ERIC Number: EJ1364242
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2022
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0951-8398
EISSN: EISSN-1366-5898
The Migration and Culture of Puerto Ricans: Art as a Method for Resistance
Cáceres Rivera, Minely E.; Rivera Colón, María del Mar; Pérez Otero, Gabriel
International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education (QSE), v35 n8 p891-903 2022
The initiative to investigate the themes of migration, art and culture in this research arose from our experiences after Hurricane Maria. We begin with the view that culture, in the form of art etc., is threaded through the entire post-hurricane experience, from response and resilience to recovery and resistance. We wish to consider how our research contributes to an understanding of how the migration of Puerto Ricans after the catastrophe might accelerate the process of cultural change. We do this by exploring how art and culture are used as a mechanism of resistance. Our desire to conduct research on this topic developed as a result of our firsthand experiences and reflections. First, the theme of migration, linked to cultural change, arose from our experience of seeing our close relatives such as our siblings, uncles, cousins, leave our island and see how they had to adapt to a new culture and redefine their cultural practices. Second, the theme of art, in all its facets (music, painting, drawing…), arose from our motivation after Hurricane Maria, from our way of coping with the situation and letting our feelings come out through art, thus demonstrating a resistance to not falling into a decline in both physical and mental health and a persistence for wanting to overcome the disaster despite the situation. Puerto Rican culture is one of the most important components of our society, as it defines our identity as Puerto Ricans for many reasons such as our music, food and dancing. This allows us to share as a community. Also, we recognise that in Puerto Rico, awareness and acknowledgement of culture has faded to some extent; only on "Puerto Rican Day" is when our culture and traditions are noticed. This is confirmed by the responses of the respondents in our research study. This is why we decided to investigate how important culture is for Puerto Rican migrants and family and friends who remained and what it means to them.
Descriptors: Puerto Ricans, Migration, Latin American Culture, Resistance (Psychology), Art, Weather, Natural Disasters, Resilience (Psychology), Social Change, Adjustment (to Environment), Coping, Family (Sociological Unit), Friendship
Taylor & Francis. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Puerto Rico
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A