Chris Miller Blog Post #3

 Cuba seems to have quite a lot of different architectural styles. Though this isn't terribly surprising, considering all of the outside influences, both European and North American that have affected Cuba over time. The first architectural styles were brought from Spain during colonization. The European influence can be found throughout Cuba, in styles like Baroque, Classicism, Renaissance, and others. As time went on, it seems that American architectural influence seems to have predominated, from Art Deco, Modernism, and Art Nouveau. Its unfortunate that many of the buildings were not properly taken care of, and that they were built in a manner that would not secure a long life. Though, I will say, that this does have its own type of charm and character. 

Concerning Cuban music, I think it is a lot of fun! It is lively, loud, percussive and makes you want to dance. Like most cultural aspects of Cuba, music is a mixture of many different styles with African influence and European influence coming together in many different ways to create new sounds. Honestly, its a bit tricky to keep track of all of the different types and styles of music in Cuba. Again, as time went on we can see, or rather hear, some American influence on already established styles of Cuban music. Cubans seem to have a knack for taking different aspects from different styles of art, architecture, music, dance, etc., and turning it into something new and specifically Cuban. It really is interesting. 

Cuban rumba became an international sensation in the 1920s, and has aspects of African influenced folk dance and Spanish origins. What is most interesting is the impact that this style of music and dance has had on the world. Variations of the rumba can be seen in parts of Africa, Spain and the US. Rumba is closely tied with Cuban cultural identity, partly because of its social origins by the Cuban people. Also, it seems that this is how Cuba would like to be viewed by the international community: joyful, colorful, and decidedly Cuban in nature. 

The Buena Vista Social Club was a musical ensemble formed by a group of Cuban artists. What is most interesting, in my opinion, is the origins and roots of Buena Vista Social Club. Originally, it formed in the 1930s as a primarily black club, where the black Cuban community could come together, drink, socialize, dance and listen to good music. Not only did this give the black community a place that was uniquely their own, but it also gave black Cubans a way to influence the local musical culture within Cuba. As a result, the Buena Vista Social Club had a large impact on its own culture, but also that of many other Latin American cultures, and shows how large, widespread and impactful Cuban musical culture can be. 

The video "Wrinkles in the City" was very interesting as well. It was a collaboration between a French artist and a Cuban American artist, who wanted to bring together images and murals of average Cuban people, specifically those who had lived through the Cuban revolution, and display them throughout Havana. This is important because as these people get older, and eventually pass away, that oral history is disappearing from society. Much like the people who served in WWII, the stories of these people, who made Cuba what it is today, is important in understanding fully how Cuba as a nation got to the state it is today. Only these people who have lived through the revolution are able to accurately tell what life was like before and after, how society and culture changed, and how the revolution shaped the lives of people who weren't alive to witness it. I think what is most important though, is displaying the Cuba people. They are a beautiful people, with lots of joy, love and culture. They love their country and people, and you can see this in their faces. While they have certainly had their fair share of trials and tribulations, its important to show the world, and other Cubans, who the Cuban people are. Average citizens, trying to make life as beautiful as it can be, while trying to survive and thrive. 

I'm not sure if I have a favorite Cuban artist. Really, I like all the art styles that I have seen from Cuban artists. I never really paid any attention to how art can have such a large political impact on a nation and the world until I started learning about Cuban culture. It goes to show how much impact culture has on a society and its people. What's more, art is something that anyone can play a hand in, anyone can make art. While we won't all become the next Picasso or Matisse, all art is important as it tells a story that hasn't been heard before.