HomeUploadUpload DirectHotlinkRandomAbouttheme toggle
Expand

Killer Chic: Hollywood's Sick Love Affair with Che Guevara (Chinese translation)

Views:1022
@ReasonVids

Note: On December 11, Reason.tv released "Killer Chic: Hollywood's Sick Love Affair with Che Guevara," which featured a discussion of former Chinese basketball player Kai Chen's experience under Mao Zedong's murderous regime. We're happy to release this version of Killer Chic with Chinese subtitles.

Gisele Bundchen wears him on the runway, Johnny Depp wears him around his neck, and Benicio Del Toro becomes him in the new, highly acclaimed, two-part epic film from Steven Soderbergh, Che. Ernesto "Che" Guevara, the revolutionary who helped found communist Cuba, is the celebrity that celebrities adore. And be it Madonna, Rage Against the Machine, or Jay-Z, musicians really dig Che.

Its something that baffles Cuban jazz legend Paquito DRivera. Che hated artists, so how is it possible that artists still today support the image of Che Guevara? Turns out the rebellious icon that emblazons countless T-shirts actually enforced aesthetic and political conformity. DRivera explains that Che and other Cuban authorities sought to ban rock and roll and jazz.

Che was an inspiration for me, DRivera tells reason.tv. I thought I have to get out of this island as soon as I can, because I am in the wrong place at the wrong time! DRivera did escape Cuba, and so far hes won nine Grammy awards playing the kind of music Che tried to silence. But DRivera says Ches crimes didnt end with censorship. He ordered the execution of many people with no trial. Che served as Castros chief executioner, presiding over the infamous La Cabana prison. DRivera says Ches policy of killing innocents earned him the nickname—the Butcher of La Cabana.

Were rightly horrified by fascist murderers like Adolph Hitler, says reason.tvs Nick Gillespie. Why arent we also horrified by communist killers? Certainly, Ches body count isnt anywhere near Hitlers. But what about someone Che idolized, someone whom he might have liked to wear on his chest?

Che, Castro, all the communist regimes idolized only one thing that Mao personifies—violence. Kai Chen grew up in China under the reign of Mao Zedong. Although he won gold medals for Chinas national basketball team, Chens was far from the celebrity life of an NBA star. Says Chen, You have no right to talk, and you have no right to think.

The punishment for questioning Maos authority was often death. The Black Book of Communism estimates that Mao is responsible for the deaths of 65 million people—a figure that dwarfs even Hitlers body count. Mao is a murderer, says Chen. The biggest mass murderer in human history.

And yet, like Che, Maos image is becoming an increasingly popular way to move merchandise. You can buy Mao t-shirts, mugs, caps—you name it. Near Chens Los Angeles home theres even a restaurant called Maos Kitchen. Can you imagine a restaurant called Hitlers Kitchen? asks Gillespie.

Neither DRivera nor Chen understands why communist killers are considered Chic, but each finds his own way to have the last laugh on these anti-capitalist icons.

"Killer Chic" is written and produced by Ted Balaker. Director of Photography is Alex Manning.

political
,
che
,
hollywood
,
chinese
,
benecio del toro
,
guevera
,
mao
,
kai
,
chen
,
communism
,
zedong
    Thumbnail for The Worst (Or Is That the Best?) Obama Tchotchke0:16
    The Worst (Or Is That the Best?) Obama Tchotchke
    ReasonVids
    944 views
    Thumbnail for How Third Parties Are Getting Screwed This Election Season3:30
    How Third Parties Are Getting Screwed This Election Season
    ReasonVids
    1053 views
    Thumbnail for The Lost History Of The Flat Earth16:14
    The Lost History Of The Flat Earth
    bestofsaidit
    764 views
    Thumbnail for An Update On Dianna's Health | Physics Girl4:38
    An Update On Dianna's Health | Physics Girl
    invidious
    168 views
    Thumbnail for Kickstart Government Twitter Accounts: Uncle Sam Needs Your Help!2:01
    Kickstart Government Twitter Accounts: Uncle Sam Needs Your Help!
    ReasonVids
    877 views
    Thumbnail for MTV VJ and Radio Host Kennedy on Marijuana, The Politics of Alt Rock, and Becoming Libertarian9:50
    MTV VJ and Radio Host Kennedy on Marijuana, The Politics of Alt Rock, and Becoming Libertarian
    ReasonVids
    1052 views
    Thumbnail for Q Just Called Out The Jewish Mafia28:54
    Q Just Called Out The Jewish Mafia
    bestofsaidit
    819 views
    Thumbnail for his kung fu is strong!0:25
    his kung fu is strong!
    bestofupgoat
    498 views
    Thumbnail for NOOB v NOOB in a Head to Head SHOWDOWN! | TwoFace23:30
    NOOB v NOOB in a Head to Head SHOWDOWN! | TwoFace
    invidious
    503 views
    Thumbnail for Nonstop Christmas Songs Remix 2024 🎄🎄🎄 Best Disco Christmas Songs 2024 🎄🎄🎄 | Christmas Songs 20241:00
    Nonstop Christmas Songs Remix 2024 🎄🎄🎄 Best Disco Christmas Songs 2024 🎄🎄🎄 | Christmas Songs 2024
    invidious
    353 views
    Thumbnail for Deaf guy hears for the first time0:48
    Deaf guy hears for the first time
    AOUisgay
    457 views
    Thumbnail for What are you doing?0:11
    What are you doing?
    bestofupgoat
    571 views
    Thumbnail for Honest Trailers | Andor (Season 2) | Screen Junkies9:00
    Honest Trailers | Andor (Season 2) | Screen Junkies
    invidious
    112 views
    Thumbnail for He knew this was the time to bail0:14
    He knew this was the time to bail
    x0x7
    593 views
    Thumbnail for Why Washington DC is Not Part of Any State 🇺🇸 | GeoGlobeTales0:33
    Why Washington DC is Not Part of Any State 🇺🇸 | GeoGlobeTales
    invidious
    141 views
    Thumbnail for Which Car Survives the Biggest Loop in GTA 5? | GrayStillPlays28:17
    Which Car Survives the Biggest Loop in GTA 5? | GrayStillPlays
    invidious
    432 views
    Thumbnail for Reject Modernity, Embrace Tradition3:26
    Reject Modernity, Embrace Tradition
    bestofupgoat
    367 views
    Thumbnail for NPC Programming0:38
    NPC Programming
    bestofupgoat
    261 views
    Thumbnail for Spirit Of Truth8:14
    Spirit Of Truth
    bestofupgoat
    279 views
    Thumbnail for Car Lot Interview - Second video of pajeet car dealer guys (uploaded November 2) with them talking about far more than they perjured themselves on in testimony.3:17
    Car Lot Interview - Second video of pajeet car dealer guys (uploaded November 2) with them talking about far more than they perjured themselves on in testimony.
    AOU
    1699 views
    Thumbnail for Moving Story of a Canadian Protester Beaten by Police Who Refused to Back Down in the Face of Tyranny3:10
    Moving Story of a Canadian Protester Beaten by Police Who Refused to Back Down in the Face of Tyranny
    AOU
    1233 views
    Thumbnail for Dumb whore vs reality: the classic showdown0:32
    Dumb whore vs reality: the classic showdown
    bestofupgoat
    516 views
    Thumbnail for Douce France3:07
    Douce France
    AOU
    1500 views
    Thumbnail for Doom E1M1 Remake - Arachnotron Invasion with D64ifier |  Bastiaan de Jong20:38
    Doom E1M1 Remake - Arachnotron Invasion with D64ifier | Bastiaan de Jong
    doom.topic
    806 views
    Thumbnail for EVERYTHING | Award Winning Short Film (2016)15:52
    EVERYTHING | Award Winning Short Film (2016)
    IJvids
    903 views

points

Permalink
Reply
political
,
che
,
hollywood
,
chinese
,
benecio del toro
,
guevera
,
mao
,
kai
,
chen
,
communism
,
zedong
TOS  •  Add Keywords  •  Donate  •   Analytics  •   DMCA  •   Puzzle