Festivals, Change, and Unity

The Celebration of Ethnic Identity among Louisiana Cajuns

Datos Bibliográficos

ID2581970
AutoresMarjorie R Esman (autor de correspondencia)
Año1982
Volumen55
Número4
Páginas199
Fecha de publicación1982-10-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAnthropological Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0003-5491 • E-ISSN: 1534-1518
EditorialJSTOR (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/3317149
OpenAlexW2314246706
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas12
Referencias citadas6

This paper is an examination of the integrative effects of a major festival complex in south Louisiana. The Cajuns, who stage these events, are a diverse, heterogeneous group that has recently been subject to tremendous acculturation pressures. The group is composed of conflicting subgroups which share a concern for ethnic identity but which disagree on the nature and appropriate expression of that identity. The festivals, largely a product of recent decades, echo the shifting priorities and internal conflicts of the group. At the same time, they provide opportunities for ritualized celebration of unity, of the common heritage shared by all members. At a time when there are few other means for Cajuns to affirm their culture, identity, and unity, the festivals provide a way for them to do so

Emile Durkheim and Sociology · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Wine Industry and Tourism