Mao: Empty Icon

After the failures of the Great Leap Forward, revisionists in the Chinese Communist Party tried to sideline Mao, whilst simultaneously instructing the masses to fetishise and worship him as an 'empty icon'*, purely as a distraction to consolidate their own power.
Meaning Mao should have no meaning beyond being a meaningless symbol - exactly as Warhol would portray.
Meaning: You must worship our great leader, all is good, but don't listen to a single word he says.
Sound familiar?
But next thing...
Mao said people should free themselves.
'It is right to rebel'.
Imagine!

Don't keep calm and carry Mao on.

* Don't bother Googling this, it's in a book afore the internet.

Warhol/Mao: On Contradiction

An Andy Warhol canvas of the Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong sold for £7.6 million last night - more than 18 times the price paid last time it went to auction.

Warhol's Mao series was a response to US president Richard Nixon's visit to China in 1972.

He transformed the official portrait of the leader, in this case using the red and yellow colour scheme of the Cultural Revolution.

It was last sold at auction in June 2000 for £421,500...

Guardian. 

Andy would be so happy - Mao maybe not so.

Chairman Mao: Gay Icon

Happy 120th birthday!
x

Fagburn Exclusive: No News Today

Maoist sects! Andy Warhol! (Eh?) Payday lenders! Bankers! Lesbians! Sex!
SEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Err, that's about it...

Thought For The Day: Chairman Mao

With victory, the people will be grateful to us and the bourgeoisie will come forward to flatter us. It has been proved that the enemy cannot conquer us by force of arms. However, the flattery of the bourgeoisie may conquer the weak-willed in our ranks. There may be some Communists, who were not conquered by enemies with guns and were worthy of the name of heroes for standing up to these enemies, but who cannot withstand sugar-coated bullets; they will be defeated by sugar-coated bullets. We must guard against such a situation.

Chairman Mao.