A. Ragnauth: Expanding the Frame

Culture isn’t always something you can explain with words. Sometimes you can hear it. You can see it in the way someone dresses, the instruments they play, or the traditions younger generations learn from the people around them.

This week, I focused on heritage and expression and how Indo-Caribbean culture can be communicated through music, clothing, and participation. I started with portraits featuring traditional instruments and clothing, including the tassa, bass, jaal, and kurta/lengha. Instead of treating them as fun visuals, I wanted the photographs to show how these elements become forms of cultural expression themselves.

Researching younger Indo-Caribbean experiences also made me think about what it means for traditions to continue across generations. Culture changes, especially for those of us growing up in places like Queens, but that doesn’t mean the connection disappears. Sometimes traditions are adapted, practiced differently, or expressed in new ways.

This became especially clear when I created my first reel for Rooted in Culture, featuring younger members of my community drumming together. Photography could show the instruments and people, but video allowed me to capture something still images couldn’t: the sound, movement, and energy of the moment.

Working with video also introduced a new responsibility. I had to think more carefully about consent and what footage I had permission to share, especially when younger people were involved. This week showed me that keeping traditions and culture alive doesn’t always mean keeping it exactly the same. Sometimes it simply means making sure the next generation has something to carry on.