The Chinese literature existed for thousands of years. The literature ranges from the ancient hereditary court archives to the fictional novels that were prevalent during the Ming Dynasty. The literature aimed at entertaining the educated Chinese. During the Tang Dynasty, there was a pervasive woodblock printing.
In addition, the movable type printing was developed during Song’s reign. Consequently, written knowledge spread widely and rapidly in the entire country. Lu Xun was considered as the modern initiator of baihua literature (Chen 63).
The send- down policy was a key feature of the Chinese Cultural Revolution. During this period, the majority of youths residing in urban places had to move to the countryside. Consequently, there was rigorous research concerning the extended social impacts associated with the youths who took part in the send- down. According to some experts, the send- down brought about positive impacts.
The post- 1949 film and literature was characterised by a wide array of cultural practices. The practices included architecture, fine arts, reading, writing, dancing, and opera. This indicated that there was a close link between cultural ingestion and invention. The cultural inventions were more common in the urban areas.
As a result, the way of life in urban and rural places had varying characteristics. Novel inventions were repeated in comic books, posters, opera theatre, and story- telling. Consequently, the repetitive culture implied the desire cultural authorities had to develop a novel mass culture. The ubiquity associated with the authorities implied that the audiences had to react positively to the novel cultural products (Sorgo para 3).
According to Bai (2), the Cultural Revolution experienced in China between 1966 and 1976 was associated with massive political consequences. As a result, there were detrimental economic and social impacts. This period was also associated with interruption in social stability. In addition, innocent people lost their lives as a result of persecution and violence.
There was economic stagnation, termination of social norms, and emotional and physical torture. To add insult to injury, the youths who experienced the send- down lost life chances. Individuals who experienced the Cultural Revolution had varying impacts. While some individuals lost their lives, others learnt adaptation strategies. A majority of the youths endured difficult challenges and had to bear with immense hardships.
The send- down policy experienced during the Cultural Revolution aimed at sending youths to the countryside after their graduation from senior or junior high school. There were a number of factors that facilitated this policy. For instance, there was a dire need to solve underemployment and unemployment in the urban areas. In addition, cultivating the Marxist ideology and the youth’s communist ethics were imperative.
The advocates wished to develop the frontiers and rural areas in China. There was a need to reduce the number of teachers in urban areas since intellectuals were being attacked as a result of undesirable class backgrounds. On the other hand, more teachers were required in rural areas so as to cater for the needs of the youths sent to the countryside.
The Execution of Mayor Yin
Mayor Yin and the author only met during a single occasion. However, the author noted that it was difficult to forget the meeting experience. Lao Wu’s son, Xiao Wu, was only a 2nd year secondary school student who had learnt to show off authority. Xiao’s behaviour was as a result of the impact of films and literature.
The revolutionary slogans used to demonstrate the authority include “Rebellion is just and right” and “Support Chairman Mao” (Chen 124). Xiao hardly took off his uniform since he always wanted to show off his authority, which was a key feature of the urban residents. “You two made yourselves entirely too conspicuous,” I said bluntly. “Don’t you see that times have changed? How can they let you go on rebelling? Soon the People’s Liberation Army will take over.
You young people just won’t learn; you don’t realize the importance of discipline in an organization, and you fight constantly for power and your self- interest. If you continue like this there’s little chance you’ll come to any good” (Chen 89). This was given as a warning since it had been noted that the young people were too preoccupied with themselves.
Beauty Snow
Yin Hsueh- yen always had ways of maintaining herself. Consequently, men kept following her. Irrespective of the fact that lady was always simple in her dressing and make- up, she was quite a beauty (Bai 14). Yin Hsueh- yen lived a high class life where she was always the talk of the city.
Her sisters and friends always envied and were jealous of her. However, she had many friends and they kept flocking at her house. “Baby, look how your grandpapa’s hair has all turned white! But you’re like an evergreen- you look younger all the time” (Bai 14). This indicates that the young generation was well cared for compared to the elderly.
The Red Sorghum
The young Chinese woman was forced by the father to get married to a winery owner who was leprous. However, the lady ends falling for one of the servants at the red sorghum field. The woman inherited the business after the death of the master. In the movie, the young lady was undergoing through cultural practices.
The girl was smartly and elegantly dressed and appeared to be in a cultural conflict with the young men and old man. The conflict occurred since the young lady had been brought up in the urban setting. She was undergoing through cultural cleansing to ensure that she fitted into the rural life.
In a nutshell, the post- 1949 film and literature in China were linked to numerous changes in urban and rural life. The various forms of literature used during this period portrayed the prestigious life in urban areas. Moreover, comparisons were made to the rural life.
Works Cited
Bai, Xianyong. The External Snow Beauty. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1982. Print.
Chen, Ruoxi. The Execution of the Mayor Yin. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2004. Print.
Sorgo, Rojo. “Red Sorghum.” 2012. Web.