wonder if she considers Cadence-lypso as a true Dominican form of Calypso which is particular to the island and different from the Trinidad idiom.