Using tourist advertisements for Cuba from the 1940s and 1950s, found online or sourced from Cuban and/or American journals and newspapers, write a two-page essay that does the following:
Describe the advertisements.
Analyze the messages and themes.
Reconstruct the image of Cuba presented to tourists during this period.
Attach any images of the advertisements you used as additional pages (third or fourth page of your document).
Introduction:
Briefly introduce the time period (1940s-1950s) and the sources where you found your advertisements (e.g., Cuban/American journals or newspapers).
Outline the main points you will cover in your analysis.
Body Paragraphs:
Description:
Describe the content of the advertisements. What imagery, language, and themes do they use to attract tourists?
Focus on the visuals (pictures, symbols, colors) and the text (slogans, descriptions) that stand out.
Analysis:
Analyze how the ads reflect the cultural, social, and political context of the time.
Consider questions like:
What aspects of Cuban life and landscape were emphasized?
What was omitted, and why might that be?
What messages about Cuba are these ads sending to potential tourists?
Reconstruction:
Reconstruct the image of Cuba that these advertisements were creating. How did they might have shaped the perception of Cuba, both for domestic and international audiences?
Conclusion:
Summarize your main findings.
Reflect on the significance of these portrayals for understanding mid-20th century Cuban tourism and how they may have influenced perceptions of Cuba at the time.