Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud Why you can't tell the story of reggae without Jimmy Cliff, and Stranger Things S5
Nov 27, 2025
Sonja Stanley Niaah, a cultural studies professor, and Danae Peart, a Jamaican-Canadian culture critic, discuss the profound legacy of reggae legend Jimmy Cliff following his passing. They delve into Cliff's role in globalizing reggae and the impact of his film The Harder They Come. Later, TV critics Alison Herman and Hoai-Tran Bui analyze the cultural phenomenon of Stranger Things Season 5, its nostalgic appeal, and the stakes for its characters. They highlight the show’s evolution and critique its nostalgic reliance as it approaches its conclusion.
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Film As Cultural Export
- The Harder They Come captured Jamaican life and resonated because Jamaicans saw themselves on screen with local cast and music.
- The film's accessibility via subtitles helped it ignite international interest in reggae and Jamaican storytelling.
Small Country, Huge Musical Influence
- Jamaica produced eight distinct music genres in the latter half of the 20th century despite being a small country.
- That outsized musical influence contrasts with many people not even locating Jamaica on a map.
Netflix Scale Fueled Phenomenon
- Stranger Things became a phenomenon partly because Netflix's scale amplified hits across 300 million subscribers.
- The show's rise coincided with a shift in how TV is distributed and measured for success.
