Che Guevara: the end of a modern myth?

Résumé du document

Ernesto "Che" Guevara's fortieth death anniversary was celebrated in October in various ways around the planet. This mythic twentieth century revolutionary figure is increasingly criticized, as the Cuban regime which protected its memory is weakening. Most newspapers notice this evolution but not all try and account for it. I have chosen, for this discussion, two articles from quality weekly newspapers, one from each side of the Atlantic. The first one was published in the American Time Magazine, in the October 9th issue. It is entitled "40 yrs. after, Che lives on". The other one, "A modern saint and sinner" is from the British magazine ?The Economist' issue of October 11th. An in-depth analysis of two articles treating the same subject is especially interesting since the difference in editorial line and information treatment appear more radically than ever.

Extraits

[...] Indeed, both columnists recall shortly the life of Ernesto Guevara, insisting on his role in the Cuban revolution and his attempt at bringing the socialist revolution to other countries which provoked his death in Bolivia in 1967 in highly suspicious circumstances. Moreover, Cuba and Castro have kept the story of his life most lively among Cuban citizens. The factual basis of those articles is therefore very similar; however the qualification is very different from one to the other. Time Magazine's columnist remains very politically correct. She merely lists the tributes to Che that took place in Cuba and Latin America but would not give her own view of those events, of the character or even of the Cuban state. [...]

[...] Che Guevara: the end of a modern myth? Subject: Compare two articles from the English Language Press treating the same subject what does it reveal about their editorial line? Ernesto Guevara's fortieth death anniversary was celebrated in October in most various ways around the planet. This mythic twentieth century revolutionary figure is increasingly criticized as the Cuban regime which protected its memory is weakening. Most newspapers notice this evolution but not all try and account for it. I have chosen two articles from quality weekly newspapers, one from each side of the Atlantic. [...]

[...] She does not have to agree they did take place, but she should tell the reader what is changing around the Che myth. The last lines of the articles are nevertheless more ambiguous about her position, since she suggests that many people do not know what the Che picture they bear refers to. She may infer that the myth is still vivid and not criticised in Latin America for the real character is still too well-protected by Cuba but this is only reading between the lines. [...]

[...] One of them misses the goal by giving mere facts and no analysis, whereas the Economist's is based on a long-term perspective and gives arguments from various fields to try and convince the reader that however harsh his position may seem he has taken it on serious grounds. Che may very well be falling from his forty-year-long pedestal. Indicative bibliography - Che Guevara: a biography. By Daniel James, published by Allen and Unwin - Reminiscences of the Cuban revolutionary war. Authorized edition by Ernesto “Che”Guevara, published by Broché, 2006. [...]