Cuban Culture Research Paper

Culture is the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively. Culture learned, not inherited and Cuba known for its cultural diversity, built from Spanish, French, Asian, as well as African influences. Indigenous people inhabited the island of Cuba until Christopher Columbus in 1492. Cuba become a Spanish colony, ruled by a Spanish Governor in Havana until 1762 where Great Britain took over before being traded back to the Spanish in a deal for Florida. In 1902 Cuba gained its formal independence, in the years ensuing its independence the Cuban economy was on the rise, but corrupt political figures and series of tyrannical leaders, led Fidel Castro and his brother Raul Castro lead the Cuban Revolution
in 1953 ending 1959, leaving Fidel Castro in total control of Cuba.
Most cultures consist of basic characteristics, which consist of learned culture, shared culture, symbolic culture, integrated culture, and dynamic culture. When we are born, we do not automatically know all of the values beliefs and customs, much of the culture will learned at school, with family or peers. Shared culture within itself makes it social construct by learning a language, behavior or tradition by interacting with other people. Symbolic culture is the use of images, thoughts, feelings or impulses people use, for example gestures, slang in the dialect, and taboos. Cultural integration is the increasing integration of different cultures found throughout the world and the diffusion of a dominant global culture. Dynamic culture is complex, fluid rather than static, which means that it changes as time goes, almost every day in subtle and palpable ways.
Cuban culture represents itself in their food, arts, music, sports and even communism.
Like most places around the world food is a staple on culture, with the Cubans they blend Spanish, African, and Caribbean cuisines, a typical meal would consist of rice and beans, if meat is available on ration book, which is the system of food distribution in Cuba, it is usually served with light sauces. Arts in Cuba is a blend of European, African, South American, and North American elements, Cuban culture really portrays itself through the images of photographers as they have captured many of the country’s most memorable moments. Cuban music has its primary origins in West African and Spain, but over time been influenced by various genres from different counties such as the United States, Jamaica, and France. Cuban sports are big part of their culture, known for the great players in baseball and great boxers, most Cubans from an early age grow up playing either baseball or boxing. Many people put communism and Cuba side by side, since Fidel Castro has had control Cuba has had a love hate relationship with its leader, loving him because he freed them but hating him because of the economic constraints he put on the country affecting the relationships to grow with other
countries.
Cuba lies about ninety miles south of the Florida keys, its approximately 48,800 square miles, about a third of the island is mountainous.
During the colonial period, the Havana port was tactically cherished shipping port, administrative center, but most importantly military post. Urban development dramatically transformed by the states installation of electrical and plumbing in remote rural areas. Although they managed to get some progress by 1990, the economy took a downhill slide and the Cuban regime made it illegal for people from other provinces to reside in the city. Most of Cuba’s building are in a grim state of decay, with the population growing ten times what it was in 1810. Most key infrastructures are ports based around their major cities of Havana, Cienfuegos, Manzanilla, and Santiago de Cuba. Cuban communications consist mostly of television, radio, and telephone. Cellphones were not legal to own until 2008, there is 15.5 lines for every 100 inhabitants on the island. Every 62 people out of 1,000 have access to a computer with no broadband to use still stuck on dial up only owe computers. Cuba has a 1-year mandatory enlistment for all male residents with the option to go into agricultural services instead of military service. The countries military has historically been active internationally and known for roles in supporting liberation movements worldwide. One of the most remembered effort for this cause was the fight to help Nelson Mandela in South
Africa and defeat the system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination. Since the end of the 1990, their military has taken a back seat due to the conflict that ensued after the Cuban revolution in the 1950’s.
Cuba in some way is subject to their climate significantly. From what they are able to wear on a day-to-day basis, to what they are able to grow based on the weather. Climate in Cuba is primarily subtropical, consisting or dry and raining seasons. When Cuba lost ties to Eastern Europe for the supply of oil and associated merchandise, forced to use natural means of fertilizing crops and drawing insects to control pests. Cuba is 42,426 miles squared, most structures in Cuba have not evolved over the time being built mostly around the colonial and baroque era. Although small in size Cuba is ranked 78th of 126th in military power among the America’s, boasting approximately 50 tanks, 80 aircrafts, 12 coastal defense crafts and 5,117,000 in man power. Cuba has about three mass organizations founded in 1959 and 1961, which are the Foundation of Cuban Woman (FMC), the National Association of Small Farmers (ANAP) and the Committee for the Defense of the Revolution (CDRs). People of Cuba are very proud of where they come from, they have a communist society but the social structure they have in place benefits to an extent by offering free education for all as well as a meal for every person. The language they speak is Spanish, the power is mostly in a Military structure with strict laws enforced. Key interest they have are in food, dancing and sports mostly baseball and softball.
In conclusion, the Cuban people are live a communist lifestyle. With that comes a lot of enforced laws, and privileges taken away from the population. Even though they are in a communist country, the people of Cuban population thrive on what they have by making the most of it. Cuba is currently working on restoring relationships with the United States of America and offering more to their people than in the previous decades. The economy is on the rise slowly but surely, Cuba is making its way back up, establishing itself as a key country in the future.