#guerrilleros advertising

[talbottoabbott]

Photographer: Alberto Korda

 Website: https://www.albertokorda.photo/en/

 Bodies of Work: 1) Cuba La Lucha 2) Mujeres (Women)

Art is a richly dynamic concept that manifests in a wide variety of forms. Artists can create art in the form of poetry, songs, stories, oil paintings, or in this case, captivating photography. On the other hand, while there are countless photographers today, very few stand out for their pieces of work. A famous photographer who stands out is Alberto Korda. Like many artists, Korda was inspired by numerous factors and events in his life to create some of the most iconic pieces of art that hold significance to this date. Alberto Korda died more than two decades ago, but some of his works have been present in the mainstream from the 1960s to this date.

The Cuba La Lucha is a collection of photos by Alberto Korda during the 1960s at the peak of the Cuban Revolution. The most famous of this collection is Korda’s Guerrillero Heroico which translates to Heroic Guerrilla Fighter and was taken in 1960 (Rodríguez-Cepero). This particular photograph is of the revolutionary Che Guevara and is the most famous of all of Korda’s works. This body of work documents a peak in the revolution as the photographer focuses on taking photos of Che. Korda began this project with the revolution after becoming friends with Castro in 1959 (Chanan). Korda captures real-life situations to depict the daily struggles and jubilations of the Cubans during the revolutions. As mentioned, the most iconic photo from this collection is Guerrillero Heroico, a now world-famous photo of Che Guevara. The photo is raw and captures Guevara in a moment of silence and reflection. The style is both artistic and documentary-like in this collection. In Guerrillero Heroico, in particular, Korda applies black and white photography to capture a close-up moment of Ernesto Che Guevara. In the photo, Guevara’s eyes are glued to the distance, with a serious expression on his face. It is also important to note how Korda takes the shot from a low angle which elevates Che’s status to an iconic figure. It is no surprise that the image became a symbol around the world. The famous photographer also opted for a tight frame in creating the iconic Guerrillero Heroico. The frame ensures that only Guevara is present in the short as he stares contemplating into the distance. It also limits the shot to just Guevara’s upper body so that the image attains a personal feel.

                                                                                                                                                                              (Korda)

Another captivating photograph from Alberto Korda’s Fidel Castro and Ernest Hemingway. This shot was captured in 1960 ("Fidel Castro Und Ernest Hemingway"). Korda took the image at a level angle, and it portrays Hemingway and Castro shaking hands and smiling. The eye level angle helps to capture the moment wholly as there are cheerful onlookers in the background as Castro and Hemingway exchange a handshake.

Moreover, Mujeres focuses on the women of Cuba. Korda was involved in advertising campaigns in the 1950s where he took iconic photographs of women for fashion photography (Korda). Moreover, he also worked with the women to highlight the powerful roles of women in Cuban society. A case in point is  Miliciana. This particular photo is of a young Idolka Sánchez taken in 1962, just one among the millions of fo women who participated in the Cuban Revolution ("Korda’s Militia Woman"). The photo was taken in front of the Jose Marti Memorial in Cuba’s Havana, depicting the members of the Lidia Doce women’s militia.

(Korda)

Mujeres revisits Korda’s main subjects. Before getting involved in photographing the revolution and becoming one of Castro’s head photographers, Korda took photographs to exhibit female beauty (Gill).

 The images in this project are reminiscent of Korda’s style, which placed a strong emphasis on capturing the natural beauty and strength of women whose photos he captured. For example, in militiana, he portrays a young Idolka Sánchez marching with a gun as part of the female militia. Indeed, in the 20th century, women were limited in what roles they could conduct in society as activities such as revolutions were left to men. The powerful role of women is also evident in the second photo, where the model sits confidently on a bicycle. What stands out even more, is that both shots are taken under natural light, bringing out the expressive power in these women’s expressions.

In both works, women stare directly into space to create a sense of boldness. At the same time, the photos in this project also highlight the dignity and pride with which the photographer presents these women. It is evident that in this collection, the women are photographed in moments of pride, independence, and strength. For example, in the first photograph, the model holds a gun. Guns in the previous century were often associated with men and warfare, which is not the case in this photo. In the second image, the woman sits confidently on a bicycle. Again, machines have often been associated with men, and therefore a woman sitting on a bicycle in the 1950s was a bold message.

Both bodies of work bear a ton of similarities and differences. For instance, both works appear in black and white. Most artists and photographers prefer black and white photography to give their works an artistic appeal and give these images a “truer” form of documentation (Stellino). The Cuba La Lucha just like the Mujeres all come in a documentarian black and white. Ultimately, black and white gives both bodies of work a timeless and dramatic appeal.

Moreover, in both bodies of work, the subjects are depicted in a respectful manner to give them a sense of pride in dignity. For example, in the Mujeres collection, Idolka Sánchez proudly carries her gun as she marches in the revolution parade. At the same time, the woman on the bicycle, decently draped in a dress, sits on the bicycle as she gazes at the camera. In her case, the camera is at a low angle, placing her in an elevated position to give her a sense of power. Pride, power, and dignity are also consistent in Korda’s Fidel Castro and Ernest Hemingway, and Guerrillero Heroico. For example, Guevara’s intense stare and low camera angle give him an iconic appeal, like a revolutionary hero for the Cuban people. At the same time, by focusing on Castro and Ernest Hemingway and the crowd of onlookers, the photographer creates a sense of importance for the two main subjects in the photo.

On the other hand, both bodies of work bear a few differences. For example, in Mujeres, Korda controlled the environment in which the photos were taken. Before he took the now famous photo of Idolka Sánchez in Miliciana, he asked her to lift up the machine gun  ("Korda’s Militia Woman"). At the same time, in the photo depicting the woman on the bicycle, the photographer was in control of the setting and the objects in the photo. However, this is not the case in the iconic Guerrillero Heroico and Fidel Castro, and Ernest Hemingway. Instead, the photographer quietly captured the moments without asking the subjects to take particular poses.

Works Cited

Chanan, Michael. "Obituary: Alberto Korda." The Guardian, The Guardian, 28 May 2001, www.theguardian.com/news/2001/may/28/guardianobituaries.cuba. Accessed 27 Mar. 2023.

"Fidel Castro Und Ernest Hemingway." Artnet Worldwide Corporation, Artnet Worldwide Corporation, 2022, www.artnet.com/artists/alberto-korda/fidel-castro-und-ernest-hemingway-HduVb5STBp4W7OuHUyb7ZQ2.

Gill, Rose. "Alberto Korda, Más Allá Del Icónico Retrato Del Che." Mujer Hoy, Mujer Hoy, 21 June 2018, www.mujerhoy.com/vivir/ocio/201812/12/alberto-korda-fotografo-che-guevara-rev-20181210094929.html.

Korda, Alberto. "Women." Photograph. Alberto Korda, Estate Alberto Korda, 1960, www.albertokorda.photo/en/galeria-de-fotos/la-mujer/.

"Korda’s Militia Woman." Cuba Si, Cuba Si, 7 Mar. 2019, cubasi.cu/en/culture/item/17221-korda-s-militia-woman.

Rodríguez-Cepero, Juan. Carlos Puebla and the People's History of the Cuban Revolution (1956-1980). 2018. Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, MA thesis.

Stellino, Molly. "Fact Check: Civil Rights-era Images Weren't Intentionally Made Black and White." USA TODAY, USA TODAY, 20 June 2020, www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2020/06/20/fact-check-most-civil-rights-era-images-werent-made-color/3210472001/#:~:text=On%20top%20of%20money%20and,have%20the%20distraction%20of%20color.

——David Tang

[thedunwells]

T-Shirt Cover and Recommendations

Nowadays the modern T-shirt has spawned a vast textile and style industry, price around two-billion pounds to the world's retail trade. The unlikely start of the t-shirt was a fairly tutu sukně tyl occasion, however that simple little bit of apparel was collection to change the designs and fashions of countries for generations to come. Eventually the T-Shirt will be applied as a political instrument for protest and using occasions and places ever sold, a mark of innovation and change. At the start the shirt was small more than a little bit of underwear, an exceptionally functional one at that. In the late 19th century the union match, (also colloquially known as extended johns), was in their hi day, utilized across America and upper elements of Europe. Common for the duration of class and technology, this simple knitted one-piece protected the complete human anatomy, from the throat to the arms and ankles. The models pièce de résistance presented a drop flap in the trunk for simplicity in the old outhouse. As cotton became more and more widely available, underwear companies gripped the minute to generate an alternative to the mainstay and relatively troublesome design. Knitted substance is hard to cut and sew seams and therefore with cotton a revolutionary change towards mass-made style can begin. In Europe occasions were adjusting, as the Americans extended to work and itch, a simple "T-shaped" format was cut twice from a piece of cotton fabric and both pieces confronted and sewn together in a lowly European workhouse. It absolutely was half a couple of long johns, nonetheless it soon needed on a life of their own. Since the Commercial Revolution achieved their certain realization, James T. Honda created the world's first generation point, the a few ideas of functionalism, performance, and practical design joined the main-stream mind of groups across the entire world, and Europe in particular. Several begun to question the Puritanism of the past, Victorian buttoned-down a few ideas of modesty were starting to give solution to scantier and scantier swimsuits, ankle-bearing dresses, and short-sleeved shirts. As World War One loomed upon the skyline, the shirt was about to be conscripted to the army. Old researchers establish the initial noted event of the release of the Shirt to the United Claims happened all through Earth Conflict One when US soldiers remarked upon the mild cotton undershirts American troops were released as common uniform. American soldiers were fuming, their government were still issuing woolen uniforms, this was not style, it absolutely was practically a tactical military disadvantage. How could a sniper keep however and goal his weapon with drops of work pouring in his eyes, and a scratch that just wouldn't go away? The US military might not need reacted as rapidly as their troops would have enjoyed, nevertheless the highly sensible and mild t-shirt might soon produce its in the past to the mainstream National consumer. In the very first couple of years after World War Two, the European fashion for carrying T-shirts as an outer outfit, influenced mainly by new US army outfits, spread to the private population of America. In 1948 the New York Times described a fresh and special advertising tool for that year's plan for New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey. It absolutely was the very first recorded "slogan T-Shirt", the information study "Dew It for Dewey", directly repeated by the more famous "I Like Ike" T-shirts in Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidential campaign. In early 1950s enterprising businesses situated in Arkansas, California, started initially to enhance tee shirts with Floridian resort names and even cartoon characters. The first recorded graphic t-shirt catalogue was produced by Tropix Togs, by their creator and founder, Arkansas entrepreneur John Kantor. These were the first licensee for Wally Disney characters that involved Mickey Mouse and Davy Crockett. Later other individuals widened to the tee shirt making business that included Sherry Manufacturing Business also based in Miami. Sherry began company in 1948, the dog owner and founder, Quinton Sandler, was rapid to get onto the brand new Shirt trend, and easily extended the monitor print scarf business in to the biggest screen print registered clothing company in the United States. Soon more and more superstars were observed on national TV sporting that new risqué apparel including Steve Wayne, and Marlon Brando. In 1955 Wayne Dean offered the T-Shirt street standing in the common movie "Rebel Without A Trigger ".The T-Shirt was fast changing into a contemporary symbol of edgy youth. The first furore and community outcry soon died down and within time even the National Bible Gear could see their practicality of design. In the 60's persons begun to link color and screenprint the basic cotton T-Shirt making it an even bigger commercial success. Advances in making and dying allowed more selection and the Container Top, Muscle Shirt, Scoop Throat, V-Neck, and a great many other variations of the T-Shirt got into fashion. During this period of social experimentation and upheaval, many independent T-shirt units produced copies of "Guerrillero Heroico, or Heroic Guerilla", the popular portrait of Ernesto "Che" Guevara taken by Alberto "Korda" Diaz. Because which it's considered probably the most reproduced image in the annals of photography, primarily thanks to the increase of the T-shirt.

[congnan98]

History of the T-Shirt

Today the modern T-shirt has spawned a vast textile and fashion industry, worth over two-billion dollars to the world's retail trade. The unlikely birth of the t-shirt was a rather unspectacular event, however this humble piece of attire was set to change the styles and fashions of cultures for generations to come. Eventually the T-Shirt would be used as a political tool for protest and in certain times and places in history, a symbol of revolution and change.

At the very beginning the t-shirt was little more than a piece of underwear, an extremely utilitarian one at that. In the late 19th century the union suit, (also colloquially known as long johns), was in its hey day, worn across America and northern parts of Europe. Popular throughout class and generation, this modest knitted one-piece covered the whole body, from the neck to the wrists and ankles. The designs pièce de résistance featured a drop flap in the back for ease of use in the old outhouse. As cotton became more and more widely available, underwear manufacturers seized the moment to create an alternative to this mainstay and rather cumbersome design. Knitted material is difficult to cut and sew seams and thus with cotton a radical shift towards mass-made fashion could begin.

In Europe times were changing, as the Americans continued to sweat and itch, a simple "T-shaped" template was cut twice from a piece of cotton cloth and the two pieces faced and stitched together in a lowly European workhouse. It was half a pair of long johns, but it soon took on a life of its own. As the Industrial Revolution reached its inevitable conclusion, Henry T. Ford created the world's first production line, the ideas of functionalism, efficiency, and utilitarian style entered the mainstream consciousness of societies across the world, and Europe in particular. Many began to question the Puritanism of the past, Victorian buttoned-down ideas of modesty were starting to give way to scantier and scantier swimsuits, ankle-bearing skirts, and short-sleeved shirts. As World War One loomed upon the horizon, the t-shirt was about to be conscripted to the army.

Historical researchers define the first recorded incident of the introduction of the T-shirt to the United States occurred during World War One when US soldiers remarked upon the light cotton undershirts European soldiers were issued as standard uniform. American soldiers were fuming, their government were still issuing woolen uniforms, this wasn't fashion, it was practically a tactical military disadvantage. How could a sniper keep still and aim his rifle with beads of sweat pouring in his eyes, and an itch that just wouldn't go away? The US army may not have reacted as quickly as their troops would have liked, but the highly practical and light t-shirt would soon make its way back to the mainstream American consumer.

Due to their highly recognizable shape, and want for a better name, the word "T-shirt" was coined, and as the word found its place in the cultural lexicon, people across the world began to adopt the new and more comfortable alternative to the union shirt. A handful of American experts claim that the name was coined in 1932 when Howard Jones commissioned "Jockey" to design a new sweat absorbing shirt for the USC Trojans football team. However the US army contests the origins of the word come from army training shirts, being the military it was not long before practicality ensured the abbreviation. There is one alternative theory, little known and rather graphic in its interpretation. Essentially the idea that shortened-length arms were described as akin to the shape of an amputees torso, a common sight in the bloodier battles of the past, though this speculation cannot be verified, the idea has a gory ring of truth about it. During World War II the T-shirt was finally issued as standard underwear for all ranks in both the U.S. Army and the Navy. Although the T-shirt was intended as underwear, soldiers performing strenuous battle games or construction work, and especially those based in warmer climes would often wear an uncovered T-shirt. On July the 13th, 1942, the cover story for Life magazine features a photo of a soldier wearing a T-shirt with the text "Air Corps Gunnery School".

In the first few years after World War Two, the European fashion for wearing T-shirts as an outer garment, inspired mainly by new US army uniforms, spread to the civilian population of America. In 1948 the New York Times reported a new and unique marketing tool for that year's campaign for New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey. It was the first recorded "slogan T-Shirt", the message read "Dew It for Dewey", closely repeated by the more famous "I Like Ike" T-shirts in Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidential campaign.

In the early 1950s enterprising companies based in Miami, Florida, began to decorate tee shirts with Floridian resort names and even cartoon characters. The first recorded graphic t-shirt catalogue was created by Tropix Togs, by its creator and founder, Miami entrepreneur Sam Kantor. They were the original licensee for Walt Disney characters that included Mickey Mouse and Davy Crockett. Later other companies expanded into the tee shirt printing business that included Sherry Manufacturing Company also based in Miami.

Sherry began business in 1948, the owner and founder, Quinton Sandler, was quick to catch onto the new T-shirt trend, and quickly expanded the screen print scarf company into the largest screen print licensed apparel producer in the United States. Soon more and more celebrities were seen on national TV sporting this new risqué apparel including John Wayne, and Marlon Brando. In 1955 James Dean gave the T-Shirt street credibility in the classic movie "Rebel Without A Cause". The T-Shirt was fast evolving into a contemporary symbol of rebellious youth. The initial furore and public outcry soon died down and within time even the American Bible Belt could see its practicality of design.

In the 60's people began to tie dye and screenprint the basic cotton T-Shirt making it an even bigger commercial success. Advances in printing and dying allowed more variety and the Tank Top, Muscle Shirt, Scoop Neck, V-Neck, and many other variations of the T-Shirt came in to fashion. During this period of cultural experimentation and upheaval, many independent T-shirt printers made copies of "Guerrillero Heroico, or Heroic Guerilla", the famous portrait of Ernesto "Che" Guevara taken by Alberto "Korda" Diaz. Since which it is said to be the most reproduced image in the history of photography, mainly thanks to the rise of the T-shirt.

The 1960's also saw the creation of the "Ringer T-shirt" which became a staple fashion for youth and rock-n-rollers. The decade also saw the emergence of tie-dyeing and screen-printing on the basic T-shirt. In 1959, "Plastisol", a more durable and stretchable ink, was invented, allowing much more variety in t-shirt designs. As textile technologies improved, new T-shirt styles were soon introduced, including the the tank top, the A-shirt (infamously known as the "wife beater"), the muscle shirt, scoop necks, and of course V-necks.

More and more iconic T-shirts were designed and created throughout the Psychedelic era, including more and more home-made experiments. A tidal wave of tie-died t-shirts began to appear at the burgeoning music festival scenes in Western Europe and America. By the late 60's it was practically a required dress code amongst the West Coast hippie culture. Band T-shirts became another extremely popular form of T shirt, cheaply printed and sold at live gigs and concerts of the day, the tradition continues to the present, band T shirts are as popular as ever, however the price of them has risen dramatically.

In 1975 Vivienne Westwood makes her mark at 430 King's Road, London at the "Sex" boutique with her new Punk-style t-shirts, including her infamous "God Save The Queen" design. Punk introduced an explosion of independent fashion designers and in particular t-shirt designers. To this day many modern designs pay tribute to the "grunge-look" of this rebellious and anarchic period of Western culture.

The influx of corporate funding of the 1980's changed the whole face of the T-shirt market. Slogan T-shirts were gaining popularity again, "Choose Life" was produced to promote the debut album of George Micheal's band "Wham", whilst "Frankie Says" helped push a string of highly controversial singles to the top of the UK charts for Liverpool based band "Frankie Goes to Hollywood". Bands, football teams, political parties, advertising agencies, business convention organizers, in fact anyone after a piece of cheap promotion began to commission and sell vast numbers of T-shirts. One noble exception of the time was the now iconic "Feed the World" T-shirt, created to raise funds and awareness of the original and groundbreaking Band Aid charity event.

During the 80's and 90's T-Shirt production and printing technologies vastly improved, including early forms of D.T.G (Direct to Garment Transfer) printing, increased the volume and availability. Whilst in financial circles, the world's stock markets took notice as the American T-Shirt was classed as a commodity item in the apparel industry.

Branded corporate labels soon made their massive mark on the industry. A whole new generation of T-shirt designs swamped the market, promoting conformity and allegiance to a brand name, such as Nike, rather than an expression of individuality. This rather uninspiring tradition still continues to this day, the now iconic "Vintage 82" T-shirt from "Next" for example. Within a few years of its first printing, this design was allowed to flood the market, until cheap copies and black market knock-offs have saturated the world. There are many similar designs which have a similar limited cultural shelf-life.

More recently an inspiring movement towards re-politicizing the T-shirt has enabled pressure groups and charities to push their message to a wider audience. Over one million people marched into London wearing a vast array of anti war, anti Bush and anti Blair T shirts at the anti Iraq rally. Another example, reminiscent of the earlier Band Aid event, saw The Make Poverty History campaign of 2005 receive global media coverage. Soon after Vivienne Westwood re-emerges in the T-shirt world with her new slogan T-shirt "I am not a terrorist, please don't arrest me". Catherine Hamnett, another famous British fashion designer is well known for her protest T-shirts, including her work to highlight Third World debt and the Aids epidemic in Africa. Then again, Catherine has recently been quoted as saying political slogan shirts allow the consumer to "feel they have participated in democratic action", when in fact all they have done is a little clothes shopping. This maybe true, however they still bring enormous media attention to any just cause.

Over the years the styles, images, and contribution to free society that T-shirts have provided are taken as granted, the T-shirt is now an essential accompaniment for any fashionable wardrobe, no matter what part of the world. Still yet more technical advances in the industry have allowed for more choices in style and cut. Oversize T-shirts that extend down to the knees, are popular with hip hop and skater fashions. Seasons change, however from time to time the female market embraces more tight-fitting "cropped" T-shirt styles, cut short enough to reveal the midriff. The rise of the "hoodie" or hooded long sleeved T-shirt cannot be ignored, it is also fast becoming an essential addition to any street wise fashionista's collection.

Recently there has been a massive consumer backlash against the branded conformity of the corporate and licensed t-shirt market. The consumer is at last regaining some sense of individuality, people today are not satisfied with the notion of "brand loyalty". People want to reflect their own personality, political beliefs, sense of style or humor. T shirt supplier China  Some are designing their own with the help of a wide selection of D.I.Y online t-shirt printing services, including "Cafe Press" and "Threadless" to mention just two. But many people neither have the time nor the inclination to design their own artwork, and so marks the rise of the independent T-shirt designer. Reminiscent of the 1960's but with a worldwide appeal, artists, graphic designers, renegades of the fashion world are beginning to get noticed. The greatest asset a modern T-shirt can have is its originality, a quality that will always be in demand, both now and hopefully far into the future.

 http://yantailisagarment.com/index.html    

[alicestruggles]

Che Guevara

"Some argue that history has transformed Che's revolutionary image into just another fashion accessory. It is tempting for those of us on the left to feel uncomfortable with his popular appeal; rather like music fans who, when their favorite underground band hits the big time, moan that they've 'gone commercial' ... I don't see it that way. If only 10 percent of the people who wear the image know what he stood for, that is still many millions. Overwhelmingly, they are also young people, with their hearts set on making the world a better place. Indeed, in my experience, many more than 10 percent have a very good idea of what he stood for ... If Che's image seems to be everywhere, that is because what he fought and died for is more fashionable than ever."tyrI suppose I can’t really talk about the commodification of political artwork without giving a shout out to the Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara. 

Che Guevara was a major figure in the Cuban revolution and his stylised image, a facial caricature originally by Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick, (based on Alberto Korda's famous 1960 photograph titled Guerrillero Heroico) has become the face of rebellion. 

In life, he was a controversial figure, with some seeing him as a true visionary and a man who led his country to a better place while others view him as a brutal tyrant who ordered the deaths of a vast amount of political enemies without trial. In death, his stylised image has been used as a rallying point for an array of protests and causes, representing ‘a complex mesh of sometimes conflicting narratives’.

Most commonly it is used as a vague representation of Youth Rebellion and opposition to the status quo. Che’s face operates as "both a fashionable politicised logo, as well as a potent anti-establishment symbol used by a wide spectrum of human rights movements and individuals affirming their own liberation.”

His portrait has become one of the most mass-produced icons of all time, it’s on everything from t-shirts to bottle openers. His face has even been used in corporate advertising. Yet Che himself was staunchly against consumer led capitalism. That image has become ironic in that sense, with people arguing it dilutes his philosophies with most people not really knowing what he stood for. Author Michael Casey notes that Che’s image is "the quintessential postmodern icon signifying anything to anyone and everything to everyone." His image represents rebellious protest but these days isn’t really a rallying point for any kind of change in particular.

Hannah Charlton of the Sunday Times notes “T-Shirt wearers might wear Che’s face as an easy replacement of real activism’. And in these days of increasing xenophobia and the rise of the alt right real activism is incredibly important.

However there is also a counter-argument that British politician  George Galloway puts well;

"Some argue that history has transformed Che's revolutionary image into just another fashion accessory. It is tempting for those of us on the left to feel uncomfortable with his popular appeal; rather like music fans who, when their favourite underground band hits the big time, moan that they've 'gone commercial' ... I don't see it that way. If only 10 percent of the people who wear the image know what he stood for, that is still many millions. Overwhelmingly, they are also young people, with their hearts set on making the world a better place. Indeed, in my experience, many more than 10 percent have a very good idea of what he stood for ... If Che's image seems to be everywhere, that is because what he fought and died for is more fashionable than ever."

To me the argument here is on one hand his image is overused and not many people know what he stood for or more pressingly don’t know why his image as a ‘christ-like’ benevolent figure is problematic when many still view him as a tyrant. However the counter argument is that if a few people see that image and learn about his past as a result or if that image is used as a peaceful protest rallying point then thats a plus. More poignant however is I believe that the meaning of that image has changed. It was used a lot in the counter-culture protests of the 60s when people were more aware of what Che stood for and backed his defiance to the American Government but now people are less aware of that history but his image has lived on. He no longer represents any political agenda in particular, he just represents the idea that a protestor holding a banner with his face on is willing to fight and possibly die for a cause. 

As for people just buying t-shirts and bottle openers they aren’t willing to fight and die for anything and thus swings the argument back to ‘performative activism’ but thats another post for another day.