Digital Archiving and Identity Formation: Indo-Caribbean Narratives on Instagram

Abstract

Social media platforms have redefined cultural representation and storytelling, offering marginalized and diasporic communities new spaces to assert their identities. This study examines how two Instagram pages, Cutlass Magazine and West Indian History, function as digital archives of Indo-Caribbean identity, blending traditional cultural memory with contemporary expression. Grounded in theories of cultural representation and concept of imagined communities, this research paper explores the intersection of identity and cultural preservation within the digital environments. Employing a postcolonial ethnographic framework, this qualitative analysis uses thematic coding and semiotic analysis to investigate visual, textual, and participatory strategies. The findings demonstrate how these platforms preserve cultural heritage, construct hybrid identities, and foster participatory storytelling among diasporic audiences.