A photography book of contemporary Cuba-focusing on the two main cities of Havana and Santiago-which captures the beauty, mood, and flavor of Cuba and her people while she struggles through these tryinng times known as, "The Special period." Cuban exiles, such as the Spanish priest who taught Castro in his youth and the Chairman of the Board of Bacardi, give insights and their thoughts on Cuba and Castro
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"...Friedman's work, coming almost 10 years after (Robert) Rauschenberg's, raises the curtains that conceal what lies hidden in the everyday challenges faced by Cubans. In its pages, North American photography enthusiasts will find the answers to many questions raised by this tragic period within the last bastion of orthodox communism in the western hemisphere." -- Alejandro Lorenzo/El Nuevo Herald
"A photograph tour-de-force that will be much appreciated by both armchair travelers and on-sight visitors." -- Jim cox, editor/Midwest Book Review
"I loved it!" (selected as one of the ten best new books) -- Jennifer Russel, editor/Blockbuster Online
A photograph tour-de-force that will be much appreciated by both armchair travelers and on-sight visitors -- Jim Cox, editor Midwest Book Review
I Loved It! -- Jennifer Russell, Editor, Blockbuster Online
On the surface, the work could be confused with many of the books of photographs on Cuba that have been published recently around the world. But those who know what is happening in the country currently and who read the combined testimonies written by prestigious figures of the exile community which appear in the second section of this book, will understand that this book is not intended simply to satisfy the curiosity or the dark fascination of tourists bent on searching for exotic places, or regions and cities that promise emotional adventures. One cannot even affirm that the book will help rekindle memory for the nostalgic, because the images displayed do not seek to represent what was but what is. . . Artists and intellectuals from all over the world have always visited Havana, perhaps out of curiosity, ideological affinities, love of its culture, the climate, its people, or for all these motives combined. One example is the visit in the late 1980s by Robert Rauschenberg, the famous North American painter of the pop art period. The artist created a set of works inspired, according to him, by the Cuban experience, which he later exhibited in Havana's Museum of Fine Arts. But none of those photorealist paintings disclosed a trace of what was really happening in Cuba. Rauschenberg's creations, of exceptional quality, suffered from a disconnection from reality and, in the judgment of some, this occurred because they were extremely accommodating to the regime. This case is mentioned because Friedman's work, coming almost ten years after Rauschenberg's, raises the curtains that conceal what lies hidden in the everyday challenges faced by Cubans. In its pages, North American photography enthusiasts will find the answers to many questions raised by this tragic period within the last bastion of orthodox communism in the western hemisphere. . . The book does not delight in misery and human weakness, as is often the case in other works by some photographers who have travelled through the island. One might even affirm that in each shot, in each angle, there lies a deliberate ingenuity, as if the colors employed in the photos wished to dissipate tragedy. One gets the impression that they were taken to interest the average North American audience, so that the book will arrive without rejection or suspicion . . . -- Alejandro Lorenzo, an ex-Cuban writer and poet whose works are published internationally. Mr. Lorenzo also taught literature and painting at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico. Excerpted from his article on the book, CUBA: The Special Period, written specially for El Nuevo Herald and printed in the 11/9/97 Sunday edition.
Something I couldn't put down until I saw all the pictures and read all the stories. Very entertaining. -- Kim Fitzgerald, buyer the University Book Stores
The "special period in time of peace" is Cuba's post-Soviet Union response to economic crisis. austerity and sacrifice-an economic state of war -are the buzz words as Cuba deals with the loss of Soviet aid and the continuing US embargo. Friedman's evocative photographs of Cuba show that poverty and beauty can coexist. What to make of and do about the relationship between the two is less clear. The two insipid "poems" that narrate the Havana and Santiago de Cuba photo sections of the book offer sentiment rather than enlightenment. The exiles' testimonials that bewail the loss of family legacies, offer the usual verbal trouncings of Fidel Castro, and make vague solidarity promises to "brothers and sisters," continue the nothing-new-in the-realm-of-ideas theme. If the cold war really is over, one would hope that the argument of a book like this would mature beyond the "strong man/bogey man" view of the history of Cuba since the revolution. -- From Independent Publisher
"A photograph tour-de-force that will be much appreciated by both armchair travelers and on-sight visitors." -- Jim cox, editor/Midwest Book Review
"I loved it!" (selected as one of the ten best new books) -- Jennifer Russel, editor/Blockbuster Online
A photograph tour-de-force that will be much appreciated by both armchair travelers and on-sight visitors -- Jim Cox, editor Midwest Book Review
I Loved It! -- Jennifer Russell, Editor, Blockbuster Online
On the surface, the work could be confused with many of the books of photographs on Cuba that have been published recently around the world. But those who know what is happening in the country currently and who read the combined testimonies written by prestigious figures of the exile community which appear in the second section of this book, will understand that this book is not intended simply to satisfy the curiosity or the dark fascination of tourists bent on searching for exotic places, or regions and cities that promise emotional adventures. One cannot even affirm that the book will help rekindle memory for the nostalgic, because the images displayed do not seek to represent what was but what is. . . Artists and intellectuals from all over the world have always visited Havana, perhaps out of curiosity, ideological affinities, love of its culture, the climate, its people, or for all these motives combined. One example is the visit in the late 1980s by Robert Rauschenberg, the famous North American painter of the pop art period. The artist created a set of works inspired, according to him, by the Cuban experience, which he later exhibited in Havana's Museum of Fine Arts. But none of those photorealist paintings disclosed a trace of what was really happening in Cuba. Rauschenberg's creations, of exceptional quality, suffered from a disconnection from reality and, in the judgment of some, this occurred because they were extremely accommodating to the regime. This case is mentioned because Friedman's work, coming almost ten years after Rauschenberg's, raises the curtains that conceal what lies hidden in the everyday challenges faced by Cubans. In its pages, North American photography enthusiasts will find the answers to many questions raised by this tragic period within the last bastion of orthodox communism in the western hemisphere. . . The book does not delight in misery and human weakness, as is often the case in other works by some photographers who have travelled through the island. One might even affirm that in each shot, in each angle, there lies a deliberate ingenuity, as if the colors employed in the photos wished to dissipate tragedy. One gets the impression that they were taken to interest the average North American audience, so that the book will arrive without rejection or suspicion . . . -- Alejandro Lorenzo, an ex-Cuban writer and poet whose works are published internationally. Mr. Lorenzo also taught literature and painting at the University of Guadalajara in Mexico. Excerpted from his article on the book, CUBA: The Special Period, written specially for El Nuevo Herald and printed in the 11/9/97 Sunday edition.
Something I couldn't put down until I saw all the pictures and read all the stories. Very entertaining. -- Kim Fitzgerald, buyer the University Book Stores
The "special period in time of peace" is Cuba's post-Soviet Union response to economic crisis. austerity and sacrifice-an economic state of war -are the buzz words as Cuba deals with the loss of Soviet aid and the continuing US embargo. Friedman's evocative photographs of Cuba show that poverty and beauty can coexist. What to make of and do about the relationship between the two is less clear. The two insipid "poems" that narrate the Havana and Santiago de Cuba photo sections of the book offer sentiment rather than enlightenment. The exiles' testimonials that bewail the loss of family legacies, offer the usual verbal trouncings of Fidel Castro, and make vague solidarity promises to "brothers and sisters," continue the nothing-new-in the-realm-of-ideas theme. If the cold war really is over, one would hope that the argument of a book like this would mature beyond the "strong man/bogey man" view of the history of Cuba since the revolution. -- From Independent Publisher
From the Author
I visited Cuba at a time when the Special Period was no longer a temporary crises but a way of life. It has become a country where the outside world, though scrutinized, is allowed to come inside, but those inside can look out only through censures screens . . . wanting, hoping, and waiting. With my camera I tried to capture a place and people frozen in time: a people with the ability, education, and desire to propel themselves and their country into the prosperous technologically advanced country it could be. And while they wait, the world watches. Perhaps the exposures in this book will help reveal what the Cuban sees. (Taken from Prologue)
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"CUBA: The Special Period" is an outstanding book!,
By A Customer
This review is from: CUBA: The Special Period (Hardcover)
I have read Marcia Friedman's beautiful book titled "CUBA: The Special Period" from cover to cover and was totally captivated. As an artist, art dealer and art appraiser for over 30 years, I have seen many wonderful books and Marcia Friedman's publication stands out in my mind among the best. The quality of the photography, text and printing make it outstanding.
9 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
This book has a very definite political agenda.,
By A Customer
This review is from: CUBA: The Special Period (Hardcover)
When I ordered this book, I expected a photography book of photographs taken throughout Cuba in the nineties. I did not expect a heavy-handed, one-sided anti-Castro dissertation. The photographs are heavily documented with this sort of commentary. The last chapter in the book does not contain photographs at all - it is a collection of essays, all from members of the Cuba exile community. The photographs themselves are of professional quality (they are certainly better than mine), but the subject matter is extremely limited. The vast majority are of buildings, transportation, and street scenes in Havana and Santiago de Cuba. I expected more variety and a bit more imagination in the choice of subject matter. If you do not want to support the political agenda put forth by this extremely prejudicial account, I do not recommend this book. There are lots of more interesting and truly informative books about Cuba.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautiful and very interesting book. A must read.,
By A Customer
This review is from: CUBA: The Special Period (Hardcover)
I read Marcia's book and thought that the pictures were great and the essays from Exiles were extremely interesting and enlightening. As an American, never being in Cuba, I felt I was personally taken on an amazing journey. I highly recommend this book to everyone. I especially loved the poetic way in which each picture was linked. It was very well done.
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