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Here Comes the Sun: Deconstructed Student Essays

Mapping Jamaica

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3. Nicole Dennis-Benn's Novel, Here Comes the Sun Written in 2016, Here Comes the Sun, is set in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The novel scrutinizes the Tourism Industry and explores its impact on the Jamaican populace. The novel accounts the experiences and identities of four women, Margot [the protagonist], Thandi [Margot’s younger sister], Delores [Margot’s mother], and Verdene [Margot’s lover]. From the perspective of these women, Dennis-Benn examines Jamaican society and contends with social ills, such as skin bleaching, homophobia, sex work, and rape. The novel narrates the sacrifices and expenses that produce “Paradise” for tourists to consume. At the novel’s close, Margot has all she dreamed of, but is left standing alone.

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This article was published on Thursday January 14, 1971 by the Financial Times [London, England] and authored by John Bradley, Jamaica Correspondent. Bradley states, “One leader expressed the fears of many when he said one morning West Indians would wake up and find all their land in the hands of foreigners.” The West Indian countries Bradley is referring to are Trinidad, Tobago, Barbados, and Jamaica. He argues that the Tourism Industry has significantly contributed to the skyrocketing land prices on these islands, driven by the potential for foreign investment and capital. Specifically concerning Jamaica, he claims that the government has schemed with foreign businessmen to provide land for tourism and development. This article exemplifies how the creation of “Paradise” comes at the expense of Islanders and illustrates the government’s role in supporting these policies.
“This Briefing paper assesses the purpose of President Jimmy Carter's [elect, 1977-1981] upcoming visit to Jamaica. Carter will show, by the willingness of the U.S. to work with the government of Prime Minister Michael Manley [elect, 1972-1980, 1989-1992], that the U.S. accepts political diversity in the Caribbean, and acknowledges Jamaica's role in North-South dialogue.” Based on this document, government distrust may not be unwarranted. There are multiple inconsistencies that appear, possibly implying governmental corruption or coercion. First of all, the United States’ presence in Jamaica suggests that the country is a gateway to access other Caribbean democracies, implicating a belief in Island insularity. Secondly, the visit itself comes during a period in which Jamaica is restabilizing after experiencing crisis economically and politically. It appears that America may be visiting Jamaica to ensure the country remains a “democracy” to serve their imperialist interests. It’s possible that the visit is planned to surveil Jamaica’s leadership and policies to prevent alignment with Cuba’s “right-wing extremism.”
Digital Print, created by Arlene Hoffman in 1980 entitled Jamaica. The text on the bottom of the print says, “We’re More than a beach. We’re a Country.” This print made me uncomfortable, not only because it’s held by the MoMA in New York, but also because it features women in bathing suits — one in the nude — clearly laying on the beach. The words at the bottom of the print do little to deter from the imaging of the women. I have spoken thoroughly about the gendered aspects of the Tourism Industry, and how women’s bodies are made available to be penetrated and explored, therefore; for this primary source I will go directly to Dennis-Benn’s novel to consider the theoretical work it does to dismantle the authority and prevalence of this kind of images.