Chávez eyes

A billboard of Hugo Chávez's eyes and signature in Guarenas, Venezuela.
Members of the Venezuelan armed forces carrying "Chávez eyes" flags saying, "Chavez lives, the fight continues".

"Chávez eyes" is a design of stylized eyes of Hugo Chávez that has become pervasive throughout Venezuela among the supporters of Chávez, the Venezuelan government and PSUV.[1][2] The eyes have been seen on "billboards, T-shirts and buildings around the nation".[3]

Background

"Chávez eyes" first originated from Hugo Chávez's final presidential campaign in 2012.[1] During an election gathering, thousands of Chávez supporters wore red shirts printed with his eyes in black.[1] The design was then widely spread by Chávez supporters and[1] by 2015, Reuters described the "Chávez eyes" as "[t]he most ubiquitous image in Venezuela of recent years".[3]

Other uses

Elections

During the 2013 Venezuelan presidential elections, Nicolás Maduro used the "Chávez eyes" design for his campaign, Chávez's image used more than Maduro's own image, with "Chávez eyes" seen on buildings, T-shirts and posters.[4]

Use by popular figures

At a Chávez tribute in November 2014, Pablo Iglesias Turrión, leader of the Spanish political party Podemos, was seen wearing a red shirt with the "eyes of Chávez" printed on it.[5]

Analysis

According to a 2014 report titled Faces and Traces of a Leader. Hugo Chavez: Memory of a People by the Venezuelan government's National Center for History, the Chávez eyes are supposed to represent a "watchful and protective gaze" and present a feeling of transparency or trust related to the phrase "Look into my eyes when I'm talking".[6] It was also noted that since Chávez was not physically present in Venezuela anymore, the Chávez eyes to Bolivarian government supporters represented an "omnipresent" Chávez, reminding voters of their "ideological commitment".[6]

Some who experienced the work say that it instills a presence of Chávez, a sense that he is "always watching you" that has been compared to the Orwellian figure, Big Brother.[1][4][7][8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "In Venezuela, the eyes have it". Agence France-Presse. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Ore, Diego (28 July 2014). "Arial, Times New Roman ... and now the 'Hugo Chavez' font". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  3. 1 2 Cawthorne, Andrew (10 December 2015). "Venezuela opposition win unleashes jokes and insults". Reuters. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  4. 1 2 Metz, Marie (8 April 2013). "On Venezuela's Campaign Trail, Chavez Is Watching You". The Atlantic. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  5. ↑ "Pablo Iglesias Turrión se hizo presente en un homenaje a Hugo Chávez". El Propio. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  6. 1 2 González, Alexander (5 March 2015). "¿Chávez vive?". Diario de Los Andes. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  7. ↑ Hodgson, Fergus (23 December 2014). "10 Reasons Why I Am a Chavista". PanAm Post. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  8. ↑ "Hugo Chavez a potent symbol in Venezuela as cult of personality flourishes during long absence". Fox News. 24 January 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
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