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View Full Version : Che Guevara a Floating Signifier



gurrilla
12th November 2005, 01:36
Hello members of the Revolutionary Left
I am a degree student studying graphic design in the UK. I am writing about Che for my final dissertation and wondered if you would be able to help by answering some questions or perhaps even corresponding with me.
The dissertation asks if Che Guevara’s image now works as a floating signifier like the Rorschach ink test, allowing viewers of the image to attach their own meanings to the image. I am interested in the sales of Che Guevara memorabilia and in particular clothing which features Che’s image. I believe that the image is now used by a number of social groups to identify themselves with a range of meanings, from the original left wing ideologies of Guevara through to a simplistic notion of rebelious branding.
Any sales figures would be useful to me as am put forward the notion that clothes have now eclipsed prints as the primary form of reproduction and distribution of image. Any opinions, responses or links would also be extremely helpful.
Yours Hopefully
Neil Gurr
p.s. attached is a pic of a young kid wearing a che t-shirt as he was dragged around a nature site in the uk. I couldn't help but ponder what social messages could be extrapolated from someone so young of obvious comfortable middle-class western family wearing the image.

Wanted Man
12th November 2005, 15:00
Why do you assume that kid is from a middle class or even "comfortable" background? Just because workers can afford to buy t-shirts, doesn't make them "middle class". Anyway, to answer your question, no matter how right-wing or simply politically unaware the people wearing Che shirts are, the bottom line is that his face is spread throughout the world, and those who know of him or are interested because of the shirts, will be made more aware by it. Buy Che, it's only for the better.

Fidel Follower
13th November 2005, 21:41
Humm buy Che? Only if it is from a left group!

You want it to go to a good cause!

And gurrilla if you dont get any good answer in this section try the learning section its also very healpful....hope thats okay! :hammer: