Cuban billboards
One of the many peculiarities of Cuba’s urban and rural landscape is the nearly total absence of commercial billboards contrasting with the abundance and variety of propaganda billboards. They are found all over the country: along the road, on the facades of buildings and at city squares. These billboards are really a unique Cuban phenomenon: where nowadays the rest of the world only seems to be advertising commercial products, Cuba continues to advertise revolutionary ideas and ideals.
The message is usually that the achievements of the revolution must be defended against American aggression, and the simple idea is conveyed through bright colors and clear designs. The style fluctuates from disquieting to hilarious. The unequivocal style of many of these billboards is a mix of Russian socialist realism (with its triumphalist overtones) and US 1950’s commercial advertisement (with its enthusiastic and simple persuasive statements)
Che Guevara’s “Hasta la victoria siempre” is the most common slogan and his famous portrait is everywhere. “Socialism o muerte” runs a close second. Fidel’s image is rarely seen. The charismatic leader says he wants to avoid a “cult of personality” On some farther roads can meet some more controversial revolutionaries like Camillo Cienfuegos or Huber Matos.
Although I always was drawn to their retro styles I still wonder: what impact could have these worthless words nowadays? Some people say that for the locals these slogans have lost their patriotic meaning long time ago, but others think that the revolutionary rhetoric continues to persuade and even though Cubans struggle with their daily life, the revolutionary ideals still have an effect. Whatever the truth, a fascinating thing happened during the last years – for the visitors, these propaganda billboards became a huge tourist attraction.
Cuban billboards
One of the many peculiarities of Cuba’s urban and rural landscape is the nearly total absence of commercial billboards contrasting with the abundance and variety of propaganda billboards. They are found all over the country: along the road, on the facades of buildings and at city squares. These billboards are really a unique Cuban phenomenon: where nowadays the rest of the world only seems to be advertising commercial products, Cuba continues to advertise revolutionary ideas and ideals.
The message is usually that the achievements of the revolution must be defended against American aggression, and the simple idea is conveyed through bright colors and clear designs. The style fluctuates from disquieting to hilarious. The unequivocal style of many of these billboards is a mix of Russian socialist realism (with its triumphalist overtones) and US 1950’s commercial advertisement (with its enthusiastic and simple persuasive statements)
Che Guevara’s “Hasta la victoria siempre” is the most common slogan and his famous portrait is everywhere. “Socialism o muerte” runs a close second. Fidel’s image is rarely seen. The charismatic leader says he wants to avoid a “cult of personality” On some farther roads can meet some more controversial revolutionaries like Camillo Cienfuegos or Huber Matos.
Although I always was drawn to their retro styles I still wonder: what impact could have these worthless words nowadays? Some people say that for the locals these slogans have lost their patriotic meaning long time ago, but others think that the revolutionary rhetoric continues to persuade and even though Cubans struggle with their daily life, the revolutionary ideals still have an effect. Whatever the truth, a fascinating thing happened during the last years – for the visitors, these propaganda billboards became a huge tourist attraction.
