CUBAN TRANSITIONS

As we explore the complexity of the nature of the nation and nationality in the Período Especial, the role of the artist in Cuban society becomes increasingly blurred and dynamic. As Sujatha Fernandes discusses in her article on postwar reconstructions, even the definitions of “commercial” and “underground” have become distorted. Cuban youth struggle to reconcile […]

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Cuba’s waters may be known for their rich biodiversity and healthy coral reefs, but they are now in the news for something different: oil. Geologic surveys suggest there are around five billion barrels of oil off of Cuba’s coast, and exploratory drilling to find those reserves began in late January of this year. A Chinese […]

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With the rise of social media and technology in our contemporary internationalized world, I wondered how a country like Cuba, where freedom of speech is often repressed, responds? Cuba’s population of 11 million[1] faces limited Internet access, particularly with social media and networking sites. Private ownership of a WiFi network is difficult, if not impossible […]

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When he found out I would be going to Cuba this spring, my 17 year-old-brother’s first comment was to request a certain souvenir: a pair of authentic Cuban cigars with which to celebrate his 18th birthday with our Dad.  And he wasn’t the only one to quickly associate cigars with Cuba; “Going to bring back […]

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  The 1960s brought a new outlet for Cuban revolution and aid that wasn’t focused inwards towards Cuba. As Fidel Castro officially adopted the specific title of Prime Minister of the Revolution in Cuba,  in 1974, Portugal was officially withdrawing from it’s colonial territories spread throughout Angola. With this withdrawal brought tension between opposing Angolan factions who […]

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Although the Cuban Revolution began with the 26th of July movement in 1953, finally overthrowing the Batista government on January 1, 1959, the revolution is far from over. In fact, today Cubans still speak of their support (or lack thereof) for the current system under which Cuba is operating as support for “la Revolución.” The […]

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Recent news coming out of Cuba shows promising signs for growth in Cuba’s economy. The two main markets that have been opened are in housing and car sales. This past November, Cuba lifted a half-century ban on the sale of used cars and the trading of properties on the island. The move by Raul Castro […]

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image link Staying connected to friends, family, the media and the outside world is easier and faster than ever. Some people even experience withdrawals when they leave their phones at home or can’t connect to the internet. The citizens of Cuba do not have that problem. As being one of the least-connected countries in the […]

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Despite the Special Period – a time marked by dramatic scarcity of resources, the rise of racial and social inequality, the emergence and normalization of black market activity, the exploitation of Cuban bodies and culture to attract and serve the tourist sector, censorship, limited mobility – one aspect of Cubanidad has survived and only seems […]

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Interestingly, in my research and thinking about Afro-Cuban women in art, W.E.B DuBois’s notion of “Twoness” continued to resurface and influence my thoughts. The notion refers to an African-American identity in which DuBois defines a struggle in consciousness between assimilating into white America and preserving African-roots. What DuBois’s discovered through this definition, was a greater […]

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