Rude Citizenship: Jamaican Popular Music, Copyright, and the Reverberations of Colonial Power

Jamaican creative practices and legal personhood are based on a culture of collaboration, which is resistant to conventional copyright practices. This resistance goes beyond cultural concerns, as many working-class and poor people are cut off from the full benefits of citizenship. Music makers organize performance and commerce in ways that defy state ordinances and intellectual property law, providing poor Jamaicans with avenues for self-expression and self-definition that are closed off to them in the wider society.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 246 pages
Publication date: 29 March 2022
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

In this captivating exploration of the Jamaican music scene, Larisa Kingston Mann, a DJ, media law expert, and ethnographer, delves deep into the cultural tapestry that underpins Jamaican creative practices and legal personhood. Through her insightful lens, she reveals how a culture of collaboration thrives at the heart of Jamaican artistic endeavors, transcending boundaries and genres.

Street dances, recording sessions, and global genres like the riddim showcase the interplay of originality, where notions of creativity encompass a reliance on shared knowledge and authorship as an interactive practice. Musicians, music producers, and audiences, often resistant to conventional copyright practices, challenge the established norms in pursuit of artistic expression.

However, this resistance extends beyond cultural concerns. Mann highlights how many working-class and poor individuals, marginalized by race, class, and geography, are excluded from the full benefits of citizenship. Consequently, Jamaican music spaces become vital platforms for social commentary and political action, as the state's limited reach and neglect of social services and infrastructure leave gaps that need to be addressed.

Musicians, driven by a desire to challenge the status quo, organize performances and commerce in ways that defy state ordinances and intellectual property law. They provide impoverished Jamaicans with avenues for self-expression and self-definition that are often closed off in the wider society. This defiant spirit reflects the resilience and creativity of those who have been marginalized, showcasing how they navigate and play outside the confines of their marginalization.

In a world shaped by coloniality, the relationship between creators and copyright sheds light on the complex ways in which people navigate and redefine their identities within the margins. It prompts us to consider the boundaries and limitations imposed by society and the ways in which individuals and communities find innovative ways to express themselves, challenge norms, and create meaningful connections.

As we delve into the world of Jamaican music, we witness the profound impact of collaboration, resistance, and the pursuit of artistic expression. It serves as a reminder that creativity knows no boundaries and that the power of music can unite people, challenge systems of power, and inspire social change.

Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781469667249