The Propaganda Discourse Of The Chinese Cultural Revolution: A Rhetorical Analysis

For many Chinese people, the Cultural Revolution (henceforth the CR) is a nightmare they try to forget and to get rid of. In 1990s', the number of publications about the CR and the discourse of the CR was steadily and apparently decreasing. There was less discussion and research on the CR. The valuable material of the CR is not much available, but the features and functions of the then propaganda still linger to this day. All these comprise the reason why I have chosen the subject.We have to mention the propaganda discourse of the CR when we refer to the CR, especially the wall posters, political slogans, revolutionary songs and model operas. This paper chooses the above-mentioned four propaganda discourses as examples, and makes a rhetorical analysis about them. We hope that through the analysis we'll reveal the effects of the CR discourse on the then Chinese thought and behavior and fulfil the purpose of this paper of strengthening the critical awareness of social discourses.