Abstract

In this work, we take plantation studies as our starting point to reread Fernando Ortiz's Cuban Counterpoint: Tobacco and Sugar. Our analysis encompasses three aspects: firstly, we examine the most relevant lines of interpretation of the Counterpoint..., particularly, those derived from the notions of transculturation and counterpoint, with the aim of providing continuity and further discussion within the vast and enriching critical tradition that accompanies the text. Secondly, we propose to read certain moments of Ortiz's book from the perspective of plantation studies and the scalability model proposed by Anna Tsing for living amidst the ruins of the Anthropocene. In particular, we are interested in observing its flaws, those small fractions of territory that host non-scalable practices, fostering transformative diversity in social relations. Finally, we speculate about the neobaroque inscription of Ortiz's essayistic work as an alternative practice of transdisciplinarity.

Keywords:
Neo-Baroque; plantation; counterpoint; landscapes; multispecies