The Chinese Cultural Revolution

A Groundbreaking Study Of Cultural Life During A Turbulent And Formative Decade In Contemporary China This Book Seeks To Explode Several Myths About The Cultural Revolution (Officially 19661976). Through National And Local Examination Of The Full Range Of Cultural Forms (Film Operas Dance Other Stage Arts Music Fine Arts Literature And Even Architecture) Clark Argues Against Characterizing This Decade As One Of Chaos And Destruction. Rather He Finds That Innovation And Creativity Promotion Of Participation In Cultural Production And A Vigorous Promotion Of The Modern Were All Typical Of The Cultural Revolution. Using A Range Of Previously Little-Used Materials Clark Forces Us To Fundamentally Reassess Our Understanding Of The Cultural Revolution A Period Which He Sees As The Product Of Innovation In Conflict With The Effort By Political Leaders To Enforce A Top-Down Modernity.