R E V I E W 54 JANUARY 2008 What’s the appeal of “totalitarian chic”? Tim Wilson

n politics there have been many power- But Guevara is not the only murderer CIA, during his attempts to stir up a revo- ful symbols, but few have crossed over in history who has achieved significant lution in Bolivia. Following his capture, Ifrom politics into popular culture like public support after their passing. Despite Guevara accepted that he had executed up Albert Korda’s photograph of the ‘heroic being responsible for up to 70 million to ‘a couple of thousand’ people. Docu- guerrilla’, Che Guevara. The image sells deaths, Chairman Mao still enjoys rever- mentation is available to prove that he and has been emblazoned on a diverse ence amongst large sections of the Chinese executed at least seven hundred. Further- range of objects from clothes to piggy people. The Politburo now only pays lip more, Guevara hardly rejected material- banks. Guevara’s image has come to rep- service to his legacy, but he is still glorified ism: proudly owning Rolex watches and resent rebellion and has achieved a recog- in public mosaics and buildings through- living in mansions in the most exclusive nition that few political activists have. Yet out the country. parts of Havana. Guevara’s life and works were hardly the Stalin enjoys similar treatment. Sta- Guevara’s image is often used to evoke sum of his so-called political achievements. lin once famously had the census-takers rebellion against the established order and Guevara was an enthusiastic and deluded shot after they reported that 30 million few would doubt that the ‘heroic guer- Marxist revolutionary with a penchant for people had died under his regime. Yet to- rilla’ was also not afraid to use violence to executions, making his status as a political day he still commands considerable respect achieve his aims. Yet Fontova points out hero questionable, particularly when there amongst the Russian people. His years of that Guevara’s life is largely a myth cobbled are so many more deserving. power often generate respect amongst a together to maintain the legitimacy of his Lately, a cadre of anti-Guevara activists population which appears more content stature. In particular, most of his fans and have become quite vocal in their disdain with the certainty of totalitarianism than critics know Guevara as a guerrilla who for Guevara and the status he has achieved. the unpredictability of freedom. used his military skills to help Castro take One of his most vocal critics is the Cuban The Kims of North Korea have also Cuba. But Fontova shows convincingly exile, Humberto Fontova, who recently built cult followings within their realm. that Guevara’s military career was a mirage published Exposing the real Che Guevara However, any cult status achieved in the perpetuated in the magazines and newspa- and the useful idiots who idolize him. West is for their quirkiness, as portrayed pers of the West. During the Bay of Pigs As a child, Fontova’s family was sepa- by the Kim Jong-il marionette in the film invasion, Guevara was fooled and diverted rated as they tried to flee the (then unde- Team America: World Police. by a CIA plot which involved fireworks, clared) new communist nation. His family But only Guevara’s image has man- mirrors and the playback of a recorded was eventually reunited when they arrived aged to transcend politics into popular battle. His involvement in the defeat of in the United States, but Fontova is inca- culture. Ironically, his stature is highest in anti-communist rebels was to arrive at the pable of letting those he holds responsible the countries to which he was most pas- real battlefield on the final day after the for their exile get away unscathed. His sionately opposed. rebels were essentially defeated. The irony book is designed to tear apart the credibil- In a recent article in the Washington is that despite not seeing a real battlefield ity of the man who he believes responsible Post, journalist David Segal argued that an he still suffered injuries—he accidentally for so much of the past and contemporary image of Guevara in an art exhibition was shot himself. hardship of the Cuban people, while also demonstrative of his cult status—‘Che is Equally, during the Battle of Santa taking a swipe at the ‘useful idiots’ in the politics’ answer to James Dean’. But Gue- Clara, where Che’s forces overthrew the United States who dutifully, but unthink- vara is not Dean: Che was very much a Cuban Batista regime, the US print media ingly, revere his image. rebel with a cause. claimed that one thousand people were Yet, as Fontova argues, Guevara was killed. However, as Fontova details, the hardly the anti-materialist, harbinger of Batista troops gave up with little struggle Tim Wilson is Director, IP and Free peace that many Hollywood celebrities and only one person was killed. Trade Unit at the Institute of Public would like him to be. Guevara was killed Rather than a military victory, Castro’s Affairs. by Bolivian troops, with support from the success in Cuba was more a public affairs

JANUARY 2008 55 R E V I E W articulate a future of hope for his audience. Reeves’ argues that, after Reagan’s passing, conservatives romanticised his Presidency and achievements beyond reality. The period between his death and his burial supports this view. Reagan’s de- mise gripped the United States—there was a week of mourning and his body was on display 24 hours-a-day in the Capitol Building. The long hours were uncommon but necessary to clear the hordes that at- tended to pay their respects. Reagan also remains the only conser- vative political hero to have his ideology endorsed with a moniker—Reaganism. Reagan had clearly tapped into the imagi- nation of the American people and has Exposing the real Che President Reagan – The been revered despite the gulf that separates Guevara and the useful triumph of imagination the day-to-day details of his Administra- tion from the legends that now surround idiots who idolize him By Richard Reeve him. By Humberto Fontova (Simon & Schuster, 2006, 592 (Sentinel HC, 2007, 256 pages) Despite his success, Reagan has not pages) achieved the same degree of celebration that Guevara has: he hasn’t appeared in fashion houses or been tattooed on an un- victory in Washington DC and New York. have to an idol is the former President of mentionable part of Angelina Jolie’s body. Throughout and following Castro’s and the United States, Ronald Reagan. Particu- The image of Reagan at the rally in Guevara’s takeover of Cuba, The New York larly in US politics, candidates now actively support of Senator Durenberg, with his Times often ran stories recognising their invoke the spirit of Reagan to secure elec- weathered face and stiff posture framed by significant military achievements against tions. The current Republican Presidential a sea of American flags, is the closest pho- the Batista rebels, despite it now coming to Primary is filled with candidates who all tograph that encapsulates the image now light that most battles involved few shots, claim to be the heir to the Reagan legacy. portrayed of Reagan—a stoic, uncompro- let alone casualties. Guevara was a man of many words and mising crusader. Yet it has only made its What is clear is that Guevara, like he often spoke in crusading language when way onto t-shirts on conservative websites Castro, has achieved his cult status despite he talked about the success of communist and the occasional political memorabilia his failures and the pain that he inflicted. Cuba and his interest in overthrowing the store in Washington DC. It would be more appropriate to argue that United States. Equally, Reagan evoked very Perhaps it is their defeat that makes Guevara was less the ‘heroic guerrilla,’ and strong language in defence of the United their memory fashionable. Purchasing pro- more the ‘artful dodger’. States, conservatism and the justification communist memorabilia is not limited to How has Guevara successfully es- for the overthrow of the Soviet Union. naïve celebrities and left-wing political ac- caped his reputation, well described by Both leaders also spoke about sacrifice in tivists who are capable of turning a blind one of his friends as that of an executioner achieving their stated goals. eye. who engaged in ‘bloodletting for its own Both men also tapped into the imagi- Conservatives often buy communism’s sake’? Is Guevara’s appeal based simply on native psyche of their audiences. Guevara’s memorabilia for its chic value. I confess to the idealism that he portrayed (outside of imaginative appeal appears to have been owning North Vietnamese propaganda the execution chambers) to a youth mar- established long after his passing, aided by prints, and North Korea is one of the top ket waiting to be led? Or was the ‘Heroic a number of hagiographies and a gullible ten destinations to which I want to travel. Guerilla’ just an image that prints well and media. If it is defeat that transforms communism’s communicates a subconscious message? The capacity for Reagan to tap into face into pop-culture, perhaps we should What is perhaps of interest is that the imagination of the American people be celebrating Guevara’s t-shirts. there is no conservative idol. There is no was the topic of Richard Reeves’ book, I P A conservative pop icon that enjoys unparal- President Reagan—The triumph of imagi- leled support amongst young people and nation. Reeves depicted a political leader movie stars. who understood the value of words as well Perhaps the closest ‘icon’ conservatives as action, and who understood the need to

R E V I E W 56 JANUARY 2008