Discussion 3 - Music Dance and Architecture
Cuban architecture has experienced many changes and many movements, just like the city itself. Beginning with colonial architecture that was built for defense, buildings were built with heavy Spanish and Moorish influences that make the country appear as though it's situated just outside of the Mediterranean Sea. Cuban architecture kept up with Spanish influences throughout the 19th century, leaning into neo-classicism, but into the 20th century, the country became much more independent from Spain, both politically and architecturally. Now, Cuba is home to many modern-style architectures that prioritize function over form.
Cuban music is a reflection of the culture and the country's people. Musical education is highly prioritized, and most if not all of the population has a strong understanding of music. Styles of salsa, rumba, jazz, and more permeate the auditory landscape of the island, with rumba being perhaps the most Cuban among them. Just like the country itself, rumba is a result of the cross-pollination of many different influences, many Spanish and African. Rumba is energetic, full of percussion and uniquely interesting rhythms. Again, the country and its people are reflected in popular art.
The streets of Cuba are, rather than heavy with advertisements, full of graffiti and other street art. Posters of Fidel and Che litter the walls, and many artists use what remains as their canvas. For a government so tight-fisted on many things, I can say that the apparent leniency on street art is a little surprising. The video "Wrinkles of the City, Havana, Cuba" was very interesting to me. An art project highlighting the aging generation of Havana and painting them on the walls, while not directly political, makes quite a statement about the overall perceptions of the city and the country it leads. In the video, I noticed that the city dwellers who stopped to watch and comment on the murals being painted had some interesting takes, and they were able to relate the images to themselves very easily. I thought this demonstrated a high level of artistic literacy among the general population.
In what ways are the arts, in particular street art, viewed differently in America compared with Cuba?
In the last module, many artists commented that their art is a reflection of themselves. To what extent is a population's art a reflection of itself, and how is it that individual artists build up into a collective like the city of Havana has?
I think you brought up some good points about the street art in Cuba. I like that you talked about the different perceptions that they may have. I would say that street art is viewed similarly to the way that it is viewed in Cuba. I think that some people love it and some people don't. I think if it were graffiti most people probably wouldn't be too fond of it. Or if it was grotesque in any nature then it wouldn't be received well. However, if it were a portrait or a huge mural, I think that generally, people would like it and that they'd support more of these paintings being done.
ReplyDeleteHi Austin!
ReplyDeleteI find it interesting how culturally important street art is in Cuba. In Cuba, it seems to be seen from a different lens than here in the United States, and has different connotations. Here, street art is usually seen as graffitti or vandalism, (as it usually is) unless directly comissioned or unless it passes a certain threshold of effort. In Cuba, there seem to be way less restrictions around this and the general attitudes are more accepting. This difference does seem to be reflective of the two cultures, where artistically Cubans seem to be more laissez faire and Americans the opposite.
In America, street art often operates within a different context. While some cities embrace graffiti and street art as a form of expression, it's not universally accepted. The legality and public perception of street art vary widely across different states and municipalities. In some places, it's seen as a form of vandalism and is subject to strict regulations, leading to the removal of unauthorized works. In contrast, Cuba's apparent leniency toward street art, as you mentioned, might reflect a different cultural and political perspective. The Cuban government might view it as a way for artists to express themselves and contribute to the country's visual landscape. As you said, the role of individualism and collectivism in artistic expression differs between the two countries. In America, there's a strong emphasis on individual artistic expression and personal narratives. Artists often strive for uniqueness and personal style. In contrast, Cuban art, including street art, might be more deeply intertwined with collective identity. The shared history, struggles, and cultural influences have shaped a collective narrative that artists contribute to and draw from.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your first question, I think street art and graffiti is seen in a negative light in American culture. Most definitely among the older population, maybe not so much among the youth. Overall, I think it is certainly more embraced in Cuba, as the arts there are taught and valued to a degree that is not replicated in most parts of the US.
ReplyDeleteI think a populations art is as much of a reflection of it as it is the individual artist. After all it is the individuals that make a population, so there is no better way to examine a country's population than looking at their art and what inspires it.
Hi Austin, I really enjoyed your blog post and your word choice to describe the music and street art was very vibrant. I'd like to bring focus to this specific phrasing you used, "Styles of salsa, rumba, jazz, and more permeate the auditory landscape of the island." Music is a very fluid, breathing, and living art form and the idea that there can be a medium that shapes an almost metaphysical place overtime is cool idea to think about. In response to your question regarding street art in America, I would say that the public opinion can be very different depending where you live as the country is huge. Graffiti is a form of self-expression; however, is certain urban areas where every space of wall is a candidate for advertising the art cannot be appreciated with a possible business opportunity looming. I would say this points to the two countries different government/economic systems. In the U.S., individualism is often exchanged for consumerism and fitting into trends. The same goes for street art. It is harder to accept the art in the States when many people grow up thinking there has to be an economic purpose or gain from just about any creation.
ReplyDeleteIn America, I believe that there are more restrictions on art than in Cuba when it comes to non-professional settings or Public Works. In Cuba, you can do murals and paintings on Street walls as long as it doesn't speak against the government and you have some amount of government approval. in New York City for example it is exceptionally hard to get any amount of approval and are often taken down as quickly as possible once they are done. in Cuba, you don't see people in the middle of the night going and spray painting their names over a beautiful mural. it seems that people in Cuba respect art and cherish art much more than in America. graffiti in America is usually seen as sloppy and just not good to look at art while Cuban graffiti is seen as beautiful and expressive. I guess the main difference between America and Cuba is that Cubans care a lot more about public art and Public Works than Americans do.
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