Religion in Asia: The Politics of Laughter: Gender, Superstition, and Imperial Legacies in the Maoist Revolution

Crossing the political divide of 1949, this talk examines the political uses of laughter and ridicule in Maoist campaigns against “feudal superstition.” Specifically, it analyzes how the Maoist revolution selectively appropriated gendered tropes and rhetorical strategies from China’s imperial past and repurposed them for new political ends. In propelling the Party from its rural base to national victory, Maoist propaganda not only mobilized class hatred through arts and literature steeped in “blood and tears.” It also transformed laughter into a critical medium for engaging rural audiences and promoting Communist ideals of modernity. The persistence and transformation of traditional tropes and rhetorical strategies thus reveal a complex relationship between revolutionary rupture and cultural continuity. They invite us to reconsider the relationship between tradition and modernity across established historical frameworks. Free lunch will be offered at this talk. Doors will open no sooner than 15 minutes before the start time.