THE STAGE AS A MEDIUM OF PROPAGANDA IN COMMUNIST CHINA

In: Public opinion quarterly: journal of the American Association for Public Opinion Research, Band 23, Heft 2, S. 223-235

Abstract

Operas, a traditional form of entertainment in China, are understood & enjoyed by both the literate & illiterate, & are attended by members of all SC's. Spoken dramas, though newer & less accepted, have on occasion won popular sympathy. No wonder the Chinese Communist has seen the wisdom of using the stage as a medium of propaganda & indoctrination. During the last decade or so the Communists have outlawed the presentation of numerous operas with themes repugnant to them, have rewritten many opera scripts to suit their pol'al purposes, have indoctrinated the acting profession, have controlled opera troupes & theatres, & have attempted to revamp the spoken drama as another vehicle for disseminating Communist ideology, publicizing Communist policies. & mobilizing popular support. However, their utilization of the stage has not been very successful. Their reckless actions not only caused ill feelings on the part of the acting profession, but incurred public hatred of censors. Worse still is the sterilizing effect of rigid controls on playwrights. Acute shortage of good spoken drama scripts since 1949 has made that medium conspicuously unpopular & ineffective. IPSA.