Book
The celebration of Cajun identity: ethnic unity and the Crawfish Festival
University Microfilms International • Ann Arbor, Mich. • Published In 1981 • Pages:
By: Esman, Marjorie R..
Abstract
Marjorie Esman conducted research in and around Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, between August 1979 and August 1980 for this dissertation. After an introductory chapter on Cajun cultural history, Esman begins a discussion of the main theme, ethnic unity, by contrasting the politically oriented ethnic assertion movements of non-Cajun groups such as the American Blacks, Quebecois, Basques, and northern Irish with the cultural and non-political ethnic assertion methods of the Cajuns. The Cajuns express their ethnicity through festivals and public proclamations of identity, but not through collective political action. 'Cajun festivals, as ritual, substitute for effective group mobilization of any other kind, and their prominence, fame, and popularity advertise Cajun identity and cohesiveness almost as effectively as would political confrontation' (p. 181). Esman presents a detailed analysis of the elements of the Crawfish Festival held at Breaux Bridge in 1980 to support this analysis.
- HRAF PubDate
- 1995
- Region
- North America
- Sub Region
- Regional, Ethnic and Diaspora Cultures
- Document Type
- Book
- Evaluation
- Creator Type
- Ethnologist
- Document Rating
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- Analyst
- John Beierle, 1993
- Field Date
- August 1979-August 1980 (p. ii)
- Coverage Date
- variable
- Coverage Place
- Breaux Bridge and St. Martin Parishes, Louisiana, United States
- Notes
- Marjorie Ruth Esman
- Abstracted in: Disseration abstracts international -- 42/03, p. 1227, Dec. 1981.
- UM-AAC 8118365
- Includes bibliographical references
- Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Tulane University, 1981
- LCSH
- Cajuns