Abstract
This science fiction short story explores a future where Che Guevara is canonized by the first Chinese Pope. Other historical characters, such as Karl Marx, Ronald Reagan, his astrologer and punk band leaders are also included. The piece explores the cult of Che Guevara by the Latin American left. The main character (Che Guevara) is invited to return to earth for a day to ascertain the extent of his legacy, only to discover that neo-capitalism has commodified him, as capitalism did beforehand. It contrasts the leftist cult of Che Guevara with the personality cult of Reagan in neoliberal apologetics.
This is a thought experiment on how the world is moving from the Washington Consensus of the 1990s to a cultural hegemony of Chinese state capitalism. By presenting Che Guevara as an angel, who resist coming back to earth only to avoid capital outflow from the Shanghai stock market, the ambivalent state of his legacy for the left is highlighted.
The short story was short listed in an international literary competition organised by the magazine Hemisferio Izquierdo, which received 124 entries from all over the world, of which 18 (14.5%) were included in the resulting book. This was the only entry selected from Australia, and one of the two shotlisted from outside the Spanish-speaking countries (the other was form the US). Hemisferio Izquierdo is the most prestigious political debate outlet in Uruguay.
Keywords: Science Fiction; Che Guevara; Latin American Left; Washington Consensus; Neoliberal Apologetics
This is a thought experiment on how the world is moving from the Washington Consensus of the 1990s to a cultural hegemony of Chinese state capitalism. By presenting Che Guevara as an angel, who resist coming back to earth only to avoid capital outflow from the Shanghai stock market, the ambivalent state of his legacy for the left is highlighted.
The short story was short listed in an international literary competition organised by the magazine Hemisferio Izquierdo, which received 124 entries from all over the world, of which 18 (14.5%) were included in the resulting book. This was the only entry selected from Australia, and one of the two shotlisted from outside the Spanish-speaking countries (the other was form the US). Hemisferio Izquierdo is the most prestigious political debate outlet in Uruguay.
Keywords: Science Fiction; Che Guevara; Latin American Left; Washington Consensus; Neoliberal Apologetics
| Translated title of the contribution | In an unsuitable place at the incorrect time |
|---|---|
| Original language | Spanish |
| Title of host publication | Palabras al che |
| Place of Publication | Uruguay |
| Publisher | Hemisferio Izquierdo |
| Pages | 70-71 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |