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4: Art and revolution: Cuba’s ‘cultural democracy’ and artistic production 1959-89

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  Art and revolution: Cuba’s ‘cultural democracy’ and artistic production 1959-89 This final lecture surveys Cuban revolutionary art and its antecedents and how the revolution of 1959 ushered in a new era of artistic production in which the state played an active role in socialising artistic practice through what became known as ‘cultural democracy’. Picture shows  “Rosas y Estrellas” (“Roses and Stars”) by Raúl Martínez. It depicts 19th-century Cuban revolutionary José Martí (centre) flanked by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, with Latin American and Cuban freedom fighters including Simón Bolívar and Antonio Maceo behind them. 1. Antecedents Pogolotti and Lam Marcello Pogolotti was one of Cuba's most interesting and politically engaged painters in the 1930s. Watch this sequence of paintings form the 1930-35 period and enjoy the futurist nature of an art that captures the alienation and struggles of the classes in Cuba of the time.  Wifredo Lam  was born in Cuba in 1902...
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3: Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and the Cuban revolution

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Fidel Castro, Che Guevara and the Cuban revolution Who were Fidel Castro and Che Guevara? What were their politics and how did they come to be central to the revolutionary change in mid-20th century Cuba? In this session we will explore the lives, careers and ideas of two political icons and their enduring influence on Cuban politics today. 1. Fidel Watch this documentary from the BBC on the life of Fidel- terrific archive and great interviews: 2. Che Now watch this interesting documentary on Che. It has a different approach. 3. The Cuban Revolution This documentary tells a different story of the revolution than the one that you might be familiar with: 4. "History will absolve me" Here is the text of Fidel's famous defence speech that became the manifesto of the July 26 Movement:   History Will Absolve Me
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2. José Martí, the United States and frustrated independence

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José Martí, the United States and frustrated independence This week we will pick up the story in the latter half of the 19th Century. How was the struggle for Cuban independence thwarted by the United States? Who was José Martí and how does his legacy impact Cuban self-identity today? This lecture explores the late 19th and early 20th Century struggle for independence and the neocolonial influence of the United States. Here are some resources to extend your knowledge and deepen your understanding. 2.1 US Imperialism This short film explains the reasons for the expopansion of the UNted States in the late 19th Century: US Imperialism 2.2  Cuba in the 19th Century In this illustrated talk, Cartoon Ed, explains how the US became so interest in the Cuban economy in the 19th Century. 2.3 José Martí and Cuban Independence IN this article scholar Jaime Suchliki epxlains the Political ideas of José Martí The Political Ideology of José Martí And this short film explains who was and why he is...
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1: Slavery, sugar and the formation of the Cuban nation

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Slavery, sugar and the formation of the  Cuban nation Welcome to our course on the enigmatic and beguiling island of Cuba. In this, the first of our historical and cultural explorations we will be examining the link between the cultivation of sugar and the formation of the Cuban nation. In this session we will examine the early 19th Century and how the struggles of slaves against the plantation system preceded the rise of a Cuban nationalism based upon equality between the races. Here below are some resources and activities that you can enjoy in anticipation of the session, or afterwards to extend and deepen your understanding. Use the comment function to the continue the discussion with the group and share other resources that you might find. 1.1 The Haitian Revolution To understand the curious nature of Cuban nationalism, you have to understand how the island became influenced by revolutions elsewhere. Although Cuba was the first Spanish colony, it was one of the last to gain its...
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