The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.62/No.37           October 19, 1998 
 
 
Cuban Editor, Poet Opens Lecture Series On Culture And Art  

BY OLGA RODRÍGUEZ AND ANDREA MORRELL
BOSTON - Norberto Codina, editor of La Gaceta de Cuba, a magazine of art and literature published by the Union of Writers and Artists of Cuba, opened a series of speaking engagements on college campuses in this city October 5 at the University of Massachusetts. Two dozen people, mainly students, heard the prize-winning author read several of his poems and afterward answer questions about culture and politics in revolutionary Cuba.

In response to an audience member who asked if any young people were involved in the magazine, Codina said La Gaceta enjoys a "very strong representation of youth." The editorial staff includes people in their twenties, he said, and the poetry and short-story contests mainly draws youth.

Asked about censorship in Cuba, Codina noted that the atmosphere in the arts in Cuba in the 1970s was dominated by "Soviet-style socialist realism," with the narrower views on culture that it represented. But today, he said, Cuban arts continue to become more open to a range of expression and subjects, including the treatment of topics that were taboo such as homosexuality.

The meeting took place under the auspices of the William Joiner Center for the Study of War and Social Consequences, as part of its 1998 Fall Lecture and Reading Series. It was cosponsored by the Gaston Institute for Latino Community Development, the Latino Coalition, the College of Public and Community Service, Talented and Gifted Hispanic Students Program, and Casa Latina. Professor Ester Shapiro chaired the meeting and later hosted a reception for Codina at her home.

*****
BY OLGA RODRÍGUEZ

NEW YORK - Norberto Codina began his five-city series of academic speaking engagements with a public meeting at Casa de las Américas October 2. Luis Miranda, director of the Cuban cultural center here, welcomed Codina on behalf of the 80 people present. After thanking Casa de las Américas, where he has previously spoken during his U.S. visits in 1995 and 1996, Codina read three of his own poems. A written English-language translation of these poems, done by U.S. author Margaret Randall, were also read to the appreciative audience. Following his presentation, a discussion ensued on Cuban literature and other art forms in Cuba today and other topics.

Codina was also welcomed by Rosina Rodríguez of the New York-based Dominican Friends of Cuba Committee and by Javier Torres, president of the Student Senate at Hostos Community College. They both spoke of the importance of visits by Cubans such as Codina as a way for people to find out the truth about the Cuban revolution today.

Torres announced that academic institutions at Hostos will sponsor a meeting for Codina, at the end of his U.S. visit, on October 22. That event is thus far is sponsored by Hostos Community College president Dolores Fernández, the Center for Arts and Culture at Hostos, the student government organization, and Michael Mbabuike, director, Department of Humanities at the college.

 
 
 
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