Discover Cuba 2024(A)

      Censorship and crackdowns are extremely culturally relevant to any society, as they dictate how the members of a culture can interact and discuss with each other. In Cuba, this is no different. Throughout almost all of the island's history, speech against the government and controversial ideas have been highly regulated and censored from Spain, and the work of Jose Marti, Alberto Korda, and those surviving under the Batista Regime, and in the modern day with Los Carpinteros.     Expressive art has played a role in every revolution Cuba has encountered, but in the modern day with the most recent revolution being generations in the past, this trend seems to have evolved. It is no secret that the Cuban government in the present day regulates speech, so artists had to change with the times.     This is where I find my favorite group of artists in the module, Los Carpinteros. They are somehow able to walk a fine line, where their artwork is ambiguous ...

  I find the art culture in Cuba to be amazing. I like that it is an enormous part of their identity. I also like that it has historical significance and is rooted in the creation of an independent Cuba. For example Jose Martí was a huge figure in the fight against Spain in Cuba's war for independence. He was well known for his art and his poetry but he had a long lasting effect on the people of Cuba and people of Latin American countries. “Martíis influence has endured and may be said to embody a message for all people of all nations and cultures today.”(Google Arts and Culture). I like that in a similar manner to the “melting pot” the United States has for its people, Cuba is similar in the way that the arts are combinations of various cultures. For example the afro-cuban cultural movement included pieces. Not only was this in art work but also in the music that they created.One of the artists I found to be interesting was Wilfredo Lam. I found his talent to be interesting becaus...

Diving into the Cuban art scene with a spotlight on the Vanguard movement, the film ties modern Cubism into Cuban roots. Theses artists, influenced by European styles like Surrealism and Cubism, brought a new look and fresh vibe back to Cuba with tradition infused and avant-gard vibes. In a socialist state led by the Castros, Cuban artists must be careful. The state supports the arts but also shapes the narrative. The artists, like the famous ballet dancer Carlos Agosta notes, aren't just Cuban artists, you can't help but admire their guts in tackling political issues. 

  Since the 1960s, the United States has profoundly influenced the Cuban economy through the implementation of a strict trade embargo. The embargo isolated Cuba from the international economy subsequently shaping Cuba's contemporary economic, societal, and political landscape. The focus of this blog will be to examine the consequences of the US embargo and to discern the impact it has had on Cuban citizens.       In order to determine the impact of the US embargo, it is necessary to understand the reasons behind its implementation. Following the establishment of Fidel Castro's revolutionary socialist state, strong ties between the Soviet Union and Cuba were developed. In a move that certainly aligns with Castro's anti-US beliefs, broad antagonistic policies towards the US were adopted. Included in these policy changes was the nationalization  of all foreign assets in Cuba, tax hikes on U.S. imports, and the establishment trade deals with the ...

  After I read the materials and watched the videos I was fascinated with the creation and history of Cuba. I really had no prior knowledge of the history of Cuba before analyzing these materials. I knew that there was a history of slavery, a large history of agriculture such as sugar and tobacco and I knew very little about Fidel Castro. I really found it interesting to learn about the early founding of Cuba by Christopher Columbus in 1492, the same year he discovered America. Which I did not know; and now I really have a grasp on the importance that Cuba had in the world centuries ago. It was a place that everyone wanted to have a hand in because of the resources, and the opportunity that was there to exploit those resources. The location of the island was important because it was a place for the Spanish to stop in between their journeys and the sugar that would be produced there would create an enormous industry that countries wanted a part of. And this brings the United States ...

    Cuba for much of its history has been influenced or directed by a foreign power. From direct ownership from Spain in colonial times, to American influence in the mid 20th century, to Soviet partnership after that, Cuba never seems to be able to act fully on its own accord.      Beginning with the Spanish, after centuries of rule, the Cuban citizenry was tired of Spanish governance, specifically despotism and over-taxation. This led to a revolution and 10 year war against the Spanish which was ultimately unsuccessful. However, this was not the end, and in 1895 another revolutionary war occurred. This time, it was different. The United States, wanting to increase its influence over the island and protect its economic interests, entered the fight against the Spanish. They ultimately were successful, and in 1902 were allowed to become their own country.     Superficially, this sounds fantastic, however with all seemingly good things there is often a ca...

  After going through the various modules I realized that I did not know as much about Cuba as I thought. I previously only knew about the history of Cuba from video games and family members. While there were a bunch of different topics that struck me about Cuba, the main one that I felt was the most interesting was the juxtaposition between people who left Cuba and hated Cuba's socialism due to their experiences and the people who stayed in Cuba and loved socialism due to their experiences. Most people outside of Cuba believe that Cubans hated socialism because of the fact that it was oppressive and did not give much freedom to anyone. It was interesting to see in the videos “What does the embargo mean for Cuba?”  and “Capitalism in Cuba”  the different reasons for liking and disliking capitalism or socialism. I found it very interesting when the news crew was interviewing the lady who had lived in Cuba the entire time and was heavily disliking the movement towards ...

 Shortly after being stumbled upon by Columbus in 1492, Cuba was descended upon by Spanish conquistadors and quickly hosted almost exclusively Spaniards. Unfortunately, the island's native population was basically wiped out by the classics of disease and conquest, and for many years the culture was similar to that of Spain's. The island was used as a convenient port for ships traveling back and forth but was otherwise quiet until the nineteenth century when Haiti's sugar production began to suffer and plantation owners began to island hop to Cuba. This change brought prosperity to the island - production and exportation of sugar, tobacco, and cattle stayed strong, and the island remained a colony even after the other Latin American colonies began to rebel. Its long loyalty and prosperity lead to the nickname of "Crown Jewel" spreading throughout the Spanish empire. Not until the later half of the nineteenth century did Cuba make its first vie for independence, res...

   Why was Cuba seen as a “crown jewel” of the Spanish empire in the Americas? Cuba is seen as the "crown jewel" of the Spanish empire in the United States because Cuba       seems to always beat the odds. When Colombus first came to the Island in 1492, it was important economically and politically in the colonies What led the United States to intervene in Cuba’s struggle for independence from Spain? How might the U.S. government have acted differently? Between 1895 and 1898 Cuba and the Philippine Islands revolted against Spain. Once the Cuban cause increased in popularity and activism across the United States, Grover Cleveland, U.S. President at the time, pressed for a settlement but Spain sent General Valeriano, Weyler to pacify Cuba.  Assess the U.S. role in Cuban politics from the 1930s through the 1950s. What were the most significant changes, and what were the underlying continuities? To what extent did the Cuban Revolution emerge from social an...