CUBATV: photos of Cuban televisions and environs

Back in 2006, I blogged about photographer Simone Lueck's gallery of photos of TV in Cuban families' homes. She's since gotten a deal to print the photos in a handsome volume, recently out from Mark Batty: "In Cuba, television is the most important communication medium and a national pastime. No matter that the TV sets themselves are outdated, pre-revolution relics imported from America or sets from Russia over fifteen years old; green-hued beasts jimmy-rigged with ancient computer parts and fantastically adorned like religious altars."

Cuba TV: Dos Canales

CubaTV (online gallery)

I write books. My latest is a YA science fiction novel called Homeland (it's the sequel to Little Brother). More books: Rapture of the Nerds (a novel, with Charlie Stross); With a Little Help (short stories); and The Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow (novella and nonfic). I speak all over the place and I tweet and tumble, too.

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alllie

What is wrong with these Cuban? Don’t they know consumerism is the one true relgion? And communism is religous discrimiantion? How do they live without “stuff”. How do they live without celebrities to worship?
- temis
  
  Obviously they live such awesome lives. Look at those apartments and people! So awesome! I can’t believe those crazy ones who risk their lives swimming to Miami. they’re so happy and perfect in Cuba! I guess all those cubans who make it to the US are completely immune to celebrity worship and religious discrimination because of their beautiful, perfect communist upbringing!Really, it’s like an Utopia over there! You know it because Castro only lets his friends and family run everything which guarantees perfection!
  - alllie
    
    Yes. In America people live so much better.
JeffreyMartin360Cities

Here is my own contribution which I shot in april 2008. It’s a 360º panorama. http://www.360cities.net/image/havana-cuban-house-school-teacher#1.55,-7.12,64.9 Maria Antonia has since lost one of her legs because of diabetes. The health care system of Cuba is severely detrimental to her condition. She is not able to teach anymore.
- http://twitter.com/postprefix postprefix
  
  Do you think if she were living in the US, she could afford superior health care?
Antinous / Moderator

I live in a retirement area. That decor would look pretty normal here.
pauljodi

While on a birdwatching expedition in Cuba we did a fair bit of night-driving looking for owls. It was nice to see the familiar blue/grey TV glow emanating in the darkness from tiny and remote farm houses. A decision was clearly made that in allocating the island’s scarce resources a chunk of money would go to ensuring the availability of televisions.