Planet/Cuba: Art, Culture, and the Future of the Island

by Rachel Price

Transformations in Cuban art, literature and culture in the post-Fidel era

Cuba has been in a state of massive transformation over the past decade, with its historic resumption of diplomatic relations with the United States only the latest development. While the political leadership has changed direction, other forces have taken hold. The environment is under threat, and the culture feels the strain of new forms of consumption.

Planet/Cuba examines how art and literature have responded to a new moment, one both more globalized and less exceptional; more concerned with local quotidian worries than international alliances; more threatened by the depredations of planetary capitalism and climate change than by the vagaries of the nation’s government. Rachel Price examines a fascinating array of artists and writers who are tracing a new socio-cultural map of the island.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Politics

256 pages, Paperback

First published November 3, 2015

Reviews

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intensive survey of Cuban high and popular art culture, largely focusing on visual/experimental art but also touching on literature (including an awesome-sounding science fiction novel called Habana Underguater, as yet untranslated into English, alas), and even video games. Price's critical analysis tends to be intellectually overwrought for my admittedly lumpen taste in cultural criticism, but this book succeeded in giving me a strong sense of what the contemporary Cuban art and literary scenes are concerned with in the 21st century.

[Nato · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and dense book that looks at contemporary Cuban art as it interacts with this moment in history, and specifically with ecological questions. Some of the deep analysis of specific art pieces was over my head, but I got a ton out of struggling through it. Every section had brain-expanding concepts. Best chapter was “Free Time.”

[Eileen Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful account of the rapid changes in culture and art that have taken place after Castro relinquished power in Cuba.
( hope they don't get rid of those wonderful cars though!)
This digital copy was given to me by the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.

[Catherine Mustread · Rating 3 out of 5]

Listened to this author interview on New Book Network. The interview can be found here: http://newbooksnetwork.com/rachel-pri...