Poster, Lucha for Change (Fight for Change)

Graphic designer Luis Fitch cleverly appropriates the Mexican wrestling tradition widely known as “Lucha Libre” (Free Fight) and transforms it to “Lucha for Change” (Fight for Change). Created as a means to bring voter awareness during the 2008 Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, MN, this poster was designed to evoke popular Mexican wrestling posters, which are often pasted on the walls of Mexican city streets to promote upcoming matches. Mexican wresters are substituted for political figures from the Democratic and Republican parties in an ideological face off that showcases Barack Obama and John McCain as the main event, followed by Bill Clinton vs. Dick Cheney, Hillary Clinton vs. Condoleezza Rice, and Osama bin Laden vs. George W. Bush. The phrase “Mascara vs. Mascara” (Mask vs. Mask) refers to the distinct facial masks typically worn by Mexican wrestlers, which upon defeat must be removed as a surrender of power. In this example, Fitch uses the smiling faces of politicians to signify the “masks” worn during campaign season and brings to light how in the United States presidential campaigns take on the form of political sport for national entertainment.

Poster, Lucha for Change (Fight for Change); Printed by Jerry's Printing; offset print on paper; 91.4 × 61 cm (36 × 24 in.); Gift of Luis Fitch; 2017-31-1