[Experimentation with Images] Reality Series

[Angie]

Reality Series 001
(File size: approx. 28k)

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Questionnaire:

1. Does this alter your perception of Che in any way? (Consider your initial instinctive response to it.)

2. Would this image have been more effective if it were showing Che in a different mood, ie. happy, angry?

3. Taking into account that presumably most of us are active students of Che's ideology, history, etc., what sort of response do you believe that this sort of image would create within different groups of society? Examples of possible groups: Capitalists, 'uninitiated' students of guerilla warfare, 'rebelling' teenagers.

4. Jean-Paul Sartre quoted: "Che Guevara is part of the great myths of this century; his life is the story of our era's most perfect man.";
Does this image (a) give the general impression that Che is actually imperfect due to his having human flaws just like any of the rest of us, or (b) does it strengthen his perfection through our ability to relate to his flaws, his humanity, thus positively influencing our beliefs in our own abilities?

5. Any comments?

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Any ideas for future images are welcomed.

Thanks!

[Fires of History]

Angie,

1. I know too much about Che for this to change my perception of him.

2. No, I think the picture is perfect. The problem, to me, is the difficulty in reading the text.

3. It would be great actually. I think that if the text was made a little easier to read, then you've got a great idea for introducing Che to more people. Also, there are many other possible good quotes to use.

4. b. Che is not perfect. But I chose B because it reminds us that he was just one human, look what he did! Wait, I'm one human too! And so on and so forth. Che reminds us, in his imperfection, that we can change the world too! Seeing Che as perfect counteracts that vital message.

5. I love it, just hard to read.

KEEP IT UP! I want to see more! :-)

Power To The People,
Trance

[sabre]

1 this actually makes me feel that he is elevated as an idol even more, that he was willing to sacrafice his cleanliness and health to continue the revolution

2 angry, along with the quote wqould probably make a picture that made me feel worse about che

3 - i think they would be grossed out

4 - B) i idolize him more after this, jsut liek in question 1

[Angie]

Thank you both so much - a positive, encouraging start for me!

FoH, I realised while I was making the image that it wasn't the best sized for the amount of text involved - it was the actual photo itself that caught my eye initially, as it can be interpreted a number of different ways. The next one will be much better. I've already found some interesting quotes, and are looking for bigger images to match them. Or small images with little quotes ...

Sabre, the same thoughts occured to me, also - after reading his "flaws", he seemed like so much a better person, mainly because of the fact that he showed such determination to keep his cause as the number one issue, and also because it's just great to be able to relate to someone like Che was, in his humanity.

[Angie]

Perfect, D Day! Thing is - the images aren't really directed towards the Left, so as far as your response of "my views on che will never be changed by pictures" is concerned, it's perfect - I don't want them to make you think any less of Che. By all means, if it makes you see him in a good light then fabulous, but if it brings negative responses from people who view him in a similar way to how I do, then I'm coming in from the wrong direction.

I think my specific target audience would be that of teenagers who idolise Che yet don't really know who he is or what he stood for, and also Cappies, though I'm still working on exactly the sort of response I think I would see from them. Something to judge the true responses against, for interest's sake.

Showing the image here, and any others that I put together, is my way of airing an idea before I go any further with it - if I do take it any further. It's an idea I'm still playing with, while I'm looking for the right circles of support.

[samaniego]

Cool idea Angie! I see him as more of a man with the quote and less than excited expression. It make's him real. The good with the bad.

Angie what made you come up with this idea?

(Edited by samaniego at 10:05 pm on Mar. 28, 2002)

[Raztro]

I completely agree with Sabre.

[Olen W]

My deep respect for Che comes, in part, from the very fact that he was human and flawed yet he accomplished great things. Just like me, he was prone to sickness, disease, injury, and death. If he can rise above his imperfections, it gives me hope for myself.
It also gives me motivation to do more. Everytime I start to think or say that I can't do something because of this or that I remember that he, just as imperfect and human as I am, went through a lot worse to accomplish a lot more.
People who wouldn't want to think of their heroes as human are the same type that follow blindly behind the banner of what they have been told is a perfect system: capitalism. Naturally, since they have a false view of their system as perfect and their leaders as perfect, they would resist anything that would introduce the necessity of actually thinking about the true meaning and nature behind things and/or people.
God knows we don't want any thinking!

-Olen

[Revolution2002]

It is true, that, in the words of Joseph Goebbles, "people respond the best to pictures and films, and the less abstract and more visual a messege it has a greater impact upon the crowd.

This, of course, is true in the case of people with streotypes and anti-something views, so it should affect any capies and other pensie-ass clean-sick persons, but shouldn't have any impact upon someone who comes with an open, free of shit, mind.

[Angie]

Ooops, almost forgot this, sorry guys. Thanks for the further comments - they're all very helpful! And I'm glad they confirm my own thoughts - means I'm on the right track, hehehe.

Angie what made you come up with this idea?

The thread of my very first message in this forum, curiously enough. I wrote of people's impressions of Che in that opening post, and one of the responses I received (kudos, IWDY!) inspired me to give the imagery a shot.