The Graduate Programme in Cultural Studies (MA, MPhil, PhD), was conceptualised and crafted by Dr. Marcia Burrowes of the Faculty of Humanities and Education, Cave Hill Campus, University of the West Indies. In February 2003, Dr. Burrowes delivered the four core courses for the introduction of a graduate programme (MA, MPhil, PhD). During 2004/5, Prof Hazel Simmons-McDonald established the regulations for the Cultural Studies Graduate Programme, while Dr. Burrowes coordinated the development of six (6) graduate electives, with the assistance of colleagues; Professors Barriteau, Best and Simmons-MacDonald; Drs. Allsopp, Belgrave. Hence, in teaching of The Cultural Studies Programme commenced in the faculty September 2004 with fifteen (15) graduate students.
 
For the celebrations for the 21st Anniversary of Cultural Studies, a series of bi/weekly online dialogues have been developed, in which contemporary matters in culture are discussed and debated. Coined by Prof Kamau Brathwaite, “Culture Through Our Eyes” captures one of his key reflections regarding the development of identity/ties for the Caribbean region and its diaspora. Brathwaite advised that we must reject imperial/colonial norms that distort our view of our culture; these are shaped to mis/lead, causing us to see ourselves through the eyes of the Other. Instead, it is imperative that we develop new meanings, new ways of knowing, as crafted by ourselves, through our eyes.

Discussion #4 is entitled: Burning Identities:Caribbean Effigies: Val Val (Martinique), Mock Hangings (St. Vincent) & Mr. Harding (Barbados). Effigies were integral to African-Creole festivities on the plantations. Made of grasses, cane trash, vines and/or wood, for example, effigies were a main feature of celebrations during slavery and the post/emancipation period, into the 20^th century. Many were burnt, but some were not; most were viewed as responses to injustices inflicted upon the community at large.  Mock hangings were staged into circa the 1970s; Mr. Harding was resurrected for the modern Crop Over Festival, then banned.  Val Val continues to be burnt in the carnival, as recently as Carnival 2025. 



For further queries, please contact the Department of Cultural Studies at 417-7635 or culturalstudies@cavehill.uwi.edu or the Faculty Office at 417-4776 or fccpa@cavehill.uwi.edu.