Itral Imple : en studie av artikulasjoner av livity

Abstract

The main question posed in this thesis is how livity is articulated by a group of Rastafaris who refer to themselves as “Itral Imple”. They are all connected to the University of the West Indies in Mona, Jamaica. The methods I use are fieldwork and interviews. The theoretical perspective is articulation theory, a theory that looks at the diversity of ideas and practices in a movement rather than fabricating a general consent.

Key questions are: What Rastafari means to the persons who have been asked; whether or not diversity, or polyphony, of ideas, practices and conceptions within the Rastafari movement is expected and accepted; whether or not Rastafari is a religion; the persons relations to, and views of, the Bible and nature; their diet; their relations to and handling of money; relationships between Rastafari and reggae music; and moralism regarding sexuality. The thesis is an account of the diversity of meanings the term livity can hold.