The Construction Of Children's Images In Yan'an Woodcuts (1942-1945

Child images are widely utilized in the fields of literature,art,and media.As a representation,they symbolize the adult perspective and expectations of children,while also influencing and shaping children’s identity and behavioral patterns to a certain extent.This research focuses on the child images found in Yan’an woodblock prints from 1942 to 1945,aiming to explore how these woodblock prints constructed child images and to understand the mechanisms behind the construction of Yan’an woodblock prints during the specified period.The study examines the relationship between child images and the ideology of the Communist Party of China,the artistic system,and power dynamics.The research is divided into three main parts.Firstly,it involves collecting child images from Yan’an woodblock prints between 1942 and 1945.Based on the geographic settings in the artworks,the child images are categorized into those depicting children in the anti-Japanese base areas,the rear areas,and Japan.Subsequently,a further analysis and summary of these three types of child images are conducted based on the children’s behaviors and identities depicted in the artworks.In the anti-Japanese base areas,the artists mainly portrayed child images of "little soldiers participating in the war effort," "young role models engaged in major production movements," and "young scholars disseminating knowledge" as representations of "happy children." On the other hand,the child images in the rear areas and Japan were predominantly portrayed as "tragic children." Secondly,by combining various documentary sources such as "Speech at the Yan’an Forum on Literature and Art," "Liberation Daily," and "Jin-Cha-Ji Daily," the research analyzes the construction mechanisms of child images in Yan’an woodblock prints,including the purpose,two lines of approach,the "processing" stage,and artistic styles.During this period of Yan’an woodblock prints,the production and construction of child images were closely aligned with the revolutionary content in various aspects.The creation of these images not only involved shaping the physical features and aesthetic consciousness of children but also aimed at the realization and dissemination of revolutionary ideology.Finally,based on the social and cultural background of the anti-Japanese base areas,this research reveals the underlying factors that contributed to the construction mechanisms of child images,namely Mao Zedong’s perspective on children,the top-down artistic system,and power relations between adults and children.