The social value of culture: learning from revolutionary Cuba |
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Authors: | Rebecca Gordon-Nesbitt |
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Affiliation: | 1. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Lord Hope Building, 141 St James Road, Glasgow, G4 0LT, UK.rebecca.gordon-nesbitt@strath.ac.uk |
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Abstract: | As the tide turns against econometric calculations of cultural value, scope exists for careful reconsideration of the social value of culture. In Cuba after 1959, culture was placed at the heart of a society undergoing radical transformation. This article examines the socially orientated initiatives to which this revalidation gave rise. It shows that substantial changes were wrought in professional circles as art was acknowledged as a form of social production and remunerated accordingly. It also outlines the sustained efforts that were made to diminish the gap between creative intellectuals and the rest of society, by encouraging widespread appreciation of, and participation in, creative activity. This comprehensive programme was underscored by ideas around democratisation and emancipation that remain vital to contemporary discussions. |
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Keywords: | culture value Cuba |
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