Culture is Ordinary: Everyday Dominican Life as Cultural Democracy
Raymond
Williams, in his classical essay “Culture is ordinary”, wants to say that
culture is not a specialization of the elite class and is not limited to
artistic expression of the past. Rather, it is a living, growing experience
that must be understood as a “whole way of life”. This essay expands on
Williams’ idea to discuss Dominican immigrant culture in New York City. It
argues that customs of Dominican-Americans, their language, food, music and way
of daily life do not merely represent a medley of tradition and creativity but
also stand against cultural elitism by affirming ordinariness of life. This
framework finds room for these lived realities and underlines the political
value of everyday cultural conduct in a diverse society.
Williams’
Theory: Culture as a Way of Total Life
Williams
requires that culture should be perceived both as “the most ordinary common
meanings and the finest individual meanings” (Williams 4). By so doing, he
questions the high/low culture binary, which puts working and immigrant
communities at access. Williams stresses that culture is lived in everyday
life: in language, labour, social usage, and community practices. This
inclusive definition makes the vibrant cultural tapestry of Dominican
communities in NYC credible.
Dominican
Spanish and the strength of language.
It is a
powerful cultural vehicle, language. For the Dominican households,
code-switching in Spanish and English is more than a convenience; it is a form
of cultural expression. As Williams says, “A culture is a whole way of life…
expressed in institutions and in arts and learning” (6). Dominican idioms,
proverbs, and jokes conserve collective memory and display creativity. The
everyday talk of elders—mingled with humour and wisdom —is the oral literature
worthy of receiving recognition.
Photo 1: A
Dominican flag proudly displayed outside a bodega in New York City, symbolizing
cultural pride and identity within the Dominican-American community. (Image from internet)
Cuisine as
Memory and Innovation
Dominican
food – mangú or sancocho – is a daily reminder of the culture. Recipes from
abuelas are traditional and are shared down by word of mouth. But they also
change; new ingredients are added in the diaspora kitchens. Williams wrote,
“Culture is always both changing and persistent” (7) – something that is seen
in the fact that Dominican families combine both traditional ingredients with
American substances. Cooking therefore becomes a creative and a preservative
action.
Photo 2:
Mangú con Los Tres Golpes, a traditional Dominican breakfast consisting of
mashed green plantains, fried salami, fried cheese, and eggs, representing the
culinary heritage of the Dominican Republic. (Image from internet)
Bachata,
Dembow, and Street Music
Music is a
key aspect of Dominican culture, especially the genres of music such as Bachata
and Dembow. Whether it is played at corner stores or community parties, this
music brings joy, memory, and identity. Williams cites the need to draw from
collective experience: “The growing society is made and remade in every
individual mind” (6). The practice of dancing and listening to music validates
community bonds and offers room for cultural expression outside institutional
recognition.
Photo 3: A
couple performing Bachata, a popular dance originating from the Dominican
Republic, showcasing the vibrant musical and dance traditions maintained by the
diaspora. (Image from internet)
Culture as
Resistance to Marginalization
The
representatives of public institutions and the mass media tend to marginalize
non-mainstream culture. Dominican youth are hardly ever portrayed in school
curricula or in media unless exoticized. Nevertheless, as Williams wrote, “The
assumption that only some people are naturally equipped to make and understand
culture” is one of these myths that need dismantling (9). Clothing, music,
dance and language represent the affirmation of their heritage that Dominicans
and New Yorkers use to reject cultural erasure and contest their rightful place
in the cultural landscape.
Photo 4:
Participants marching in the Dominican Day Parade in New York City, celebrating
Dominican heritage and fostering community among Dominican-Americans. (Image
from internet)
Conclusion:
Claiming Ordinary as Cultural Power
Williams’
assertion that “culture is ordinary” provides a common framework to comprehend
and support immigrant and working-class societies. New York City Dominican
culture (in food, language, music, and community) shows us how mundane life can
be very meaningful and politically important. Such ordinary forms are not
marginal; they are, in the truest sense, culture: traditional, creative, and
evolving.
Photo 5: A
Dominican family gathering in the Bronx, illustrating the importance of
familial bonds and cultural traditions in daily life. (Image from internet)
Works
Cited
Williams, Raymond. “Culture is Ordinary.” Resources of Hope: Culture,
Democracy, Socialism, Verso, 1989, pp. 3–14.