Transculturation and cultural studies. A brief approach to Fernando Ortiz’ thinking

https://doi.org/10.25058/20112742.156

Erelis Marrero León
eremarrero@gmail.com
Universidad de La Habana, Cuba

Abstract:

Studies on culture in the 20th century have in Fernando Ortiz an excelling exponent. The methodological eclecticism in his work, from anthropology, history, and ethnography not only accounts for Cuban culture’s traits, but also offers analysis tools to understand the process of formation of Latin American culture. This paper covers Fernando Ortiz’ theoretical thinking, his motivations and intellectual legacies, up to his formulation of neologism “transculturation”. This is a point of departure of an analysis on the conditions of possibility to effectively think Ortiz as a part of a project of Cultural Studies in Cuba, or as an author closer to cultural studies judging from the issues he he addresses along his work.

Keywords: Culture, Cuba, transculturation, cultural studies, Ortiz.