Analyzing the Iconic Image of Che Guevara

Question: Was Ernesto “Che” Guevara the revolutionary hero as depicted in today’s pop culture, or was he a vicious murderer, obsessed with the destruction of capitalism?

Document C shows that Chavez’s willingness to sacrifice was effective because the image shows Senator Robert F. Kennedy, a future presidential candidate, with Chavez. The image’s description states that Kennedy was supporting Chavez. Along with that, Chavez said, “I am convinced that the truest act of courage, the strongest act of manliness, is to sacrifice ourselves for others in a totally nonviolent struggle for justice.” This image and excerpt show that Chavez was willing to make sacrifices for the movement that he was leading, and that these sacrifices helped bring more awareness to the issue about the rights of farm workers. The willingness to sacrifice is an important quality to have because in the long run, the sacrifice of a leader usually benefits the movement that the leader is a part of. People are astonished and inspired by a person’s willingness to sacrifice, and the sacrifice of leaders has a profound affect on their followers, and, eventually, on social systems. Chavez chose hunger strikes as a form of protest because it was nonviolent, it showed courage, and it was a sacrifice that helped make the movement successful because the sacrifice made a statement about the movement for the rights of the farm workers. The photograph of Chavez and Kennedy was important to the movement because it showed others that Chavez had support from a well-known politician, bringing more awareness to the rights of the farm workers. This caused more people to support this movement, putting more pressure on the growers to make the farm conditions better and to treat the farm workers better. The willingness to sacrifice made Chavez an effective leader because he made sacrifices that brought more attention and support to the movement, finally helping win union rights and civil rights for the farm

Chavez uses many persuasive elements in his article to get the readers to support nonviolent resistance instead of using violence to fight for what they believe in. He uses the big idea of passion to represent what he believes in, and what he is passionate about. This is important because it helps the reader in also being passionate about what Chavez believes in, and shows how using nonviolent resistance can be more effective than using

Over the course of ches journey, he discovers a deeper connection to South America. This is a form of spiritual awakening as he explores deeper into the heart of the continent, his paints a picture of the landscape with his words like “The full moon is silhouetted against the sea, smothering the waves with silver reflection”. The descriptive image che relays through his journal is spiritual in a sense as it conveys his connection and love for the land. Che also develops a spiritual connection as he discovers the historical significance of the ancient structures that exist throughout Peru. Che describes Machu Picchu being “The most important and irrefutable thing, however, is that here we found the pure expression of the most powerful indigenous race in the Americas… The spectacular landscape circling the fortress supplies an essential backdrop, inspiring dreamers to wander its ruins”. This highlights ches greater discovery of the significance that these magnificent buildings have to the people of South America. The exploration of these cultural buildings leads Che to a greater understanding of the historical significance in which they represent a lost civilization. His greater understanding of South America transforms his appreciation of the land into a spiritual connection.

While in Cuba, the group became more aware of the sentiment and that revolution continues through propaganda images of the revolutionary leader, Che Guevara; these images portray him as a God.

The first evidence can be seen in the posters of Big Brother that are posted everywhere around London. These posters are described as having “the face of a man of about forty-five, with a heavy black mustache and ruggedly handsome features”. (1) Similarly, most if not all of the Stalin era propaganda posters featured an image of Stalin which resembles the description of Big Brother. The resemblance of Big Brother to Stalin is not the only reference to communism in 1984.

Which is simply apiece to itself is for the people. In this piece the artist serves as a conduit between the art being expressed and her public. In this piece she provides a stage in where she allows the public to speak in an uncensored way for a minute. While still demonstrating parody through a placement of a dove on the shoulder of a speaker, referencing a speech that was given by Fidel Castro. As well as being taken back into the crowd by “two guards” of the stage. Consequently, demonstrating an environment in which similar speeches are made. Though as well the attitude about this subject as well at this time. Overall the importance of can be the limited voice Cuban citizens have within there own government. This particular quote from Fidel Castro himself can give us an idea of his imposed government. “This means that within the Revolution, everything goes; against the Revolution, nothing. Nothing against the Revolution, because the Revolution has its rights also, and the first right of the Revolution is the right to exist, and no one can stand against the right of the Revolution to be and to exist. No one can rightfully claim a right against the Revolution, since it takes in the interests of the people and signifies the interests of the entire nation.” (Cameron Marce, 2009) Though open very much to interpenetration the importance that

Alberto Korda took two photos on March 5, 1960. One of the still frames would immortalize one of the most infamous and controversial ideologues to have ever lived. The image being draped over millions of shirts, posters, and most significantly the Ministry of the Interior building in Cuba. Che Guevara being celebrated by the Castro’s, and his ideals forced upon Cuba by them. The Castro family has held power in Cuba since the 1960’s. Cuba being ruled by Fidel Castro until recently his brother Raul took charge. Both men being disliked by the global public and Fidel Castro recognized as an evil dictator. What is many times overlooked was the fact that Che Guevara was just as pivotal to the sinister Cuban regime. Che had major effects on the abuse of a society, Cuban politics, and the justification of evil.

Ernesto “Che” Guevara was a part of the 26th of July Movement in Cuba. He became a revolutionary leader who inspired many and brought the guerrilla to victory in 1959. He was a part of the eighty-two men who sailed on the Granma from Mexico to Cuba in December of 1956 (Staten 114). The biographical film, Che: Part One directed by Steven Soderbergh, shows the journey of Che and the guerrillas as they attempted to defeat Batista’s military. Che: Part One is not simply just a depiction of Che’s life, but it brings you right into the action of the armed struggle the guerrilla faced. The revolution shaped Che into the leader he became. He started out as a simple doctor who wanted to bring the people of Cuba what they deserved. Che went through changes as the periods of the revolution went on. He grew to be a leader that would bring his people to the victories they achieved. Throughout the portrayal of the revolution, it can be seen how Che changes and adapts based on what situation he is facing and how the movie shows it. The film goes back and forth between the times Che is in Cuba fighting and after he wins the revolution and talks about his experiences.

Che wrote in his farewell letter to Castro in 1964 that his most sacred duty in life was, to fight against imperialism wherever it may be. Che was successful in eradicating the presence of U.S. imperialism in Cuba. Che’s relationship with Fidel Castro began back when Fidel was exiled to Mexico by General Batista the dictator of Cuba. Che when asked what his primary goals were responded, “From the political point of view, the first thing we want is to be masters of our own destiny, a country free from foreign interference, a country that seeks out its own system of development”. Che and Castro were united in the belief of freeing the world from oppression and imperialism, especially U.S. imperialism.

The film Che is about the man, Che, who joined forces in Cuba and start a revolution to end of the Batista regime in Cuba. The men that fought in the revolution were in bad conditions because they were on a really hard and dangerous combat, most of them got hurt during this fight. Also, the film shows that a lot of peasants were tortured and murdered by Batista’s army because of two men that decide to betrayal to the revolution and one of them was the messenger of the Rebel Army. Indeed, I think that Che became a hero in Cuba because he was a doctor but during the revolution, he was the commander and the one who protect and gave Cuba the freedom again and everyone respects him and him made sure that everyone was doing the right thing.

I decided to write this research paper because we were assigned to find an issue or subject within Latin America to write about. One of the most widely known and influential revolutionary figure in the history of Latin America is Ché Guevara. Ché knew how to use his intelligence and judgment in all the circumstances he encountered taking advantage of each moment as if it was a highly intensive chess game he was sincerely

I plan to answer the following essential question: how can art be used to depict political views? I also hope to address these other questions that follow the essential one: Do “political art” and “propaganda art” mean the same thing? How can I make meaningful art from political perspectives that are not my own? Why do certain political symbols and images spread (the pink “pussy hats”,

Like the much used stencil of Guevara's determined visage, the general perception of his life is flat and two-dimensional. No where more so, it seems, then in the country richest in Guevara's history, Cuba. An article printed July 21st 1997 in Newsweek, entitled 'Return Of The Rebel', explored Cuban society in the wake of the long-awaited discovery of Guevara's skeleton in Bolivian town of Vallegrande. In it journalist Brook Lamer explains how 'the Cuban Government played a pivotal role in creating the Che mystique, and it is not about to let its franchise slip away'[2].

Photographs, drawings, cartoons and videos cover significant political matters. Photojournalists such as Lynsey Addario present critical political issues that affect the world today. In her book, It’s What I Do, she presents scenes surrounding the fall of prominent political leaders such as Muammar el-Qaddafi. The pictures on pages 4 and 5 of her book, for instance, show the struggles that the rebels went through in their quest to dethrone Qaddafi. She quotes Robert Capa, who once said, “ ‘ If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough’ ” (Lynsey 7) which shows that photographs are significant in the world of journalism. A video such as “Shouting In The Dark” reveals the heinous acts done by the government of Bahrain towards its own citizens. In the video, we see the brutal force used by the government to silence the peaceful protesters. People were beaten, shot, imprisoned, and killed.