Mao's personality cult (OCR A-Level History A): Revision Notes

Mao's personality cult

Propaganda

Propaganda techniques were used by Mao Tse-tung and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to ensure that communist policies would be propagated in the People's Republic of China (PRC).

The Ministry of Culture ensured that anti-communist material was censored by controlling literature, films, music and art. This was greatly felt during the Cultural Revolution.

Propaganda posters played a vital role in delivering Mao's communist ideals. The messages ensured that people were filled with the revolutionary spirit and that all people understood their roles and responsibilities in the PRC. Thought control was used to encourage people to embrace communist ideology.

A propaganda poster of the cult of Mao

A propaganda poster of the cult of Mao

The fanaticism towards Mao Tse-Tung fuelled the cult of Mao, which made the CCP's objectives successful. The cult intensified during the Cultural Revolution. Mao's achievements were glorified while his shortcomings were concealed. Even when his policies failed, he was still revered by the people due to the cult developed by his propaganda ministry.

Every medium possible was used to demonstrate to the people how amazing Mao was: posters, statues, books, speeches and art. One of the books circulated during this period was the Little Red Book, which served as a 'Bible' for the Red Guards. Through these forms, Mao was seen as the father of the nation and as a hero.