Response to Trenton

I was also surprised to learn about all the successes under Fidel Castro. In previous classes, he was either overlooked or we talked about how he was separating Cuba from the rest of the world. It was interesting to learn that some of his plans and reforms had been successful and after learning this I realized why so many people were in favor of him. Usually when talking about communism, classes fail to acknowledge the benefits it has to its citizens and we only talk about the bad. I found it refreshing to talk about the successes of communism especially in Cuba.

Week Eight

            This past week, we have been talking about the Cuban Revolution. Similarly to the Mexican Revolution, I had not been introduced to the topic before in previous classes. I think this is because the United States has had a rocky relationship with Cuba until recently. That’s not to say we have a good relationship with Cuba now, but it is slowly becoming friendlier and more inviting. Just recently we began talking about Fidel Castro and his rise to power, and I was surprised with how much I didn’t know about Castro and his early life. When talking about Cuba in past classes, obviously Fidel Castro was brought up, but all that was said was that he was a dictator who separated Cuba from the rest of the world. I had no idea that he was an illegitimate child and because of this was insecure about his upbringing.

            In Professor Serrata’s part of the class, we watched a movie called the Motorcycle Diaries. The movie was about a medical student named Ernesto and his friend Albert who take a trip around South America. At the beginning of their journey, they are carefree and enjoy each of their stops. Ernesto soon learns, however, of the poverty that is stricken throughout Latin America. He begins helping others and ends up at a leper colony where he bonds with his patients. At the colony, he makes a speech that foreshadows his influence in politics and the motivation he’ll have in the future. I liked the movie because not only was it entertaining, but it also showed the progression of Ernesto’s passion, eventually leading to his political influence.    

Response to Ian

I agree with your statement, “art can bring people together.” Especially after having analyzed the mural A Dream of a Sunday Afternoon in Alameda Park, it becomes obvious that art promotes unity through a common history. Through these murals and paintings, artists are able to encourage people to look past their differences and to look towards their similarities and shared experiences. I think that music has a similar effect and role in bringing people together as well. People are able to express thoughts and opinions in a calm way through music, and even though they may not be talking about history, they sing about issues and about seeing the world in a better light.