Cuba + Online Media

*** When referring to ‘we’ or ‘us’ in this post I am referring to the privileged living within a western and democratic society.

We live in a world with just a few clicks we have access to almost unlimited amounts of media. These pieces of media could be coming from over all over the world expressing any number of views. It may be hard for us to imagine what it may be like to live in a society where access to the internet is limited if not accessible at all. Though Cuba’s access to the outside world is certainly growing – especially now with the U.S. improving relations with the country – access is still very limited.

I came across this short doc when it was originally released on VOX that focuses on how cubans gets media from the outside as well as this one from the same director that focuses on Cubas “street net”.

In the doc you see how Cubans have established a underground media distribution network through the use of USB. In order to consume media outside of Cuba that is not controlled by the state.

This is an example of the kind of topic that interests me the most.

How certain seemingly frivoulous, materialistic, things hold a greater purpose. To some the consumption of Modern Family or the latest super hero flick may seem trivial but to the people of Cuba it is a political statement of not being controlled by the state.

It also represents the importance of technology and how tech has changed the world for the better.

Many people like to focus on how they feel the internet has damaged our society from oversharing, over consumption, “it makes us dumb” etc… I do not. As I feel the good clearly outweighs the bad.

One Day we will erect a monument to the flash drive. Because all these objects have made us more free. And this (flash drive in hand) has given us liberty. – Yoani Sanchez 

** Featured Image from Franck Vervial found HERE