The Graduate Institute of Latin America Studies hosted a special symposium to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the death of the Latin American Marxist revolutionary, Che Guevara. The Argentina born Che fought for Cuba and died in Bolivia for causes that he believed were for the poor and deprived of the continent. His picture with him wearing his trademark beret and a beard is one of most exposed images, alongside those of coca cola and Marilyn Monroe, around the world. It has been used to champion social causes, but also to sell cigarettes and alcohol. Such bipolar exploitation of his image will be the theme of the symposium held on October 8 at the Ching-sheng International Conference Hall.

Dr. Chen Hsiao-chuan, the Chair of the institute emphasizes that this symposium, entitled Guerrillero heroico: Che Guevara, is to strike the balance between the two extreme images of Che: the serious, heroic, but charming social reformer on one hand, and the violent, frivolous, and devilish killer on the other. Papers presented at the symposium, such as “The Iconic Status of Che Guevara,” “From Myth to Commodity,” and “Idol of the Youths,” will thus seek to explore and hopefully to reconcile the alleged two sides of this controversial figure that has attracted a global following among young people in the past few decades.

TKU President, Flora Chang will open the symposium, while Professor Alberto Saladino Garcia from Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico and local experts on Latin America that include Lin Wei-shu and Juan Hung Hui, will be the discussants and presenters. (~Ying-hsueh Hu)