Given the many resonances with similar phenomena in the U.S., particularly on the right, neither censorship nor anything specifically Chinese or communist seems to be the fundamental cause. Human beings seem to have an endless ability to project their longings onto periods in the past, obscuring their horrors in the process. Glamour is a powerful form of rhetoric, and a dangerous one (says the author of The Power of Glamour, also available in Chinese).
Social, economic, and political contradictions threaten both Party rule and the emergence of a second Cultural Revolution. Should Xi pass from the scene, the consequences could be another catastrophe. China may be fated to oscillate from strongman to strongman in a widening cycle of violent change.
Indeed fascinating, especially the part that explains how "the mosaic version of history unintentionally provided the fertile soil for the 'Net Left' to romanticize the era." But I do have some doubts on the final judgement, namely the "Net Left" may easily turn into a force against the regime. I think it's necessary to dive into Maoism, both historically and currently, to see what values Mao himself provided, and what values absorbed by Net Lefts or Little Pinks. For example, since we can't really know how they feel about Xi, does Führerprinzip (領袖原則) still apply to them? Do they believe the Party as a whole still upholds fundamental Maoist values, or at least still have the potential to be so? If not, are they prepared to establish new organizations to do so, which will inevitably be suppressed by the regime?
Thanks for sharing this excellent essay. It's hard fathom that anybody would hanker for a return of the Cultural Revolution, but Shijie Wang makes a very convincing argument for why this is the case. It looks like Xi Jinping has cast out a net that risks bringing in a catch he could not foresee. There are also obvious similarities to the MAGA movement in the United States, and fascist youth movements around the world.
What ultimately feels unsatisfying about this piece is that it offers a p compelling explanation for why young people are reappropriating the CR, blocked channels of dissent, class immobility etc only to then retreat into lib moralizing that reappropriation is misguided or dangerous. Every republic mythologizes its founding violence: the French Revolution is endlessly reworked despite the Terror, the American Revolution is celebrated despite genocide and slavery. Yet when Chinese youth reinterpret their own revolutionary history, the move is treated as uniquely illegitimate, as if non-Western societies are denied the right to re-narrate their past except through elite, Cold War–inflected frameworks. If the author acknowledges that these youths are structurally compelled to seek meaning in Maoist symbolism, what exactly is the alternative being proposed lmao
Dude, calm down. You’re acting like I have a seat at the table in Zhongnanhai. I’m not the one 'denying' anyone the right to reinterpret their history—the Politburo is. I did not give the order to suppress the discussion, delete the contents, and remove the creator's account, they did. Also plz post ur final question to them, I am more than happy to embrace the diversity of youth ideologies in China, they are not.
ahahaha im chilling mate its not that serious what the hells the point of writing the article if one cant critique it if anything i liked the analysis was cool
Given the many resonances with similar phenomena in the U.S., particularly on the right, neither censorship nor anything specifically Chinese or communist seems to be the fundamental cause. Human beings seem to have an endless ability to project their longings onto periods in the past, obscuring their horrors in the process. Glamour is a powerful form of rhetoric, and a dangerous one (says the author of The Power of Glamour, also available in Chinese).
I was also thinking of your work when reading this. Aesthetics are more powerful than rhetoric
Very good narrative and analysis. As a Chinese I am constantly confused and worried by the censorship we have in terms of publications.
Just by the way, this post is interestingly coherent with an episode of Bumingbai Podcast (不明白播客). Do you know each other by any chance?
我不认识他们哎，如果你认识的话，倒是不妨可以引荐我们认识一下
我也只是听众，不过他们有公开的投稿渠道，或许你可以通过这个与他们合作甚至播客连线https://bumingbai.net/
原来是袁莉主持的播客 感谢分享 其实我还蛮想和她讨论她最近那篇关于“斩杀线”的文章的 我觉得可能是篇幅限制 很多更深层的东西她没触碰到
Social, economic, and political contradictions threaten both Party rule and the emergence of a second Cultural Revolution. Should Xi pass from the scene, the consequences could be another catastrophe. China may be fated to oscillate from strongman to strongman in a widening cycle of violent change.
Indeed fascinating, especially the part that explains how "the mosaic version of history unintentionally provided the fertile soil for the 'Net Left' to romanticize the era." But I do have some doubts on the final judgement, namely the "Net Left" may easily turn into a force against the regime. I think it's necessary to dive into Maoism, both historically and currently, to see what values Mao himself provided, and what values absorbed by Net Lefts or Little Pinks. For example, since we can't really know how they feel about Xi, does Führerprinzip (領袖原則) still apply to them? Do they believe the Party as a whole still upholds fundamental Maoist values, or at least still have the potential to be so? If not, are they prepared to establish new organizations to do so, which will inevitably be suppressed by the regime?
Where did you take that picture about Kang Sheng? Would like to visit the place...
Thanks for sharing this excellent essay. It's hard fathom that anybody would hanker for a return of the Cultural Revolution, but Shijie Wang makes a very convincing argument for why this is the case. It looks like Xi Jinping has cast out a net that risks bringing in a catch he could not foresee. There are also obvious similarities to the MAGA movement in the United States, and fascist youth movements around the world.
yea sry not sry we're not CR fans here at chinatalk
What ultimately feels unsatisfying about this piece is that it offers a p compelling explanation for why young people are reappropriating the CR, blocked channels of dissent, class immobility etc only to then retreat into lib moralizing that reappropriation is misguided or dangerous. Every republic mythologizes its founding violence: the French Revolution is endlessly reworked despite the Terror, the American Revolution is celebrated despite genocide and slavery. Yet when Chinese youth reinterpret their own revolutionary history, the move is treated as uniquely illegitimate, as if non-Western societies are denied the right to re-narrate their past except through elite, Cold War–inflected frameworks. If the author acknowledges that these youths are structurally compelled to seek meaning in Maoist symbolism, what exactly is the alternative being proposed lmao
Dude, calm down. You’re acting like I have a seat at the table in Zhongnanhai. I’m not the one 'denying' anyone the right to reinterpret their history—the Politburo is. I did not give the order to suppress the discussion, delete the contents, and remove the creator's account, they did. Also plz post ur final question to them, I am more than happy to embrace the diversity of youth ideologies in China, they are not.
ahahaha im chilling mate its not that serious what the hells the point of writing the article if one cant critique it if anything i liked the analysis was cool
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