Mao's Cultural Revolution
This investigation will answer the question, to what extent was Jiang Qing used as a scapegoat by Maoists in opposition to Mao’s Cultural Revolution in China (1966-76)? This investigation is important because it seeks to verify or refute the claim that Jiang Qing should be held responsible for injustices during the Cultural Revolution, as she is still villainized to this day. In this investigation, there will be an examination of China emerges; a concise history of China from its origin to the present, which was relevant to the investigation because it offered a time-relevant perspective on the events of the Cultural Revolution. There will also be an examination of the video, Madame Mao, which was relevant to the investigation because of its
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A value of this video lies in its purpose: to inform the audience about a relatively obscure figure in modern Chinese history. This is valuable because it results in a balance of perspectives by many historians, and contributes a variety of information. Historians should appreciate the balance in this account. Another value is found in the origin: it was produced and published recently, more than 30 years following the end of the Cultural Revolution, providing time to separate the historians and survivors from the incidents, and allowing for a clearer view of the culpability of Jiang Qing. Historians will want to use this source because of the time-balanced perspective that it provides. Alternatively, the video’s content is a limitation. Several people were interviewed for the documentary, some historians, and some who lived through the time period in China. The perspectives of the “survivors” tended to favor the viewpoint that Jiang Qing was a criminal, due to their past torment, making it difficult to collect evidence supporting different sides of the issue. Other sources might be necessary to supplement the limited perspective of these accounts. Another limitation lies in the origin; the video was likely not peer-reviewed to the extent that a novel or scholarly journal would have been; it may not be as reliable as such sources. The information should be verified using other sources, to ensure that it is
A value of this video lies in its purpose: to inform the audience about a relatively obscure figure in modern Chinese history. This is valuable because it results in a balance of perspectives by many historians, and contributes a variety of information. Historians should appreciate the balance in this account. Another value is found in the origin: it was produced and published recently, more than 30 years following the end of the Cultural Revolution, providing time to separate the historians and survivors from the incidents, and allowing for a clearer view of the culpability of Jiang Qing. Historians will want to use this source because of the time-balanced perspective that it provides. Alternatively, the video’s content is a limitation. Several people were interviewed for the documentary, some historians, and some who lived through the time period in China. The perspectives of the “survivors” tended to favor the viewpoint that Jiang Qing was a criminal, due to their past torment, making it difficult to collect evidence supporting different sides of the issue. Other sources might be necessary to supplement the limited perspective of these accounts. Another limitation lies in the origin; the video was likely not peer-reviewed to the extent that a novel or scholarly journal would have been; it may not be as reliable as such sources. The information should be verified using other sources, to ensure that it is