Yi Ren

Focusing on popular entertainment in rural areas of Southeast Shanxi during the Cultural Revolution period, this dissertation argues,on the one hand, the profound impact of the Cultural Revolution was not only experienced as intense political struggles, revolutionary upheavals or violent conflicts, but also permeated daily through cultural activities like popular entertainment; on the other, it argues the understanding of Cultural Revolution culture as well as the Cultural Revolution itself was deeply entrenched into the local society. This dissertation provides us a detailed analysis of the dynamic process and changes during the Cultural Revolution. In particular, it highlights the roles of rural villagers in defining their own lives, the village space, and the history of the state.

This project examines the social and cultural dynamics of grassroots propaganda in rural China, mainly during the Mao era. Despite the rapid urbanization at the onset of the People’s Republic of China in 1949, the substantial rural populace, making up over 89% of the total population, remained crucial. To align this demographic with the state’s vision, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) extended its wartime efforts to incorporate local populations and established an ever-growing network of grassroots propaganda. This network comprised a wide cross-section of society’s marginalized and disadvantaged. They operated at the peripheries of the CCP’s colossal propaganda edifice. Yet, they became indispensable conduits connecting the state and the vast rural populace. Their existence was a testament to both the Party’s overarching influence and the resilience and adaptability of Chinese society. As the first critical study of the CCP grassroots propagandists at the village level, my book will provide a nuanced view of this pivotal era, addressing a central question about Communist China: How did the CCP maintain control over the extensive rural populace?