Culture and the arts in mao’s china

Introduction In 1966, China’s Communist leader Mao Zedong launched a mass campaign what became known as the Cultural Revolution in order to reassert his authority over the Chinese government Gang of Four (Jiang Qing) Mao called on the nation’s youth to purge the “impure” elements of Chinese society and revive the revolutionary spirit

Paintings Repression Art in China in the 1960s and 1970s was closely associated with state political movements -> Mao Zedong thought Showing national heroism Rarely included artists own emotions and feelings

Zhao Kunhan: The production brigade's reading room, 1974

Li Feng: Spring Hoeing

Propaganda posters Striking simplicity of design and coloring Usually moderate use of colors Promoted Maoist values

Music Western music banned – Chinese contemporary opera-ballets replaced them (Huangmei) Jiang Qing (Mao’s wife) was the main advocate of the revolutionary opera, and during the cultural revolution, only certain approved work may be performed ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wefjrJ6JdrU ) The popularity of Shidaiqu (old, traditional Chinese folk music) declined

Literature Writers were expected to educate the masses: propaganda Only book printed within two years was Mao’s The Little Red Book (1964) Foreign literatute non-existent Libraries and museums were closed

clothing Clothes that got lots of attention were banned – for example high heels and jeans Even long hair was considered as western type of culture and was again, banned Women were supposed to look as unfeminine as possible If citizens were found wearing these type of clothes, they were often beaten or humiliated by the Red Guards

theatre All traditional forms of theatre prohibited Fixed character types: class background – revolutionaries and class enemies Revolutionary model dramas: Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy, The Legend of The Red Lantern, Red Detachment of Women, The White-Haired Girl These plays still performed in China

COMparison Stalin Mao Show peasants as happy Glorify Soviet Russia, Stalin and the communist party Increased state control Paintings had to show the progress and success achieved under Stalin and communism Show peasants as happy Support Mao’s thought Increased censorship Paintings showed national heroism and supported political movement