the Che Store?

[cop an Attitude]

now to get the record stright, I am not trying to attack rev left or any of its contibutors when i say this, its just mearly a observation i made. I really really dont want to be banned so please take this thread the best way possible.

I am a bit confused with the Che store, it seems a bit hypocritical. First off its a private organization that makes a profit off of slaping che's face on whatever they find. It's helping che go the way of the anarchy :blackA: or the communist :star2:, just another logo for people who dont understand what it means. Now I know that there are many of you out there that have purchased items from this store and if you are reading this right now then that most likly means your not what I'm taking about (you are posting on rev left after all). I dont think che would be to happy with the fact that his face is a tool for coperations to sell clothes. I am more agravated at Hot Topic and other, larger companies more for selling this type of communist/anrchist products but it just arose with the Che Store. There prices are reasonable so i guess it not all that bad. the revleft shirt i doubt turns that much of a profit and if it does i hope it goes to the site and not them ;). I guess my main point is this, do you think it is a good thing or a bad thing that private orgaizations profit off of communist/ socalist/ anrchist icon. does it promote awarness or lower the power of these icons. I say it does.

[Dr Mindbender]

this old chestnut.

Malte needs to pay the server cost somehow. Unfortunately to survive in a capitalist world you have to operate like a capitalist, even when you're a communist.

[cop an Attitude]

yeah i know, its more of a matter of selling leftist icons and logos than Revleft supporting the che store, I fully understand that.

oh and if an mod sees this can you please change the excamation icon next to this thread, i pressed it by accident.

[AutomaticMan]

this old chestnut.

Malte needs to pay the server cost somehow. Unfortunately to survive in a capitalist world you have to operate like a capitalist, even when you're a communist.

Yeah, but, isn't that a false dichotomy? The issue here isn't specifically operating like a capitalist, it's the RevLeft endorsing the (typically) mindless mass-reproduction of a revolutionary's image to make money. It may be an 'old chestnut', but then, pretty much is everything else on this forum, and isn't discussing them the whole purpose of this place?

[cop an Attitude]

Yeah, but, isn't that a false dichotomy? The issue here isn't specifically operating like a capitalist, it's the RevLeft endorsing the (typically) mindless mass-reproduction of a revolutionary's image to make money. It may be an 'old chestnut', but then, pretty much is everything else on this forum, and isn't discussing them the whole purpose of this place?

revleft needs funding but you are right, I knind disagree with them on supporting the che store, then again its not up to me. but still i think its a topic that needs discussing, and hasn't be disscussed for a while.

[JimmyJazz]

I dont think che would be to happy with the fact that his face is a tool for coperations to sell clothes.

I think he would be more bothered that his face had ever become a symbol of hero worship among leftists, rather than that the symbol has now become diluted and spread beyond leftists.

His real opinion (and mine) would probably depend on the more practical question of whether the production of the clothes involved the exploitation of sweatshop labor. Has RevLeft looked into that? What brand are the clothes?

[Mindtoaster]

I don't think its a problem. In the case of the Che store, the profit off of Che's image is going towards funding discussion and organization amongst socialists, instead of making profit for capitalist entrepreneurs, as in the case of Hot Topic and what not.

[Red October]

Malte's got to pay the bills somehow. I'd like to see him find a better way than the che store, but he can't really be faulted. Tons of average working people use capitalist devices to survive in a capitalist world, but that doesn't make one a capitalist.

[Kassad]

As contradictory as it can be, I can safely say that I've spread a decent amount of literature and information to people who have asked me who it was on my shirt (Of course, I don't just throw it at them. I tell them who it is and ask if they'd like some reading material. Always got a few Party for Socialism and Liberation fliers on me). If it is used properly, I can't say I object. Now, as many have said already, Hot Topic selling their little Che stickers is a massive contradiction. It'd be like Coca-Cola selling soda with Che's face on it. No thanks.

[genstrike]

I don't mind leftists selling shirts and stuff (I'm wearing an IWW Winnipeg GMB shirt as I type this), but I really want to know, is everything on that website sweatshop free and union made? If not, I would have big problems with this.

One other observation: A Che wallet? Isn't that a bit... yeah

[Module]

I would love to know who buys and wears those 'club shirts'. :laugh:

[PostAnarchy]

Eh, no interest in the old Stalinist who helped set up a state-capitalist one party regime in Cuba and attempted to set up more elsewhere. He makes for good capitalist t shirts, souveneirs and the like but in terms of concrete political theory and tactics?


Pffttttt