1. Changing Practices of Artistic Production and Consumption CCCH9017 People, Propaganda and Profit: Understanding Media in China Ling-Yun Tang, Dept. of Sociology, HKU November 17, 2010

2. Objectives Does Mao still matter? Artistic production and consumption Concluding thoughts

3. Does Mao still matter?

4. Revolutionary fervor “Great Teacher, Great Leader, Great Commander, Great Helmsman” Center of “pre- digital” mass media Paraphernalia

5. Mao badges: “Red, shiny, bright” Began circulating in 1930s-40s = loyalty to Mao and revolutionary cause 5 billion produced 1966-71 See: http://libraries.claremont.edu/sc/exhibits/mao/m aofever.htm

6. Revolutionary songs http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/Chin a/CRSongs/crsongs.htmhttp://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/Chin a/CRSongs/crsongs.htm

7. “Mao fever” in 1990s After temporary ‘cooling off’ period in 1980s, popular revival of Maoism after 1989 Re-emergence of paraphernalia Positive feelings associated with Mao Nostalgia or defamation?

8. The East is Red, pop version (1990) http://www.sino.uni- heidelberg.de/conf/propaganda/musik.ht mlhttp://www.sino.uni- heidelberg.de/conf/propaganda/musik.ht ml

9. Egg on Mao Fear of defaming Mao not limited to China Linkages between China and rest of the world through –Internet –Business

10. Artistic interpretations of Mao Zhang Hongtu, The Last Banquet, 1989

11. Zhang Hongtu, Bilingual Chart of Acupuncture Points and Meridians (Front and Back), 1990

12. Censorship that sells? Huang Rui, Chairman Mao 10,000 Years, 2006; the red curtain

13. Gao Qiang, 2006

14. Weakening state control? Technology Administration Property rights Consumer rights Yet persistence of repercussions…

15. Official media policy Citizens must defend “the security, honor, and interests of the motherland” GAPP and SARFT (under CPD) –no explicit mention of art Art, like media, is challenge to state control

16. Art goes mainstream

17. From cultural propaganda to culture industries State agenda to spur economic growth 1949-79: art as tool of state 2000s: art as investment Culture as means to an end

18. Art in the global market New opportunities abroad and at home Politics moves to background From “officialdom” to “semi-officialdom” –Showing in malls, bars, factories, streets –Galleries, auctions Using media to promote individual careers

19. The global reach of art Artzinechina.com (Shanghai) Artnet.com (Berlin) Saatchionline.com (London) Art Asia Pacific (New York) Yishu (Vancouver) Orientations (Hong Kong) Contemporary Art and Investment (Beijing)

20. Consumer revolution Chinese bubble bursting January 2009 France24: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFigXCxdM 4o&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFigXCxdM 4o&feature=related Christie’s predicting upswing April 2010 Reuters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1oT KbtP0gAhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1oT KbtP0gA

21. Concluding thoughts Maoism still central to ruling ideology… Pop cultural and artistic trends chipping away at message