Jesús Varela-Zapata (U. Santiago de Compostela)
Tour operators extol the vision of a Caribbean Paradise; this can also be seen in some literature from the region, as is the case with the Nobel laureate Derek Walcott who has opted for the description of beautiful landscapes, particularly related to the wilderness and the seaside. However, many other authors have focused their attention on blatant shortcomings. Caryl Phillips points out that the newly independent micro-states have shown their inadequacy in the global society. Jamaica Kincaid, in turn, makes a harsh criticism of some social arrangements that end up by turning women into victims. Finally, VS Naipaul can be labeled as the great Caribbean critic, depicting a landscape tinged by extremely negative features; bright light and colours instead of being related to the glamour of beach resorts are associated with a tropical aggressive environment.
