Michael Casey (5) (1967–)

This a fascinating, thoughtful and insightful study of "Guerrillero Heroico," the famous photograph of Che Guevara taken by Alberto Korda on March 5, 1960. Without ever losing sight of the political and ideological ironies underpinning the legacy of the photo, Michael Casey has developed a clear-eyed narrative of the photo's cultural history; including its uses as propaganda, art, intellectual property, spiritual talisman and a conveyor of sacred values.

Shelved appropriately in the "Cultural show more Studies" section of bookstores, this is decidedly not a political science book or a lopsided polemic. Nor is it an extended exercise in art criticism. The central story, which involves the evolution of an icon, is not one that can be easily shunted into previously existing genres. In a sense, there is no template for writing this story and Casey does a phenomenal job of elucidating his subject while showing unwavering respect for those most invested (emotionally and financially) in Guerrillero Heroico. show less