Yan'an Talks on Literature and Art
Encyclopedia
Yan'an Talks on Literature and Art is a seminal 1942 speech given by Mao Zedong
on the role of literature and art in communist China.
The "Yan'an Talks" effectively dictated the approved style in art and literature in China from the founding of the People's Republic of China
in 1949 until after the death of Mao in 1976. It manifested most clearly in the cultural dictates of the Gang of Four
during the Cultural Revolution
, particularly as exemplified in "revolutionary operas."
Key quotations from "Yan'an Talks" form the basis of the section on "Culture and Art" in the seminal Maoist text Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong
.
One prominent Chinese social critic, Liu Binyan
, summarized the essence of the "Yan'an Talks": Writers should 'extol the bright side of life' and 'not expose' the darkness.
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong, also transliterated as Mao Tse-tung , and commonly referred to as Chairman Mao , was a Chinese Communist revolutionary, guerrilla warfare strategist, Marxist political philosopher, and leader of the Chinese Revolution...
on the role of literature and art in communist China.
The "Yan'an Talks" effectively dictated the approved style in art and literature in China from the founding of the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
in 1949 until after the death of Mao in 1976. It manifested most clearly in the cultural dictates of the Gang of Four
Gang of Four
The Gang of Four was the name given to a political faction composed of four Chinese Communist Party officials. They came to prominence during the Cultural Revolution and were subsequently charged with a series of treasonous crimes...
during the Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
, particularly as exemplified in "revolutionary operas."
Key quotations from "Yan'an Talks" form the basis of the section on "Culture and Art" in the seminal Maoist text Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong
Quotations from Chairman Mao Zedong
Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung , is a book of selected statements from speeches and writings by Mao Zedong, the former leader of Chinese Communist Party, published from 1964 to about 1976 and widely distributed during the Cultural Revolution...
.
One prominent Chinese social critic, Liu Binyan
Liu Binyan
Liu Binyan was a Chinese author and journalist, as well as a political dissident.Many of the events in Liu's life are recounted in his memoir, A Higher Kind of Loyalty.-Early life:...
, summarized the essence of the "Yan'an Talks": Writers should 'extol the bright side of life' and 'not expose' the darkness.
External links
- Talks at the Yenan Forum on Literature and Art (May 2, 1942) at the Marxist Internet Archive