Author(s): Jesus Tarifa

Presentation: poster

Ernesto (Che) Guevara(1928-1967), medical doctor and freedom fighter, has been both revered and reviled in history. Born and raised in Argentina, Che became politically and socially aware early on due to his travels throughout Latin America. A key member of the 1959 Cuban Revolution and sworn U.S. enemy, he later became an instigator of socialist rebellions in Africa and Latin America. Che had as a diverse a background as the places where he is now prominently featured. This project explores the ways images of Che have been used and the various meanings conveyed in the U.S. and Latin America. Cuban society continues to uphold Che as a revolutionary hero and role model. In contrast, American mainstream culture and media tend to regard Che more as an abstract rebellious figure featured commercially on t-shirts and merchandise, disregarding the complexity of meanings and voices that have come to represent Che abroad. In the last decade, Che’s name has especially resonated in the discourses of populists in Latin America. Who was Che? How is he viewed by Cuban, American, and the societies of Latin American countries? This project addresses the above questions and issues in text and images suitable for a poster session.

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