Jamaica Arise: The 75 Year History of the PNP (1938-2013)

1. What was the role that the People's National Party (PNP) played in the anti-colonial struggle?

The role that the People's National Party played in the anti-colonial struggle was fundamental. I think that it was very hard for Jamaicans to get the independence and the PNP stood out like a group were you could find organization and a strong feeling of caring for the people. 

Also I think it's important to acknowledge that whenever a large group of people decide to do something for them self they need to have an organization strategy. The participation of the PNP was crucial in this case, and we can forget how important they were to preserve the hope of a better country for the people, especially in the beginning where things were uncertain.

2. What was/is the role of women throughout the 75 years of the PNP? (Give at least 3 examples) 

The role that women took throughout the 75 years of the PNP was an example of the women speaking for themself and having an active participation in society and the future of it. Even if that sounds full of hope, it wasn't easy at all. The PNP Women's Movement was formed in 1973, and some of the founding members that appear on the documentary are Jennifer Edwards and Valerie McNeill.

It was really hard for them because even though they were fighting for things like peace and a better quality of life, they were silenced a lot of times because they were women. Some of their demands were Equal pay for men and women in 1975 and Maternity leave act in 1979. There's a part where, in an old film, a woman says: "jamaican woman now has a sense of self, wich she did not have before" that I think it resumes the feeling of fight that pushed women. 

3. How did the implementation of democratic socialism affect the Jamaican people?

At first, democratic socialism was presented with the goal of bringing equal opportunities and experiences, and not only that. They had a lot of hope for the jamaican people, they wanted  equality of opportunities, free education, political education, among other things.  There is a woman on the movie that says"if socialism doesn't win, Jamaica dies", which I think is a very good example of how important democratic socialism was. 

Sadly, things couldn't be so easy. At the time there was an idea worldwide were socialism was the same as communism, that was very critical for Jamaica because wealthy people started leaving the country and an economic crisis went down. There were people sending basic supplies from the United States and the situation got very complicated in material terms. 

4. How does the PNP justify privatization and its role in creating a path of neoliberal reforms in Jamaica?

The rol of the PNP to justify privatization was really big. They saw that the economic crisis that hit Jamaica was going harder on them and they weren't really taking positive things out of it, so they ended up giving a chance to privatization because they couldn't risk anything when it came to economics. 

With that context we can understand that the goal was to rebuild the economic system in Jamaica, even if that would implied to enter into a new model. The liberation in the financial sector was a motion that was able to grow in people because of the role of the PNP. 

5. How do you compare the role of PNP in the film, Ghett'a Life (Lenny Thompson, Derrick's Father) versus the documentary?

I think that in the movie the PNP isn't portrayed as noble at it is in the documentary. In this one, they show it like a party who cares mostly about the people, and that make the decisions thinking about everyone. In the movie you get the sense that they do things with more particular and egoists reasons. 

Ghett'a Life Review

Ghett'a Life is a 2011 movie by the director Chris Browne

1. Who was your favorite character (s) from the film? Why?

I think my favourite character is Dawn Thompson. I like her because I think she represents well how many women may feel in this world and the things they have to do in it to live their lives.  She is portrayed as an actual person and not just a fictional character, also I like the fact that even if she's trying to be a good mother or help someone or whatever thing she does, she does not forget herself. She is constantly showing her independence and that she doesn't depend on anyone. 

2. How does the film compare to the other Jamaican films from the 70s? (Besides visual effects, think about the plot and character development).

I think that the 3 movies that we saw had a very strong connecting ideas. I loved how they portrayed Jamaica because they remind me a lot of Chile itself. I don't know why but I really like low budget films! Maybe it's because they might preserve the essence of the people they are trying to represent. 

A difference from this film compared to the other two we saw (The harder they come & Rockers) that I think got into my head the most was the representation of the female characters. I don't think that in the other movies there were a lot of time for the actresses on screen, and even if this wasn't a huge change from that at least they showed a more empowered woman (for the standards). Of course I understand that it is very difficult to find a jamaican movie from those years with a leading or at least an important female character, maybe that is why I appreciate this about this particular movie. Besides I like that they showed a little more of other characters and not only the main one. 

3. How are woman portrayed in this film? Is it a little or big advancement compared to the films from the 1970's?

I think I might have respond this question in the answer before but now I will get a little bit more critical. Even tho there was one strong female character, al of the other still correspond to the model that we would expect. Women, as always, are sexualized and as far as the movie went you could see that it was full of stereotypes. I can't really say I'm surprised because like I said before, for a Jamaican movie from the 70's we can't expect to find films with a more feminist view that easily, But I think it is truthful that the movie portrayed them like that because that is how society sees women. 

The Pain Tree Short Story Review

1. Who is your favorite character from the story and what kind of background do they come from? Why? (Use examples from Michelle Cliff's essay, If I Could Write This in Fire, I Would Write This in Fire)

I think my favourite character is Larissa. Maybe she's gonna be the favourite character of all of us, but it's because of how well she is describe in the story. She comes from a very working class backround, very poor from what you can read in the story. I like it because she reminded me of my grandma who was also a maid (or nanny). I think you can relate this to Michelle Cliff's essay as the way she describes the life that maid's have. They make a bond with each other wich is very beautiful but is is still a estructure were one has more power above other.

2. Why do you think Lorraine’s mother mocks the workers that want independence from England?

I think she mocks them because the independence from England is not convinient for her. She sees things in a way because she is well positioned in society but for working people the reality is different, they didn't experience the same situations so the idea of indepence represents faith for the people who didn't have much in the times Lorraine's mother did. 

3. What is a “pain tree” and how does it play a role in the story?

The Pain Tree is a tree that people uses to "relief" their pain. In this case is a cedar tree but in the story says it can be any tree. People use this when they are in pain, so they pick up a nail and with the help of a stone they hammered in and pray, so like that the tree can take their pain away. 

It is a very important part of the story because you can see how the belief's of working class people come around as an alternative to deal with feelings that, because of all the hours of work, are difficult to manage. There's a part where the main character gets frustated because it doesn't work for her, but that is just the representation of how things work when you don't believe in them, maybe because they, as welthy people, have other material alternatives to relief their sorrows. 

4. What is the meaning of the line “people like me would always inherit the land, but they were the ones who already possessed the Earth”?

She's talking about how people with money can have material things, is easy for them and almost given (as she says, they just inherit land), but ther are somethings that not even that kind of material power can posses, that is the dreams, and hope, and pain, and prayers that other people, in an anonymus way, make in this world, this are the poeple who truly possess the Earth. 

Rockers

Rockers is a 1978 movie, directed by Theodoros Bafaloukos. 

1. How does Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace from Rockers compare to Ivan Martin from The Harder They Come?

I think they both have some similarities but they aproach the same subject in very diferent ways. It is clear that Ivan has a lot of flaws because he is always thinking about himself. In the other hand we have Horsemouth and his caracter really cares for other people (maybe that is why it was important to him to give to the people the things he stole with his friends). So even tho both caracters develope their stories around the music industry, both have very opposit relationships with it. 


2. What is your favorite scene from the film? Why?

I really enjoyed the scene were Horsemouth and his buddy take over the cabin of the Dj and they get into a lot of trouble because of that to the point that the police has to interfire, but the play their song and they are so strong about the idea that people will like it that they keep playing it untill people go along with them. 

3.  Did you like/dislike the film? Why/Why Not?

I liked the film because I think it has a very powerful storyline and it's able to talk about a lot of important subjects about jamaican people. I think it has some scenes that are really funny and you don't expect them to be, so it is full of interesting surprises. Also the component of how music is so important makes this film very unique. 

The Harder They Come

The Harder They come is a 1972 movie directed by Perry Henzell. It's developed arround the life of Ivanhoe Martin and his way to succes as a reggae singer and later criminal.

1. In general, what did you like and dislike about the film?

My general feeling towards the movie was that it was really well done, with a fun storyline and that you could learn from it. I think is a very interesting way of portrate the history of the jamaican people and the cultural impact that reggae music has. I liked how the story was developed, it was interesting and exciting to watch, however there were some scenes that I think were confusing and didn't contribute a lot to the final result the movie. 

After all I think what I liked the most was the production of the movie itself and the cast of actors and actresses because the result of all of that decisions made the movie very different of the typical hollywood style and I apreciate that they wanted to conserve the spirit of what jamaican culture is. 

2. Who is your favorite character from the film?

My favourite caracter from the film was Elsa. I think that might be because she was a really good example of what women has suffered along history. She was treated like an object that some male caracters passed each other out, and in the story you can see that all she want is a peacefull life but is difficult for her because she depended on someone that didn't care about her. So is easy to empatize with her. 

3. Would you recommend this film to someone, why/why not?

Yes, I would totally recomend this film to other people. I think that you can show it to people who like reggae, jamaican culture, or just a good movie that has a good storyline. I don't think that is a good idea for a kid to watch it because it has a lot of violence and other concepts that may be boring or not clear, but I think thar for most of the people ir would be a good recommendation to watch it in a 'night in' eating popcorn and maybe smoking something like they did in the movie.