Luis Emilio Aybar, director of the Cuban Institute of Cultural Research "Juan Marinello," assured that "discussing distribution is a political act," and his words have sparked a debate on social media.
Aybar's statements were made this Friday on the government-backed program Mesa Redonda, which was dedicated to discussing the distribution as an expression of urban music in Cuba.
The official acknowledged the significance of this music in Cuban society and its direct connection to the cultural practices and tastes of young people on the island. He asserted that the genre holds considerable social power, emphasizing that the position of the Ministry of Culture is "neither to demonize it nor to praise it uncritically."
He added that this urban music is often stigmatized for its explicit language and controversial lyrics, which reflect issues present in Cuban society.
"It is the discourse of superiority by the man who has more women, more money, more possessions, success, popularity, and even ways of imposing himself violently. It often contains vulgar, sexual language that generates a certain repulsion," Aybar acknowledged.
In his opinion, these negative elements are not exclusive to the distribution or reggaeton. His statements raise questions about the stance of the Ministry of Culture, which for years marginalized reggaeton and its artists in institutional settings.
The exponents of this music have forged their path mainly outside the institutions, through alternative routes governed by the laws of supply and demand. This was acknowledged by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Fernando León Jacomino.
He assured that it is not due to the type of music they make, but rather to the economic crisis that also affects the cultural system. The cast and its representatives operate in promotional circuits that "have different regulatory mechanisms" in Cuba.
Reactions of Cubans to the controversy surrounding the Reparto
Institutional statements regarding the distribution generated reactions on social media, where several users expressed their skepticism and sarcasm towards the official stance.
"Ah well... it's easier and more entertaining to talk about the distribution than to explain how to solve the blackouts, hunger, and misery. Bread and circus... Wow Pedro," said an internet user.
"Reggaeton and the distribution are the result of revolutionary education: Crudeness, vulgarity, machismo and much more. They are the men of the future who were once referred to as 'the new man,'" commented another person.
There were also those who preferred to take a humorous look at Aybar's words. "So... Revolution is a sense of historical totality."
The journalist Ernesto Morales commented: "The next time you hear 'it's ready for painting, it's ready for chopping', think of it as an ideological precept that aligns with the philosophy of Blas Roca Calderío. Let Raúl Torres find out that they first honor Kevincito El 13 on the Mesa Redonda before him."
In the current sociopolitical context, characterized by a deep economic crisis, increasing social unrest, and a youth that is increasingly disconnected from official discourses, the claim for redistribution seems more like an attempt at symbolic appropriation than a true acknowledgment of its cultural impact.
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