Cuba’s Historical Transformations and Cultural Formation Essay

Quote 1

“The real history of Cuba is the history of its intermeshed transculturations” (Ortiz, 1995, p. 98)

The aforementioned citation serves as a manifestation of multiculturality as one of the most outstanding factors of Cuba’s historical transformations. Indeed, the author presents to the reader the term “transculturation” to draw their attention to the fact that instead of shifting from one cultural impact to another, Cuban culture became a result of simultaneous interaction. Moreover, by appealing to the “real” history of Cuba, Ortiz addresses the complexity of its nature that found its application in the spheres of social hierarchy, economy, and foreign affairs.

Quote 2

“And each of them [immigrant cultures] torn from his native moorings, faced with the problem of disadjustment and readjustment, of deculturation and acculturation-in a word, of transculturation” (Ortiz, 1995, p. 98).

Analyzing the experience of immigrant nations during the times of the Cuban cultural formation, the author reaches a conclusion that immigrant tribes had a tremendous impact on the genesis of authentic local culture. However, in their turn, immigrant nations were modifying the perception of their customs and traditions. As a result, it may be justified that the term “transculturation” serves as the most appropriate characterization of a sophisticated socio-economic development of a nation.

Quote 3

“Men, economies, cultures, ambitions were all foreigners here, provisional, changing, “birds of passage” over the country, at its cost, against its wishes, and without its approval” (Ortiz, 1995, p. 101).

The aforementioned quotation represents one of the major author’s ideas on Cuban cultural development, as he appeals to the aspect of cultural transfusion. Indeed, Ortiz emphasizes the fact that unlike some European countries at the time, Cuba represented an agglomeration of various social and ethnic backgrounds supporting the genesis of a unique culture revolving around economy and agriculture. As a result, while remaining foreigners to the land, transcultural inhabitants did their best to find themselves on new promising land.

Reference

Ortiz, F. (1995). Cuban counterpoint: Tobacco and sugar (H. de Onís, Transl). Duke University Press Books. (Original work published 1947).