Cultural Revolution and Revolutionary Culture

Alessandro Russo presents a new interpretation of the Cultural Revolution in China, viewing it as a mass political experiment aimed at reexamining communism's principles. He explores four critical phases, including the dispute around the play Hai Rui Dismissed from Office, the Shanghai January Storm, and the problematic foundation of the Shanghai Commune. Russo challenges conventional wisdom about the Revolution and offers a more nuanced understanding of its political and cultural complexities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 18 September 2020
Publisher: Duke University Press

Alessandro Russo offers a fresh perspective on China's Cultural Revolution in Cultural Revolution and Revolutionary Culture. He views it as a massive political experiment aimed at reevaluating the core principles of communism. Russo delves into four critical phases of the Cultural Revolution, each characterized by its unique reinterpretation of communist political subjectivity. These phases include the historical-theatrical "prologue" of 1965, Mao's efforts to shape the revolution in 1965 and 1966, the movements and organizing between 1966 and 1968, and the mass study campaigns from 1973 to 1976.

Russo also challenges prevailing notions about the dispute surrounding the play Hai Rui Dismissed from Office, revealing it to be the result of complex political and intellectual controversies rather than a Maoist conspiracy. He further examines the Shanghai January Storm and the problematic foundation of the short-lived Shanghai Commune, shedding light on the complexities and challenges of China's confrontations with communist principles during this period.

Through his comprehensive analysis, Russo overturns conventional wisdom about the Cultural Revolution, providing a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of this pivotal chapter in Chinese history.

Weight: 536g
Dimension: 153 x 229 x 23 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478009528