Mao Museum

“Glorious Years”

Although Mao was a powerful leader, he was also loved by his people. He was a true peasant and understood his people. This picture shows how in touch Mao was with his followers. He didn’t put himself above others; Mao talked to and listened to his followers. His followers loved him because he put himself on the same level.

This is a journal written by an ideal soldier that fought under Mao’s rule. It shows the struggle that many young people had to go through as they tried to put Mao’s ideas into practice. This journal gives an idea of what it was like living as a young soldier during Mao’s rule.

The Long March is a very well known event during Mao’s life. The Long March was a retreat by the communists to get away from the nationalists. It was a very long march, hence the name, that went along the outskirts of China through mountains and desert. During the march about ninety percent of the communists were killed or injured. Though the communists lost a majority of their people during the march, it was a strategic move that let the communist live to fight another day. 

“Mao’s Little Red Book”

Mao wrote everything down in his little red book. The Little Red Book was a pamphlet used to instruct people on how to apply Mao’s thoughts to problems encountered in the pursuit of the revolutionary cause and plan. It was the guidebook for the people of China so that they could follow Mao. 

The Personal Files show the dark side of the Cultural Revolution. It is a record of all the people who had their things confiscated and the people who were sent into exile. Many of the people of China were affected negatively during the Cultural Revolution. Along with people being exiled and having their things taken away, many people died.

By: Allison and Kimmi

Mao Museum

This picture shows a bunch of kids maybe the red guard holding the Little Red Book. This picture would be in a Mao museum because the Little Red Book was one of Mao's signature movements.http://www.moma.org/

The picture above is a Chinese propaganda poster for "The Great Leap Forward." This picture is significant because in the picture the people are happy and a lot of food to eat where as in the real Great Leap Forward the population of China was starving.http://www.chineseposters.net/

The cannons of war were not only used for fighting but for demonstrations as well. Mao Zedong believed that to show power one must demonstrate power and so these cannons were put in the main square during many celebrations. This picture shows not only the cannons but many men standing behind them Mao Zedong wanted the Chinese to feel safe by showing his numbers. http://www.moma.org/

This picture shows that even under the rule of Mao Chinese citizens were worked with immense pressure and brutality. The people had to work with little protection on hard rocks and gravel. http://www.moma.org/

This picture shows the slogan that Mao wanted to display visually to all of the Chinese people, this translates to "Still bigger, Still better, More quickly, More frugally" http://www.moma.org/ 

Will and Shannon

 (1) The peasants are working to meet Mao’s quota of 10,700,000, tons of steel.

(2) Chinese organizers discuss their failure to produce enough oil to meet production quotas  In the back there is a sign attacking bourgeois rightist.

 (3) Chinese propaganda makers are putting pictures of Mao everywhere so people constantly have to see his face so that he will have more support from the people.




















(4) Communist youth tear down a buddist statue. They are tearing it down because it represents a pre-communist China, which is against the ideals of the Cultural Revolution

(5) The party produced propaganda poster denouncing the Gang of Four for attempting to steal power from the party. 

Sources:

1. http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2010/henricartierbresson/#/themes/8/197.html
2. http://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2010/henricartierbresson/#/themes/8/198.html
3. http://www.morningsun.org/photos/photograph.swf
4. http://www.morningsun.org/photos/photograph.swf
5. http://www.chineseposters.net/themes/gang-of-four.php

Will and Shannon 

Mao Museum

This image shows the rate at which the communists were industrializing, they are using manpower to accomplish every task for industrialization, taking advantage of the large population.

This image shows the general theme of the cultural revolution, it shows a young man using a hammer to crush the artifacts of the past, showing the country's citizens willingness to follow Mao and remove old artifacts.

This image shows a vision of industrialized China, boasting all kinds of technology, and advancements in civilization.

This image shows the willingness of each worker to work for his country in order to advance his country.

This image shows the violence that Mao inspired in his followers during the cultural revolution.

Sources:
http://www.chineseposters.net/
http://www.moma.org/
http://www.morningsun.org/