Paper short abstract:

This paper explains why the presenter made the film and wrote "Ethnography of Revolutionary Cuba." Presenting Cuban Revolutionaries' history as "foundational fiction" and detailed personal life stories of Cuban youth, it shows the double bind situation that eventually led them to leave abroad.

Paper long abstract:

This paper is to explain why the presenter made the film "Cuba Sentimental," and wrote "Ethnography of Revolutionary Cuba."

Cuba is known for its Revolution, creating "New Man" who embodies the ideal of Che Guevara. However, the presenter found that those who seems to realize this ideal having meager space to express themselves. They were in "double bind" situation since the fall of the Soviet Union and following "Special Period in Time of Peace." Naming this period as such, the government enabled themselves to introduce depenalization of dollar, limited market economy, and welcoming of tourists from capitalist countries. All those were inconsistent with realization of "New Man" and with socialist principles. And yet there is no official and public media where people can question and express their frustration and anger - many compromised with telling jokes about the inconsistency while others decided to leave, as has Bateson proposed as the way to escape the double bind.

The presenter made the film and wrote ethnography to give opportunity for others to listen to what those who left Cuba as "New Man" think -——Since 1959, expatriate Cubans in Cuba has almost always been portrayed as "contrary" to revolution - greedy, selfish capitalist. However, the film and ethnography by the presenter shows that those who left are hardworking, living a plain life and caring about their family and friends, which questions these stereotypes.