the che apperal fad

[Xanthor]

Does anyone see it be insulting to the memory of che that companies are capitalizing on che with clothing that depict che's face. see i stole my che apperal because i wasnt going to contribute to the assholes. and on a side note people at my school who wear this che apperal have no idea who he was ive gotten responses to my question of who do u think he was ranging from he was a muslim preacher in africa to some ww2 war hero.

[che_phoenix]

people wear the stuff to be cool

they think of him as a revolutionary, and a rebel

so they wear teh stuff to show they are a rebel

im getting a che hat, but i know stuff about him...

people shouldnt wear things that they know nothing about

[bubbЯubbgoeswoo]

I don't mind too much. I think I first saw che on a t-shirt, got interested in who he was now I'm here.

[American_Trotskyist]

I find the most insulting thing done to che is the comercializing of him. When you buy a che shirt or hat you piss on che's memory, he is not a comodity. The only place where you can buy one that might not be shitting on the man and his legacy is a communist party or store, but I think the Communist Party had to sell their rights because they don't sell them anymore. I've got to explain it to people all of the time, some people think he is like a Chech and Chong guy, an American War Hero(LMFAO), and rock star. One kid I asked, who always wears a Che something, to join a local Communist group said he hated communists and socialists, when I told him he looked sick. Any way of helping him being sold is shiting on the man and his life's work. This is capitalism's greatest insult to the man.

[Xanthor]

exactly. see when i saw the che apperal that i have now i said bloody fucking hell so i stole the hat and shirt so 1)it wont be sold 2)so i can hear the stupid shit that comes out of peoples mouth and then tell them how fucking stupid they are and 3)because its che......damn

[encephalon]

I think, if we look at it objectively, that the commercialization of Che was indeed inevitable, along with the whole of communist philosophy. Think about it: what better way to *force* people at least in recognizing communism than to make it part of pop culture? That is in fact what we want to do: reach the masses. True, most know very little about Che, but I think the more "communist" stuff there is worn, the wider our audience and the greater our cause.

Some say it is a betrayal of communist thought, but I entirely disagree: communism is to be the product of socialism, which is the product of capitalism: we can use the capitalist machinery to work against itself by spreading the message of its own demise. Marx never said not to take part in capitalism or its institutions, as far as I'm aware, and said that much good has actually come of it.

As far as I can tell, there is *no* better way to reach the masses than by the mass consumerism capitalism exhibits today. And, whether you really accept dialectics or not, I think Marx would have expected this.. it is the synthesis of a thesis and its antithesis, creating the new order itself. It is the dagger the capitalist created to kill himself with.

That said, I think symbols other than Che need to be spread, as well as things more concretely representative of communism in a sense that it also reveals some of the core aspects of communist philosophy, rather than just provide a symbol for rebels of any sort.

I think this was absolutely inevitable, especially from a materialist and dialectical standpoint. The ruling class will *always* create the means to its own destruction.. at least in theory. I'm not completely sure if I believe it's inevitable, and therefore something not to be concerned about. Regardless, I think the commercialization of communism and its symols (human and otherwise) can only work to spread communism, not hinder it.

Yes, the capitalists are making a lot of profit off of Che. Yes, given the doctrine of communism it almost seems like a mockery.. but I think it should be looked at in a materialistic, historical sense.. if we do not utilize the means of mass communication and culture spreading devices of the bourgeoisie, would it be feasible to get mass support?

Remember.. capitalism is bad, but necessary for the establishment of communism and the circumstances it needs to flourish.. I really see no better way to spread the message than through means of invading the masses through pop culture.. I think this is one of the key things that will allow a socialist state to finally be created. What is important is that *we* gain some control over it, not just the capitalists..

Anyone thought about this in any great detail, and come up with a different conclusion?

[the_godless_communist]

I agree with you in many points, but the guy who took the picture owns the whole seen I think, On a shirt that I have it says All Rights Reserved Korda(the photographer) But what someone could do if they were to gain control of the industry would be to sell the stuff and use the money to promote leftist, communist organizations.

[Xanthor]

encephalon what your saying is fight capitalism with capitalism ironic but i can see the logic in it

By the way i believe the people that makes, and distributes the Che apperal is che guevara center of study stationed in che's old Cuban home becuase on the back of Che's book Global justice (which i just bought) there is a quote by Ariel Dorfman saying "The powerful of the earth should take heed: deep inside that T-shirt where we have tried to trap him, the eyes of Che Guevara are still burning with impatience."
so if im not wrong then the money from the apperal is going to help a museam dedicated to Che and the communist movement so i guess we were all wrong about this to an extent

[che's long lost daughter]

I wonder how many threads with Che being used by capitalism as a topic, has been started but as I can see the one who started this thread is a new member so he may not be aware of that. And as what I have said in all those threads, it is sad to know that Che is being capitalized at these days...the same thing he fought against and died fighting against. But I can say that in a way, this has helped Che's memory live on. We have to realise that if it weren't for those Che shirts a lot of people have been wearing, most people wouldn't have even known about him. This site for instance is alive by selling Che products and I know that if he were alive today, Che would understand this and he would even be glad that his image is used for the revolution to continue.

By the way, I agree with you Encephalon. :)

[the_godless_communist]

Yes, but some of us wear the clothing to preserve the memory of Che, true some people don't know who he is but what about the people who do and are trying to honor him?

[Colombia]

Why do people constantly post something that has been already answered a hundred times!

[Xanthor]

cus im new and didnt know

[SittingBull47]

fair enough. just for future reference though...
this topic has been beaten to death.

[Xanthor]

ok kewl

[Dysfunctional_Literate]

I asked a kid who was wearing a che shirt at my school if he knew who he was. He didnt so I tried to explain to him about che and his politics he wanted to fight for some reason.

[Xanthor]

LMAO the people in Georgia who wear the stuff dont know him but are too stupid to understand what I tell them.

[Dysfunctional_Literate]

Here is a cool store. I don't know if they are genuine though.
Red Army (http://www.redarmyco.com/about.htm)

[encephalon]

I'm not sure if this is the appropriate place, but since one store has already been posted I might as well post this one.

http://www.redavantgarde.com/

They sell former soviet merchandise (*real*). I buy the propaganda posters to decorate. Even better, the owner of the site is still a card carrying communist (from russia). That said, I odn't think any of the money he makes (what little there probably is, from the website) goes towards revolutionary causes.. but then again, the site itself is almost revolutionary, at least in more of a sense than corporate hijacking of che's image.

I like this guy a lot, nonetheless. Just a warning, though: if you're in America, he's based in britain and constantly travelling between there and russia.. it takes seemingly forever for merchandise to arrive overseas.

[Xanthor]

I want to buy those CCCP shoes but they only come in size 7.5. DAMNIT!

[Big Boss]

What I think about the whole merchadising thing of Che's image is that it is actually backfiring and harming the cappies as well. See, even though they make money out of his face, they also help to get people interested in his life and spread the word. That is how I became a Communist, I saw a Che shirt in the local Mall and the stare of Che captivated my attention and ever since I was changed. They make money but they also help forge more swords to fight imperialism back.

[encephalon]

I want to buy those CCCP shoes but they only come in size 7.5. DAMNIT!

Actually, it does say there are different sizes upon request, they just aren't listed. You should contact him about it.

[guerillablack]

Originally posted by Fervent [email protected] 10 2005, 08:41 PM
What I think about the whole merchadising thing of Che's image is that it is actually backfiring and harming the cappies as well. See, even though they make money out of his face, they also help to get people interested in his life and spread the word. That is how I became a Communist, I saw a Che shirt in the local Mall and the stare of Che captivated my attention and ever since I was changed. They make money but they also help forge more swords to fight imperialism back.
Don't you think that was the point?The same with the Black Panther, Angela Davis, Huey P,etc shirts that are around. They are made in the memory of those people. Spread knowledge.

[Urban Guerrilla]

If you are going to get Che Apparel, get it from che-lives.com store (http://store.che-lives.com/) at least support the webmaster.

[Anarchist Freedom]

As a member of bluelight im going to say what they say. Use the fucking search engine or UTFSE!!!!

[Colombia]

Would you be able to find anything other than a Che shirt at a local mall?