The LA Times looks into the Obama-Che iconcography connection
This is buried deep within a (worthwhile, if creepily non-judgmental and incomplete) piece about the merchandising of Che Guevara’s image, but I was pleasantly surprised to see the LA Times make the connection between the visual cult of Che and the cult of Obama:
Rebels and activists the world over still take inspiration from Guevara. But the image has lost something; Che’s face on a poster in 1968 isn’t quite the same thing as it is on a mousepad 40 years later. Perhaps it is precisely that loss — the shedding of Che’s radicalism and ideological rigor — that renders him so supremely marketable today. Things are not going well these days. Kids don’t want revolution so much as, um, something different.
So it shouldn’t be a surprise that L.A. artist Shepard Fairey, in his design for a Sen. Barack Obama poster, looked to Korda’s Che. Fairey’s Obama is not wearing a beret, and he’s looking left instead of right, but his face tilts at the same angle as Che’s. His jaw is set with the same willfulness and strength, and he too is gazing recognizably upward into the future (hasta la victoria siempre . . . ). Obama’s eyes, though, are filled not with righteous anger but with vague and lofty hope.
Good, good, don’t blow it…*
Che means change, if nothing else — and not necessarily Marxist or anti-imperialist or radical at all.
Aw, crap. You guys were so close.
Look, you just can’t hide from Che’s history. It’s like putting a David Duke for President bumper sticker on your car and then explaining that for you, personally, it’s just about traditional values and not about white nationalism. It’s like flying a Hezbollah flag and just claiming that you’re not for terrorism or wiping out Israel, you’re just opposed to Zionism. This swastika tattoo? Why, it’s just a Hindu/ American Indian good luck symbol, friend–not a Nazi thing at all. Shame on you for thinking so.
I think this cuts both ways–you might, say, want to wear a Confederate flag as a symbol of Southern pride. There’s actually a much better argument to be made than in the hypotheticals above that the Confederate flag has been rehabilitated–transformed into a symbol of pride in Southern heritage and divorced from its racist connotations. But you shouldn’t be surprised if it raises a few eyebrows from people who understand it as A: a flag of armed rebellion against the United States and B: the flag of a pro-slavery cause.
Even if you’re telling the truth and those things subjectively mean something totally innocuous to you, you’re an idiot for ignoring the commonly accepted symbolism as well as the historical context. You might want that Che T-shirt just to stand for “change”, or for “hey, hippie chicks, I would like to make dirty hippie love to you”, but there’s just not much getting around the fact that Che was a murdering sociopathic Commie ideologue.
Which I think is also what Michelle and Charles are saying about the keffiyeh. Maybe it’s just a cool exotic scarf to you. But there’s a very important background to it that you don’t know or are ignoring, and if you really understood what it meant to Islamic terrorists in the current, ongoing conflict, why would you possibly want to wear it?
P.S. If you just have to wear a keffiyeh, one of the dozens of links at Michelle’s post (sorry, forgot which) had the interesting idea of subverting it. Get one with American flags on it. Or Stars of David. Or the little Mohammed bomb-turban Danish cartoon.
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*More about that Shepard Fairey dude from me, back here.
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{Post by See-Dubya}
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Obama and all of his cronies are defiantly and blatantly telling you exactly what they are, both in symbols and speech. Obama is the only one hiding it, but he can’t change his associations (or he should have long ago).
And the liberal press is just as defiantly and blatantly covering it up (or burying it next to the obits).
“What? Me Worry?”
Its like Radical Socialist PigLatin;
Barack-Che’ Hussein-Che’ Obama-Che’
And on the right, some are still saying “we don’t really know who he is yet”.
Bull.
We know exactly who B.Hussein is, he is a PRODUCT of HIS ENVIRONMENT.
He is one of them, exactly like his friends.
Too bad Alfred E. Newman isn’t running.
Reminds me of the poster of Hitler on a horse (?) like a knight?? I wish i could find a link. Seems like the expression was the same.
re: shooter # 4 “He is one of them, exactly like his friends.”
Yeah you pretty much aced that one. Yesterday Rush aired a disarmament speech he made for Caucus for Priorities… If the networks actually covered it he would be done for. Amazing.
Or in the case of McCain, he will attack anyone that points out these little problems that Obamasama has.
He better get some ‘nads before Obambi or Hillary take the nomination, because they (or their surrogates) aren’t going to play nice.
Witnessing the rise of fascism in our time, in our place.
I asked this in another thread, but didn’t see any answer. Let me restate the question.
Let’s build a box. Into the box you can insert an item and it will be identified. “Scarf.” “Keffiyeh.” “Hamster.” No, forget that. Let’s just design the box to tell “scarf,” “keffiyeh,” or “something else.”
Is there in fact some surefire way to tell, or is it to some extent just a judgement call? I can damn well tell when I’m looking at a swastika; not so a keffiyeh. Some of them could just be scarves.
If I can’t tell if something might be an objectionable symbol, that reduces however objectionable it might otherwise have been.
See-Dub, that war was also fought for STATES RIGHTS, more than the chance to keep slaves. But whatever you want to tell yourselves.
It was also the Battle Flag, not a symbol of the ideology of the southern government, and as such honors our southern dead solders. (remember, honor the troops, not the war, heh)
I’m not defending slavery, just sayin many people fought for secession that DIDN’T own a single slave at all.
CW …
You must mean in the drawing that Obama is looking to my right … but he is looking to his left … hmmmm?
Right, but I’m behind your computer monitor, so it’s backwards for me.
This is news? Conservatives figured this out long ago.
i·co·nog·ra·phy , n., pl. -phies.
1. symbolic representation, esp. the conventional meanings attached to an image or images.
2. subject matter in the visual arts, esp. with reference to the conventions regarding the treatment of a subject in artistic representation.
3. the study or analysis of subject matter and its meaning in the visual arts; iconology.
4. a representation or a group of representations of a person, place, or thing, as a portrait or a collection of portraits.
Similar graphics but Che was shooting real bullets. Obie’s shooting blanks.
I think tying it to terrorism is a huge leap, and that Michelle and Charles waaaaaaaaaaay overreacted to a non-issue. I would recommend that since you are promoting other design patterns for the keffiyeh, maybe if they, the terrorist, would just wear ones printed with “Death to Israel” or “Death to America”. They would be so much easier to identify, no more torturing the wrong guy, and we could even use those pesky Geneva rules, being that they would have been captured in uniform.
Then ordinary normal folks, or even really perky ones, could just live their lives or do doughnut promotions.
I use a keffiyeh when at my desert home in SW Texas. Great piece of headwear in the heat and dust, and as I have never been stopped by the local Border Patrol and suspected of being a terrorist, I’ll assume I’m still safe wearing it. But thanks for calling me an idiot anyway.
To me a lot of the official Obama posters look closer to East German work behind the Berlin Wall than Che inspired.
Scarves are available in other prints and patterns, you know.
Personally, I’d like a pink keffiyeh with 72 Little Mermaids on it.
I heard there’s an Israeli settler version of the keffiyeh. I’d buy one of those, heh heh.
Uh, and your point is? Aum.
Actually, the swastika is a Buddhist symbol of good luck that the Nazis hijacked. Israelis have historically favored light-colored floppy hats as sun shields.
Hey, Stalin meant change. Hitler meant change. Both Mao and Chiang meant change. Benito meant change. Pol and his Pals meant change.
I hesitate to use the word, but the people blindly looking for “change” strike you almost as psychotic don’t they? I’m talking clinical psychoses, not just slang talk.
Blind change is almost always a recipe for disaster. These people are imbeciles.
And the fasces - a bundle of sticks or twigs - was once a symbol of strength, taken from the Roman legions. You can still see Fasces all over Washington DC, including on the rostrum of the House chambers.
It should be taken down, because it was hijacked by Mussolini as a symbol of oppression and evil.
Yes, the Swastika is an ancient symbol. You can find it in Knossos, written on tablets that pre-date the ancient Greeks. It was, and is, an interesting looking thing.
But grow up. It’s now the symbol of almost pure evil. Just like a hammer is fine, and a sickle is fine, but a hammer and sickle ain’t fine any more.
What’s next, upside-down stars?
You mean this one??? Der Bannerträger. Scroll about half way down.
Ah, the Cartman/Rusty approach!
The one with all the hand grenades tied ring to ring? Do this ship Express Mail?
The 1994 Republican Revolution led by Mr. Newt was for………..Change!
Uh-oh. grumbles is cheesing again.
Let your cat out of the harness before I call the SPCA.
It really doesn’t even OCCUR to most of the Conservative posters here.
Obama is COMMUNIST.
Most on the RIGHT, most CONSERVATIVES, have been conditioned NOT TO use terms like SOCIALIST nor COMMUNIST.
COMMUNIST is as COMMUNIST DOES.
WAKE UP/GROW UP, STOP BEING FUQQING PUSSIES. COMMIES ARE USING YOUR LACK OF BALLS AGAINST YOU.
OBAMA IS A COMMUNIST. HE SAYS SO HIMSELF.
But most of you pathetic wooosie sissy morons are more afraid of some LIB calling you out, than you are of COMMIES fu24ing your country.
I’m sorry, but I’m correct.
Tell me I’m wrong..
I am very proud of my southern heritage. But, I think this sums up the reasons I don’t display the Confederate flag anywhere.
Please provide evidence/citation/link…or stop shouting your stupidities.
Michell I am a little let down by this statement. One of the KEY and OFFTEN overlooked and forgotten aspects for many states in the CIVAL WAR was the RIGHT of the STATES to be FREE of an OVERACTIVE and OUT of CONTROL FEDERAL GOVERNMENT who TRAMPLED STATES RIGHTS UNDER THEIR FOOT! This is VERY CLOSE TO THE REASONS THAT THE FOUNDING FATHERS FOUGHT THE MOTHER COUNTRY to BEGIN WITH. So I have a HARD TIME with the GLOSSING OVER of this ISSUE by YOU. CONSIDER THAT 95% or better of those who post here are looking for a form that stands allied too see the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT is BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL; this includes tax’s, size of the Federal Budget, Federal Law Enfocement the list goes on.
We (you) can not have it both way’s. The fact is that we are seaking these things we just have not come to the point of rasing arms against the government or our countrymen. Yet many on the left have! I belive they will keep right on doing so as long as they remain unchecked by the government (city, county, state and federal government) and more importanlly their fellow countrymen who watch and take no legal action to protest or stop them. Look no further than San Fransisco and their you have it! Now some of our countrymen their have had enough and are fighting back. What whould you say if they created a FLAG of their own? Just something to think about.
I have only two flags. I fly an AMERICAN FLAG and a POW FLAG 24/7. But I support the FREEDOM and the viewpoint and I understand the southerners who fly one or both! Hopefully we will not have to raise arms against our government or our countrymen to see order restored to the out of control system that is now on fullspeed ahead. Fullspeed ahead to the destruction of this wonderfull Democratic Republic all in the name of CHANGE WE CAN ALL COUNT ON!
Micheel let’s teach them that their is more to it than this. Please don’t gloss over this issue next time. Thank you!
While I agree with you (and posted above) mostly.
It was See-dubya, not MichellE
I am also a proud son of the south, yet I choose not to display the stars and bars. I prefer to innoculate my children as to the revisionist view of civil war history that’s being taught in the public school system. Displaying iconography tends to lump the wearer or displayer into whatever prejudices are held by the viewer of said symbol. After that happens, the viewer’s mind will more than likely close and it becomes impossible to communicate valid points of view.
This is beneath even MM & co. Both Che and Obama have posters therefore they are alike.
The “stars and bars” aka Confederate battle flag is a flag of a sovereign nation that was invaded by an imperialistic power mad beuaracracy in Washington DC under the guise of “fairness”. It is NOT a symbol of racism, it’s symbol of freedom.
The North decided to impose it’s will upon those who it deemed undesirable. Sound familiar? It should, it’s the rallying cry of liberals, communists, socialists, and Democrats. They say they want to help some group, in reality it’s nothing but a way to impose their will upon those they disdain. It’s still going on today.
Using “racism” to hide behind, as they still do today; uppity Nor-Easterners are merely out to enslave all of us in their way with taxes, “civil rights” laws, election, control and media control.
The more things change the more they stay the same.
You are completely tone-deaf if you think that the Confederate flag doesn’t represent more than “sovereignty” and “states rights”. The point about che is great, so it is with the keffiyeh, but don’t be a fool.
Even though the swastika has been used in symbology since the Stone Age - its been forever tainted by the Nazis, dont think that the stars and bars is going to rehabilitated when the swastika has not.
I know its been tainted like the swasticka. Our point is the war was NOT fought for slavery ONLY. Once again, the main reason was for our own states rights!
It also could be ‘rehabilitated’ in a way, if only the truth about that war was told to the students, and not the blame the south dreck thats there now. I doubt it will happen, and it would take generations.
I won’t fly the flag, but I know its MUCH MORE than slavery.
The more this false messiah speaks, the faster his support drops.
Please see The Peoples Cube for entertaining parodies of Obama iconography.
I tend to agree with those who think the Obama posters look a lot like the old Soviet bloc propaganda posters of old. One may or may not draw any conclusions, there, since the posters are designed by artists in support of the candidate, not the candidate himself. Sen. Obama is a socialist. Of this I have little doubt. The poster designs may simply exacerbate that fact.
BTW, fascism is the brother of marxism. They use the same tools to control the civilian population and advance their plans. As awful as an Obama presidency would be for America (along with a super Democrat Congress), I think the voters will reject this particular marxist. He makes Michael Dukakis look positively stout.
I find myself agreeing with the logic. Yet it also sounds like an argument in support of political correctness.
I wonder, how does this strike you: in addition to the huge Confederate flag there should be an accompanying museum that celebrates the rich cultural heritage and societal contributions of the Confederate south, where Americans of every color could come to learn and appreciate why the flag is such a lasting and revered symbol for so many people.
So they are looking for Che’nge, huh? (can someone photoshop that in so it looks real?
The swastika only correctly represents the Nazi party if it:
1) Is in a white circle on a red square
2) Is set at a 45 degree angle
3) Opens to the right
The swastika DOES have several meanings and ignorance should not be allowed to destroy the good meanings by lumping them in with the evil meanings.
Would it be ok if we could find some hippy chicks that bathe, and were cute? Could we send them to my place?
Notice i said IF. thats like saying “well, IF santa clause was real…”
*grin*
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Good fodder for Obama posters here. Posters about him reflect this puppy dogs, doves and rainbows feeling. The Obama Utopia.
If Obama can stay pretty clean, do some good things as Senator, and then become Governor of IL, he could be unstoppable in 2012 or 2016. Scary stuff.
I would dearly love to see a Jewish, African-American woman as POTUS. It’s not race or gender that makes it for me though. It’s political beliefs that matter, and socialism is bad for everybody, (accept those high in government or high-level academia) especially poor people, of all races. Obama is a dyed-in-the-wool Marxist, no thanks.
His ‘Change’, ‘Hope’ and ‘Progress’ mantras are actually somewhat self-mocking. Making your own Obama posters is totally addicting.
I laughed so hard I almost had a breakdown. LOL!
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absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
befriend a bomber
pushing for change at all costs
sacrifices must be made
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absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
only feel and hope
please force people to change
change can only be good
.
All real freedom starts with freedom of speech. If there is no freedom of speech, then there can be no real freedom.
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Make Some Obama Posters NOW!
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Che Makes Money for Capitalists
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Help Halt Terrorism Now!
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USpace
I never understood the fascination (romanticism) with Che Guevara. What’s so romantic about totalitarianism?