Rhetoric
Chinese music books and scores published between 1960s and 70s in China have featured special terminologies and political terms, like 黨的領導 and Quotations from Chairman Mao.
Cases
幾點說明︰「本稿的寫作，開始於1959年7月。它之所以能寫成，應該歸於黨的領導，歸於社會主義，社會的優越條件，歸功於群眾集體的支援。」 (楊蔭瀏 1962年10月)
楊蔭瀏. 1981.
《中國古代音樂史稿》 [Draft history of ancient Chinese music]
北京︰人民音樂出版社
索書號︰[音] ML336 .Y24 1981 v.1-2
Ebook
建國以來，我國民族音樂在黨的文藝為工農兵服務、為社會主義服務和百花齊放、百家爭鳴、推陳出新的方針指導下，取得了顯著的成績。許多民族器樂作品反映了解放後人民的新生活和歡樂情緒，鼓舞了人民群眾的革命意志和建設社會主義的勞動熱情。因此我國的民族樂器也就更廣泛地引起了人民群眾的熱愛。
(方兢 1964年10月1日)
方兢 編. 1965.
《三弦彈奏法》[How to play the three-stringed plucked lute]
北京︰音樂出版社
索書號︰ [音] MT654.S26 F36 1965
Ebook
Quotations from Chair Mao
Revolutionary culture is a powerful revolutionary weapon for the broad masses of the people. It prepares the ground ideologically before the revolution comes and is an important, indeed essential, fighting front in the general revolutionary front during the revolution.
All our literature and art are for the masses of the pole, and in the first place for the workers, peasants and soldiers; they are created for the workers, peasants and soldiers and are for their use.
上海京劇團《智取威虎山》劇組集體改編及演出. 1970.
《革命現代京劇 智取威虎山》[Revolutionary Model opera Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy ]
北京 : 人民出版社 : 新華書店發行
Source: The first page of Revolutionary Model opera Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy
Rhetoric is a theory to analysis these political terms and slogans used during this period. Scholars have done serious research to look at the issues.
Simple definition
Merriam-Webster Dictionary
The art or skill of speaking or writing formally and effectively especially as a way to persuade or influence people
(http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rhetoric)
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics
“Rhetoric is the persuasive use of language. … … Rhetoric, accordingly, came to denote the unnecessary or misleading embellishment and corruption of language—a view which Plato had held of the sophists. With the waning of faith in modernism, serious attention once again began to be devoted to language as a means to power. … … .”
(Jones, Charles. "rhetoric." In The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics. Oxford University Press, 2009. http://www.oxfordreference.com.eproxy2.lib.hku.hk/view/10.1093/acref/9780199207800.001.0001/acref-9780199207800-e-1165)
Advanced definition
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics
“Rhetoric is the persuasive use of language. … … Rhetoric, accordingly, came to denote the unnecessary or misleading embellishment and corruption of language—a view which Plato had held of the sophists. With the waning of faith in modernism, serious attention once again began to be devoted to language as a means to power. … … .”
(Jones, Charles. "rhetoric." In The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Politics. Oxford University Press, 2009. http://www.oxfordreference.com.eproxy2.lib.hku.hk/view/10.1093/acref/9780199207800.001.0001/acref-9780199207800-e-1165)
Suggested Readings
Leese, Daniel. 2011.
Mao Cult: Rhetoric and Ritual in China's Cultural Revolution.
Cambridge; New York : Cambridge University Pres.
Call no.: 951.056 L487 m29
Dittmer, Lowell, and Ruoxi Chen. 1981.
Ethics and rhetoric of the Chinese Cultural Revolution.
Berkeley, Calif: Center for Chinese Studies, Institute of East Asian Studies, University of California.
Call no.: 495.183 D61
