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Memes for the increase in the price of oil in Cuba

Memes have become an authentic popular expression of the discontent that Cubans have towards their government.

Memes cubanos © Redes sociales
Cuban memes Photo © Social networks

This article is from 1 year ago

The high prices of edible oil in the Cuban informal market Not only do they provoke indignation among citizens, who often cannot pay for it, but they have unleashed a wave of memes on social networks.

The meme fills the void left by the official media and becomes the voice of Cubans dissatisfied with the direction the country is taking in the economic, political and social spheres.

Meme to also make fun of the new presenter of "Con filo"

This image is also a clear mockery of the new host of the program "Con filo", and appropriates the official visual language to attack those who defend the government and its economic policies.

With the popularity of Japanese manga and anime among young people, it is not surprising that images modified with digital programs are used to adapt the message to the Cuban context.

Meme inspired by a Japanese anime

The creator of this meme shows a character measuring the oil with a dropper, even though he has a five-liter bottle, something that very few can afford, since we are talking about more than five thousand Cuban pesos for the product.

A classic in the creation of memes is "The Simpsons", an American animated series that from its beginning was characterized by humorous criticism of almost all world events and phenomena.

"The Simpsons", a classic meme that never fails

In this image you can see the protagonist of the series kissing the hand of Fat Tony - the boss of the Springfiel mafia - who is carrying a bottle of oil, while his wife and sisters-in-law look at him from the table.

The reference is to sellers who adjust the price of their products claiming proximity to the buyer. "You are cruel, but fair," the image concludes.

If we talk about cartoons, the image of Sylvester the cat reading a book that says "How to make marabou oil" has also gone viral.

Sylvester the cat inspired this "marabou oil" flavored meme

The meme mocks the government, which, far from providing real solutions to the problems of Cubans, insists on defending the discourse of "creative resistance" and launches innovative campaigns with dubious results.

It is true that the Cuban authorities have never mentioned the idea of "marabou oil", but for some Cubans it would not be strange if one day they made public similar information, especially considering that this invasive plant has destroyed entire fields throughout the country and that the Cuban regime is profuse in crazy and ineffective solutions to big problems.

Eggs and oil, luxury items in Cuba

The inside of a safe can always be a source of curiosity for some, especially if we know that jewelry and money are hidden.

But seeing oil and egg in one of them gives the measure of the crisis that the country is going through, where such basic products and foods have become a true luxury for some families.

Revolico sellers impose prices according to supply and demand

Revolico It continues to be the digital classifieds medium par excellence for Cubans, to the point that many products and services are promoted on this platform.

This meme, with cinematic overtones, shows the oil seller convincing the buyer that a bottle of oil worth a thousand Cuban pesos is "a damn beauty."

Coconut oil for cooking? Seems that if.

Another image that circulates social networks is that of a character from the "Toy Story" saga, digitally transformed into the mother of any Cuban.

The character has just discovered that coconut oil is also useful for cooking and therefore says goodbye to it. "I never want to see you again," he tells her.

In the blink of an eye, everything can change

The last meme that we selected for this article shows the sudden increase that the product can have in the Cuban informal market.

Almost in the blink of an eye it can be sold for a thousand pesos or more, depending on the territory, a situation that affects many households that cannot afford the expense.

The government has not commented on the current oil crisis in Cuba, which is missing from state stores and markets; but at other times He has blamed the lack of control in warehouses and entities.

According to the official discourse, the US embargo and the prices of raw materials in the international market are reasons that prevent supplying Cubans with edible oil.

At the moment it does not seem that there is political will to reverse the economic effects caused by the Ordering Task and the government's interest is to maintain totalitarian control over the country, while Friendly nations send shipments of solidarity aid, with food, toiletries and medicine.

What do you think?

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Lazaro Javier Chirino

CiberCuba journalist. Graduate in Sociocultural Studies from the University of Isla de la Juventud. Presenter and journalist on radio and television


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