LUCKY CHARM: No matter that China has spent the last three decades reversing the shock-communism course of the late Mao Zedong. Documentary photographer Tomas van Houtryve found Mao's legacy in the most unexpected places when he journeyed last fall to central China, the heartland of the booming "red tourism" industry. Here, a taxi driver in the thriving city of Xian has Mao keeping watch over his cab, his image dangling from the rearview mirror where another cabbie might keep a totem of a patron saint.
(6)
HIDE COMMENTS LOGIN OR REGISTER REPORT ABUSE
MUSTNOTSLEEP14
6:34 PM ET
April 27, 2010
Sad
The human mind is so easily susceptible to brainwashing. It's a shame that those in power have perfected the art of propaganda.
BLACKSHYLD
3:42 PM ET
April 28, 2010
Well...
Well they wouldn't still be in power if they weren't good at capturing, manipulating, and molding hearts and minds. How else would they be able to convince people to go along with things that are counter to their welfare?
This isn't just in China, but any where really if you think about it, even in societies we deem as free. Not to sound cynical or pessimistic by any means.
LAZYEYES
7:20 PM ET
May 10, 2010
I agree...
Brainwashing is the normal for all society. If you think about its the nature of every successful civilization to mold and indoctrinate its citizen to some degree. Since day one ideas of what is good and evil and such are impressed into our minds by our parents and them by theirs. A lot of these ideologies are not necessarily bad but are need for the continuation of society, like nationalism and cultural pride, etc.
P.S.: There has been a lot of Mao icons and images in China as of late. This is largely due to the 2012 changing of the guard in China. Of the two rival factions the 'Princelings' and the Youth league, the Princelings are trying to use their background and relations to Mao and other formal leaders to strength their position in the Politiburo.
DEBBIEL
9:16 PM ET
May 14, 2010
Like any revolutionary leader, they have both black/white sides
Despite all his barbarian ways which killed millions of Chinese people, there are more beneficiary of Mao's revolution, for example, the concept of equality lift the status the nation's week and poor in a incredable way. Another example is his believe of Woman's equality is part of human equality boost Chinese women's social status in very short time compare to the west. For a country as poor as India, because of the "spread of wealth", the education and health care is far more spread than India, life expectation is 10 years more (75?), literal rate is about 90%. You would not surprise to see a well educated MIT graduate from China grew up poor in rural China, there free education start fading away recently and the country is trying to cope with the great inequality.
DEBBIEL
9:22 PM ET
May 14, 2010
Wrong
The Maostalgia is caused by great increase of Gap between rich and poor in China. And the increase of the corruption among officials.
Mao is the champion of equality, despite the fact that he did not respect individual right, he is idealist not a practical. Children of Deng got rich, but none of Mao's children and relative got rich Today.
The thought of reason by "guard changing" is very shallow.
BERFROIS
9:20 AM ET
May 13, 2010
Trackback
[...] Photo essay: Maostalgia [...]
http://berfrois.com/