| Subject: Re: Free Tibet movements: criticism |
Author:
Jason Sheets
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Date Posted: 23:49:57 10/16/02 Wed
In reply to:
Steven Melling
's message, "Free Tibet movements: criticism" on 20:53:44 10/16/02 Wed
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Previously, I had read of Jason's frustration over a guy whose satchel displayed a representation of Che Guevera and an American flag lapel. Whether the American flag is a cipher is debatable. It certainly has been used as a marketing tool. I do believe that Che Guevera (2) has become a Cipher. No, his image will never appear on Burger
King cups, but it has been able to operate on a much smaller level. When Rage Against The Machine decided his image would make a good album cover, they changed the prevalent representation of him. Instead of educating the public about Guevera's life, they transformed him into another marketing symbol. I'm sure they did not mean to do such a thing, but that's what has happened. The kid probably does not think too much about the guy whose face sits next to Old Glory on his satchel. To him, both represent vague ideas
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I notice a lot of kids seem to think it's an image of Zach de la Rocha rather than Che, so their attempt to educate the ignorant masses has pretty much failed. And while he may not be plastered all over fast food packaging, his face is now a branded logo for a bottled soft drink called "Revolution" soda. I'm not sure which is worse, a possible "Che-pack double-cheeseburger value meal" at the BK or the reality of carbonated sugar-water using his face to trick consumers into thinking they are engaging in some sort of revolution.
The situation with Bob Marley is really no different. Almost every college dorm room has one of his posters on the wall and the album "Legend" blasting out of a stereo, yet it is doubtful that many of his fans today think of him as anything other than "a guy who smoked fat joints, man." They know nothing about his spiritual nature, his political activity, they probably don't even know he was shot by a would-be assassin. He's just some black dude with nappy hair who plays music they can dance to.
As far as the Free-Tibet movement in the US goes, I am in total agreement. Even the Dalai Lama has become almost a brand (not by his own doing, of course) and the "cool thing" to be into, even though most people know nothing about Lama Buddhism, can't find Tibet on a map, or don't even know why China invaded the place. I guess it's cool all these people are into the cause and all that, but as soon as their favorite band moves to a new cause, they'll go right with them.
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