Ritual, Reading and Resistance in the Prison and Cowshed during the Cultural Revolution
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Issue Date
2019-10-13
Authors
Wu, Guo
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This version of the article is available for viewing to the public after April 13, 2021.
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Keywords
China , Cultural Revolution , prison systems
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Abstract
Putting the cultural experiences of a multitude of prisoners during the Cultural Revolution in the historical context of the modern Chinese prison system and in light of the critical theories of methods of penalty and cultural production under incarceration in modern society, this article argues that the formal prison and informal cowshed during the Cultural Revolution both served as important sites for cultural production and dissemination. They also demonstrated the inmates’ perseverance, articulation and resistance. Beneath the surface of highly structured and formulaic daily routine, mechanic ritual performance and forced obeisance, the political prisoners utilized multiple available forms to negotiate with the authorities, influence each other and even their guards, and maximize the freedom of reading, communication and gaining outside information.
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History
International Studies
International Studies
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This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in the Journal of Contemporary China on October 13, 2019, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/10670564.2019.1677360.
Citation
Guo Wu (2019) Ritual, Reading and Resistance in the Prison and Cowshed during the Cultural Revolution, Journal of Contemporary China, DOI: 10.1080/10670564.2019.1677360
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Final manuscript post peer review, without publisher's formatting or copy
editing (postprint)
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Taylor & Francis