...activity turned violent, as pyroclastic flows spilled down into the capital city of Plymouth. At the onset of this episode of volcanism, Montserrat had a population of somewhat over 10,000, but subsequent evacuations eventually reduced the island's population to about 2,500. Responsibility for this emergency fell to the British because Montserrat is still a British colony, ostensibly ruled from Westminster, but with a degree of autonomy in its own domestic affairs. The British authorities, concerned about public safety and also seeking to minimize the expense of rebuilding, first sought to evacuate the island permanently, but were forced to relent in the face of social pressure from Montserratians--those still on the island and those who had left hoping to return. By mid 2002, census data indicated that the population had rebounded to 4,300.

First and foremost, this is the story of an island that is the vanguard of postmodern change in the Caribbean. The postmodernity of Montserrat is the culmination of traumatic events that have accelerated and destabilized life as it once was, not the result of accumulation and globalization touted in academic treatises.

Postmodernism is the latest in a series of intellectual movements that seek to capture what is perceived as the political, cultural, and economic zeitgeist. The Modernist movement, which predates postmodernism, but is still significant in many ways, emphasizes progress, objectivity, utilitarianism, and universalism. The Postmodernist movement, in contrast, emphasizes difference, plurality, and fragmentation. It should be noted that these two movements are not necessarily contradictory; in fact, both might be seen in the same landscape, as in Montserrat. Postmodernism has been documented in just about every field of inquiry, from architecture to politics to economics to art; in geography its primary influence has been the denial of a monolithic perspective of "truth." A corollary to the importance of having multiple perspectives is the necessity of accepting the relative truth of each perspective. Indeed, the destabilizing effects of this postmodern perspective often are the reasons cited by those opposed to postmodernism. This denial of certainty and hegemonic truth, as well as the rapid pace of change associated with this perspective, have been identified as the causes of a sense of anxiety in the centers of postmodern existence, usually large cosmopolitan cities and centers of the global economy.

The anxiety associated with the transience of life in Montserrat now stands in sharp contrast with the traditional way of life that had dominated Montserratian life for centuries. The pace of change is increasing and with it the sense of dislocation and helplessness. These are hallmarks of the postmodern existence in world cities and now the sense of dislocation and helplessness can be witnessed in Montserrat, especially in the built landscape, in the economy, and in the national identity.

Postmodern Landscapes

The most obvious change in Montserrat since the beginning of the volcanic crisis has been in the patterns of human interaction with the land. The capital city, Plymouth, is situated on the southwest coast of the island, nestled in the early morning shadow of the Soufriere Hills volcano. With prevailing winds from the east, Plymouth had been receiving ashfalls in massive quantities since 1995, but with the beginning of the mudflows and pyroclastic flows in 1997, Plymouth had to be evacuated indefinitely. Other areas in the south of the island also have been devastated by the volcano; for example, the entire village of St. Patrick's was destroyed, as was an archaeological dig at Galway's Plantation (Pulsipher, 2001). In response to the devastation, an Exclusion Zone was created by the British authorities; people are not allowed to live or visit the Exclusion Zone. This zone extends two miles into the Caribbean Sea, preventing fishing activities near the coastline. The Exclusion Zone covers roughly half of the...

NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.



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