1. Culture and the arts in mao’s china

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. Li Feng: Spring Hoeing

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

7. 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 ( )
The popularity of Shidaiqu (old, traditional Chinese folk music) declined

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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