Representation of Chinese Minority Groups
in Propaganda Art

Aim: How have Chinese minorities been represented through propaganda art?

Objectives:
Students will examine Chinese propaganda posters from the late 1950s to the early 1980s that were aimed at minority groups. Through the analysis of these examples of propaganda art, students will examine:
… Attitudes toward ethnic minorities as reflected through the images of these groups and the purposes being served by a particular piece of propaganda;
… Roles assigned to minority groups since the conception of the People's Republic of China.

Materials:
Reproductions of Chinese propaganda posters.

There are several publications on this subject. However, you can also examine images of these posters on the Internet. Two very useful websites are Stefan Landberger's Chinese Propaganda Posters Page (www.iisg.nl/~landsberger/) and Li Yu's work Representation of Ethnic Minorities in Chinese Propaganda Posters, 1957-1983 (http://deall.ohio-state.edu/grads/yu.124/minzu/). Both sites provide analyses of the role of propaganda posters in China, as well as background information on many examples of this art.

Background Information:
Propaganda art was instrumental in the efforts to establish the foundations of the People's Republic of China. Mao Tse-tung emphasized the importance of art as a revolutionary instrument at a forum in Yenan in May of 1942:

"Comrades! You have been invited to this forum today to exchange ideas and examine the relationship between work in the literary and artistic fields, and revolutionary work in general. Our aim is to ensure that revolutionary literature and art follow the correct path of development and provide better help to other revolutionary work in facilitating the overthrow of our national enemy and the accomplishment of the task of national liberation.

…The purpose of our meeting today is precisely to ensure that literature and art fit well into the whole revolutionary machine as a component part, that they operate as powerful weapons for uniting and educating the people and for attacking and destroying the enemy, and that they help the people fight the enemy with one heart and one mind."

Talks at the Yenan Forum on Literature and Art, May 2, 1942

After having served the purposes of liberation, art became the instrument to bring all the Chinese together in a nation-building effort. Minority groups had to be "educated" in order to assist in the efforts to bring progress to China.

Propaganda posters aimed at minority groups tried to communicate the idea of national unity while emphasizing the individual characteristics of each nationality (Landsberger). Peoples are shown in their traditional costumes coming together in many occasions through music and dance, maintaining their traditional way of life while attempting to achieve progress.

An examination of the symbols used in the posters, the messages these communicated and the government purposes served by this form of propaganda reveals some recurring themes. Li Yu's work established how minority groups were often associated with the themes of social prosperity, lack of progress and education, national security and national unity.

Motivation: In order to model the process of analysis of propaganda posters, an example can be shown to the class. The poster Share the Labor and Share the Fruit (1957) can be used to introduce the activity. Questions for discussion: … Describe the scene depicted in this poster. … What are the images/symbols being used in it? … How are the visuals reinforcing the message of this poster? … What do you think the Chinese government hoped that the target audience would do? What purpose was being served by this poster? … This poster was produced in 1957. What was taking place in China during this period? Why would the government be interested in emphasizing the kind of message we see in this poster?

Procedure:

1) Students work in groups of no more than four members to analyze several posters provided by the teacher. They should be provided with a handout containing questions to facilitate the discussion. (See sample handout.)

2) Each group explains the poster to the rest of the class. Images of these posters should be made into transparencies or arranged in a power-point presentation to allow the entire class to observe them closely.

Summary:
A final discussion should identify common themes in the propaganda posters:
… How were minority peoples represented in these posters?
… What do the illustrations say about the way minority peoples were perceived by the majority of the Chinese people? Are some of these perceptions still common?
… What effects do you think this kind of portrayal has had on minority peoples?

Application/Follow up:

1) Think about possible issues and concerns relevant to minority peoples in China today. Create a poster encouraging the people to address these matters.

2) Examine other Chinese propaganda posters. What attitudes and actions are these inducing?