The Study Of The Hero-Model Culturein New China: 1949-1966

Hero-model culture is a unique social and cultural phenomenon in the contemporary history of China. No country at any time has ever promoted and shaped heroes and models at such a large scale as done by new China. From 1949 to 1966, the first 17 years after the foundation of new China, is an important period when the hero-model culture sprang up vigorously.As far as the study of heroes and models, and typical excellent groups are concerned, the academic circles used to focus on the objective narration or political comments of the individuals or groups of heroes and models, and seldom made rational academic interpretation as a social and cultural phenomenon. Therefore, the thesis aims at making an overall exploration into the heroes and models coming forward in those 17 years as a social and cultural phenomenon, in combination with its historical background.With the construction of pedigree of heroes and models as the point of penetration, this thesis makes interpretation of the main body of hero-model culture --- their mentality, morality, family and social backgrounds, and some other factors from historical and realistic perspectives, and thus reveals the social mechanism of the formation and development of hero-model culture.Taking the pedigree of heroes and models as the main line, the thesis attempts to construct a cultural-historical system of revolutionary heroes and models promoted by the Chinese Communist Party, through the construction of the pedigree of heroes and models in different periods of New Democratic Revolution, Socialist Revolution and Construction. From the development of this pedigree, the paper further proves into Revolutionary Heroism advocated by the Chinese Communist Party and the changes in the Red ideology of the Chinese Communist Party. Furthermore, through the study of the pedigree, the author reflects on the limitations of the single pattern of social culture.The thesis is divided into ten chapters, which are as follows: the historical reasons for the formation of hero-model culture; construction of the pedigree of heroes and models; commendation and special care to heroes and models; investigation into the families of heroes and models; exploration of the mentality of heroes and models; probing into the virtues of heroes an models; hero-model culture and political ideology, cultural models are intended to study the relationship between the ideological and political;social effects of hero-model culture; hero-model culture and women's liberation; historical location, or comment of hero-model culture.Hero-model culture is a culture pattern with positive modeling and inspiring function. The study of the phenomenon of hero-model culture in this period will contribute to our understanding of this special historical period and picturing its historical characteristics. The study of this culture pattern may help us reflect on the past absolute, unified political and cultural thinking, explore how to construct a more humane, pluralistic, and harmonious socialist culture model with Chinese characteristics in the specific historical environment of the new era of modernization, with the prerequisite of adhering to the mainstream ideology. Therefore, this study has not only its great academic value,but also its profound theoretical and practical significance.