Cuba
VIVA CUBA LIBRE: REVOLUTION AND ART
A HISTORY OF EXTERNAL CONTROL
The Republic of Cuba, a northern Caribbean island with over eleven million inhabitants, was the second destination of our cohort’s graduate program. Considered as a part of Latin America, Cuba’s multiethnic population is the product of a diverse history of aboriginal origins, Spanish colonialism, the introduction of slavery, and close ties to Soviet Russia during the Cold War. It is one of the last remaining Communist countries in the world, and control of the current authoritarian government has been largely dominated by two individuals – Raul and Fidel Castro.[1]
Long governed by external forces like Spain and the United States, Cuba’s revolution in 1959 served as a symbolic turning point towards state autonomy. This led to the use of revolutionary heroes like Raul Castro, Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos in graffiti across the country signifying pro-revolution ideology. With independence reached, however, Cuba’s autonomy would continue to be limited and infringed upon by its northern neighbor. The United States’ use of a crippling blockade to encourage political change on the island has limited Cuba’s economic and political capacity, but scapegoating the US has proven to be politically advantageous for the Castro Regime and its intentions to further an ongoing revolution.[2]
Plenty to Say
Today Cuba’s dismal economy, aging population, lack of internet availability, and deteriorating relationship with the Trump Administration all provide plenty of legitimate public grievances. The dual economy has led to a massive wage gap between those who work in the tourism sector and those who do not. Reports show that the average Cuban citizen earns around 30 USD per month. However, these problems have not notably translated to public anti-establishment opinions through graffiti. While many Cubans recognize that change must be made, there is also an optimism and loyalty to the intentions of their revolutionary icons that would surprise many outside of its borders.[3]
The LIMITS OF SPEECH
Graffiti in Cuba has long been scrutinized as a politically subversive action, thus all political graffiti is to be approved (and in many cases, sanctioned) by the government. Articles 53 and 54 of Cuba’s constitution deal with the freedom of speech, but it is largely limited “in keeping with the objectives of socialist society.” From Havana to Santiago de Cuba, pro-revolution murals stretch across the walls of homes, shops, and restaurants.[4] Phrases like “Viva Cuba Libre” and “Continuamos Defendiendo La Revolucion” can be found in any major city. During our time we found little that could be considered explicitly anti-revolutionary. Although, some artists (like 2+2=5) intentionally mask political messages into abstract and ambiguous projects in order to avoid negative repercussions.[5]
CUBA POST-CASTRO
On April 19, 2018, Miguel Diaz-Canel was confirmed by Cuba’s National Assembly to replace Raul Castro as president. But while the symbolic importance of this transition should be noted, the world should expect no drastic changes for Cuba’s role in the world during the near future. With US President Trump adamant that political transition on the island is necessary, President Diaz-Canel stated in his first public address as Head of State that “there is no space for a transition that destroys what has been achieved during so many years… Cuba’s foreign policy will remain unalterable and Cuba will not make concessions nor will it accept conditionings.”[6]
Non Governmental Organizations in the United States remain highly critical of the Cuban Government’s single-party control and restrictions on political pluralism. Given an aggregate score of 14 out of 100 on Freedom House’s 2018 report, Havana faces a plethora of issues moving forward.[7] This vilification of Cuba, however, does not paint an accurate picture of everyday life across the island. While the political graffiti was not as controversial as we may have expected, the pro-revolution messages scrawled upon the crumbling buildings of Havana provide perhaps the best insight of them all. Cuba, while rich in history and national pride, is in desperate need of economic change. It should be the international community’s role to encourage and assist in this transition for the betterment of the Cuban people.
Graffiti froM Cuba
Pictured below are some of the most intriguing pieces of graffiti the cohort found while living in Havana. Please click the button below to proceed to the complete repository of Cuban graffiti.
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References
REFERENCES
[1] "World Population Review - Cuba". Worldpopulationreview.Com, 2018, http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/cuba-population/.
[2] The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. "Cuban Revolution | Summary, Facts, Causes, & Effects". Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018, https://www.britannica.com/event/Cuban-Revolution.
[3] Holodny, Elena. "Cuba Has A Major Demographic Problem". Business Insider, 2018, http://www.businessinsider.com/cuba-has-a-major-demographic-problem-2015-10?IR=T.
[4] "Constitution Of The Republic Of Cuba - English". Constituteproject.Org, 2018, https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Cuba_2002?lang=en.
[5] "2+2=5? The Search For A Street Rebel". GLOBAL STREET ART, 2018, https://news.globalstreetart.com/2017/03/03/225-cuba/.
[6] "Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel Gives First Speech In Assembly". Aljazeera.Com, 2018, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/04/miguel-diaz-canel-elected-cuba-president-castro-era-180419133611845.html.
[7] "Freedom House - Cuba". Freedomhouse.Org, 2018, https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2018/cuba.