The Cultural Revolution was another radical program launched by Mao in 1966. Its goal was to purge China of “bourgeois,” or non-revolutionary, tendencies. Young Chinese were urged to experience revolution firsthand, as Mao and his generation had. In response to these urges, teenagers formed bands of Red Guards, attacking those they claimed were counterrevolutionaries. They waved copies of the “Little Red Book” of Mao's sayings and targeted people in authority, from party leaders and factory managers to teachers, writers, and artists. The accused were publicly humiliated or beaten, and sometimes even killed.
This revolution kicked China in the gut. Schools and factories closed, the economy slowed, and the threat of civil war emerged once again. At last, Mao called for order to be restored by the army and many Red Guards were sent to work on communes. However, the disorienting taste of communism overtook them, creating a lost, undereducated generation. As shown, many of the propaganda posters shared nearly identical messages, primarily about destroying the world in order to build a new one. The third poster incites feelings of power and union to destroy a common enemy. To learn more about the goals of the Cultural Revolution and their meaning/history, click below. This website also shows artistic propaganda that was used during this time. Cultural Revolution If you're looking for a very fast-paced yet informative overview of every aspect of The Cultural Revolution, the link below takes you to the perfect website. ThinkQuest: The Cultural Revolution For a very simple, easy-to-understand website about the Cultural Revolution, click below. This site focuses mainly on Mao and his friends/family. The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China Since culture includes cuisine (one of my favorite aspects!), why not learn how to make what the Chinese farmers made during this time? Clicking on the book cover will show you just some of the many recipes included in this strange, intriguing cookbook. Amazon.com: The Cultural Revolution Cookbook |
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