Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Che's family fights for his iconic image
The Scotsman ^ | Thu 1 Sep 2005 | DAMIAN WROCLAVSKY

Posted on 08/31/2005 5:03:04 PM PDT by REactor

THE image of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara gazing sternly into the distance, his long hair tucked into a beret bearing a single star, has been an enduring 20th- century pop icon, appearing on posters, badges, watches and even underwear.

But now the late Argentine Marxist revolutionary's family is attempting to claim back his image from the capitalist consumer society that he died fighting to overturn.

The picture was taken by the Cuban photographer Alberto Diaz, a fashion photographer better known as Korda, at a funeral in 1960 for victims of an explosion on a French freighter transporting weapons to Cuba a year after Fidel Castro's revolution triumphed with the help of Guevara.

It was not published but appeared on posters seven years later following Che Guevara's execution in Bolivia, firing the imagination of rioting Parisian students in May 1968 and becoming a symbol of idealistic revolt for a generation.

As well as being one of the world's most reproduced, the image has become one of its most merchandised, prompting Guevara's family to launch an effort to stop it.

They plan to file lawsuits abroad against companies that they believe are exploiting the image and say lawyers in a number of countries have offered assistance.

"We have a plan to deal with the misuse," Guevara's Cuban widow Aleida March said. "We can't attack everyone with lances like Don Quixote, but we can try to maintain the ethics [of Guevara's legacy]," said Ms March, who will lead the effort from the Che Guevara Studies Centre which is opening in Havana later this year.

"The centre intends to contain the uncontrolled use of Che's image. It will be costly and difficult because each country has different laws, but a limit has to be drawn," Aleida Guevara, the guerrilla's daughter, said.

Swatch has used Guevara on a wristwatch, advertising firms have used his image to sell vodka, supermodel Gisele Bundchen even took to the catwalk in Brazilian underwear stamped with Che's face. Guevara collectibles - from cigarette lighters to belt buckles and key chains - can be bought online.

But a successful copyright lawsuit against Smirnoff vodka in Britain in 2000 set the precedent for legal action, establishing ownership of the photographic


TOPICS: Cuba; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: castro; che; communism; cuba; socialism; windbag

1 posted on 08/31/2005 5:03:04 PM PDT by REactor
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: REactor
One of the best che images:


2 posted on 08/31/2005 5:06:44 PM PDT by flashbunny (Always remember to bring a towel!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: REactor

3 posted on 08/31/2005 5:07:04 PM PDT by spetznaz (Nuclear-tipped Ballistic Missiles: The Ultimate Phallic Symbol)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: spetznaz

4 posted on 08/31/2005 5:08:48 PM PDT by reagan_fanatic (Proud member of the 21st century Christian Crusaders)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: REactor

Yoko Ono liberal feeding off the dead syndrome.


5 posted on 08/31/2005 5:09:58 PM PDT by ncountylee (Dead terrorists smell like victory)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: flashbunny

Man! I love that picture!


6 posted on 08/31/2005 5:13:04 PM PDT by Redleg Duke (BOHICA!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: flashbunny
You all must remember that Earnesto was immaciated because he was captured after getting lost while leading his pathetic band of would-be revolutionaries on a training hike.

It has been said that his last words were something to the effect that "I am Che Guevara and I am worth more to you alive than dead."

Well, that was his opinion.

7 posted on 08/31/2005 5:15:51 PM PDT by Redleg Duke (BOHICA!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: REactor
Another nice Che image:


8 posted on 08/31/2005 5:21:34 PM PDT by Zuben Elgenubi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: REactor

If he hadn't had been such a pretty boy, his image wouldn't be on anything and he'd be mostly forgotten by now. As far as dead commies go, his efforts towards the advancement of world communism were pretty minor. But you don't see Marx or Trotsky's ugly mugs on any t-shirts.


9 posted on 08/31/2005 5:22:42 PM PDT by Welsh Rabbit
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: REactor

10 posted on 08/31/2005 5:24:16 PM PDT by Zuben Elgenubi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: REactor
But a successful copyright lawsuit against Smirnoff vodka in Britain in 2000 set the precedent for legal action

Kinda sounds like an anti-communist sentiment to not let all the proletariat free use of Che's likeness.

11 posted on 08/31/2005 5:25:40 PM PDT by Lawgvr1955 (Never draw to an inside straight.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: REactor

Property rights? Bourgeois!


12 posted on 08/31/2005 5:29:58 PM PDT by DUMBGRUNT (Sane, and have the papers to prove it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DUMBGRUNT

LOL!


13 posted on 08/31/2005 5:39:41 PM PDT by SIDENET ("Most of us live... ...two weeks from cannibalism." -- words of wisdom from DU)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Welsh Rabbit

Forget minor, he was an abject failure.

Castro sent him to Africa, and then Bolivia, to get him out of Cuba. Both missions were failures. Castro wanted him to die, and got his wish.

Hell, the man managed to be wounded during the bay of pigs while defending a beach that WASN'T attacked!


14 posted on 08/31/2005 6:01:22 PM PDT by sharktrager (Don't look at my profile. It's inappropriate.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: REactor

Roast in hell, MoFo...


15 posted on 08/31/2005 7:10:47 PM PDT by Migraine
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: REactor

So I have never had the number of attacks upon my systems as to when I posted to this post. Zone Alarm are gone absolutely nuts and i"m extracting myself.


16 posted on 08/31/2005 8:14:22 PM PDT by Zuben Elgenubi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: reagan_fanatic

Amen to that t-shirt brother. Might you know where I might be able to buy one? There are some lib pals I need to drive up the wall with it. Thanks RFan.


17 posted on 08/31/2005 10:38:06 PM PDT by spetznaz (Nuclear-tipped Ballistic Missiles: The Ultimate Phallic Symbol)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson