Abstract
In the last two decades, Curacao has embraced the slavery past as defining feature of its cultural identity. While later than other Caribbean postcolonies, the timing is in step with the developments relating to this issue in the European part of the kingdom. There, scholars see an increase in public attention. Discourses about the colonial past have been complemented with critical views, and there’s increased polarization on the topic. This development has coincided with a mediatization of society and the rise of the platform, influencing tone, messaging and modality of discourse production and communication. There is ambivalence in Curacao’s public heritage discourse, partly because of the insular demographic and partly because of international tourism branding of local heritage. This ambivalence is reflected in the handful of museums on the island that present this colonial legacy quite differently in their online communication. This research comprises a digital discourse analysis of slavery past representations on Curacao museum social media channels and websites. Its purpose is to gauge how Curacao heritage institutions adapt to societal and technological developments. At stake is the balance between developing ‘authentic’ viewpoints and commemorative culture and making these accessible and commercially viable for international tourism. Comparing the slavery heritage discourses of these institutions, shows the existing discourse variations and how these variations are related to the platformization of cultural communication, and the public debate in Curacao and across the Atlantic. The resulting socio-cultural and political implications are valuable for all stakeholders, including the tourism sector.
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
2025 Special Focus—Hospitality the Caribbean Way: Global Lessons from Local Experiences
KEYWORDS
Slavery Heritage, Postcolonial, Discourse Analysis, Heritage Communication, Digital Communication, Museums
