Cult of Mao & Lei Feng

• Who was Lei Feng?

Lei Feng was a young soldier idolized for his selflessness and devotion to Mao, depicted as an ideal citizen embodying revolutionary virtues

Why was it hard to see through the indoctrination?

The indoctrination was pervasive, and dissent was dangerous. Mao's rhetoric was presented as morally and nationally essential, with no alternative views permitted.

What did Mao do to maintain the facade?

Mao isolated himself, avoided direct communication, and leveraged propaganda. His rare appearances and mysterious aura reinforced his godlike status.

Why did people stop thinking?

Fear and systematic indoctrination led people to self-censor and avoid even private unorthodox thoughts. Social pressure discouraged any deviation from loyalty to Mao.People were conditioned to suppress independent thought, fearing repercussions for dissenting views.

Why did Mao have issues with Liu Shaoqi and Deng Xiaoping?

Mao opposed Liu and Deng’s economic reforms, seeing them as capitalist deviations. Chang suggests that Mao used the Cult of Mao to regain authority and oppose their policies.

What was Mao’s emphasis on class struggle for?

Mao's focus on class struggle was a tool to maintain social control and justify harsh tactics against those he saw as counter-revolutionaries.

How was the cult of Mao created?

Through controlled information, constant propaganda, indoctrination of youth, and systematic portrayal of Mao as a moral savior, cultivating loyalty and adulation.

Two of Mao's pet peeves and expected reactions:

• Mao disliked bourgeois aesthetics like lawns and flowers; citizens were expected to eradicate these, associating them with decadence.

• He despised individualism, pushing people to self-criticize any personal thoughts that diverged from party lines.

How did the author feel when her thoughts conflicted with Mao’s?

She felt guilty and fearful, engaging in self-criticism and suppressing her own instincts. This reflects themes of self-censorship found in other subjects like psychology, where indoctrination influences identity and personal beliefs.