Source 1b

Poster depicting an illustration of a crowd of smiling people marching. The person walking in front holds a black sign with text on it. Most of the people in the crowd hold up a small red book in the air. Red flags fly above the crowd. At the top of the poster is an illustration of Mao's head surrounded by sunrays. At the bottom is large text in red.
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Cultural Revolution poster from the People’s Republic of China. Chronicle / Alamy Stock Photo

Translated transcript

[The red Chinese characters at the bottom:]

 

This is a vast world where much can be accomplished.

 

[The framed words against a black background:]

 

A quotation from Chairman Mao:

‘It is absolutely necessary for young intellectuals to go to the countryside to be re-educated by poor and lower-middle peasants.’

 

« Return to The Cultural Revolution

Look at sources 1a-d. These sources are about propaganda from the Chinese Communist Party during the Cultural Revolution.

  • Define the term ‘propaganda’.
  • What visual techniques (including colour) are used in the propaganda posters (1a & 1b) to communicate their messages?
  • Look at the poster transcripts. Explain how the characters add to the messages of each poster.
  • Why do you think propaganda like this was used during the Cultural Revolution to promote a cult of personality around Mao Zedong?
  • How was Mao portrayed in official propaganda during the Cultural Revolution? Use sources 1c & 1d to explain.
  • Referring to all sources 1a-1d: why did the Chinese Communist Party put so much effort into creating propaganda?
  • What questions should we ask when considering propaganda as historical source material?