Social and Cultural Changes - Cultural Change

Question 1

Who was Jiang Qing

Answer 1

• Mao’s 4th wife, formerly an actress
• Mao chose her to personally oversee the purification of ‘revisionist, capitalist and feudalist’ influences in Chinese culture during the cultural rev

Question 2

Role of Jiang Qing

Answer 2

• saw new role as an opportunity to launch her own political career
• Jiang Qing given a place on the new Central Cultural Revolution Group (CCRG)
• CCRG grew so powerful it rivalled the politburo
• CCRG controlled pace and direction of the cultural rev and the PLA

Question 3

Censorship of the theatre

Answer 3

• Jiang Qing imposed strict censorship
• nearly all foreign works were banned
• her slogan was “make it revolutionary or ban it”

Question 4

Revolutionary opera

Answer 4

• traditional Chinese opera replaced with new revolutionary performances
• ‘feudal characters’ replaced by heroic peasants, workers and revolutionary soldiers
• only 8 official revolutionary performances allowed - audience tired of same stuff over and over again