Red Propaganda Soldier: The Cultural Revolution Through the Hidden Negatives of a Photojournalist / Zhengsheng Li

As a photojournalist known as a "Red Propaganda Soldier," Zhengsheng Li documented the multifaceted realities of the Cultural Revolution with his camera. Among his collection are numerous photographs that should have been destroyed, deemed as "smearing the Cultural Revolution." He secretly hid nearly twenty thousand negatives beneath the floorboards of his home, in addition to another eighty thousand meticulously preserved, thereby safeguarding invaluable primary visual records of this era. This Chinese edition marks the book's first encounter with Chinese readers. Building upon the English version, the Chinese edition incorporates over fifty new or replaced photographs, some of which have never been publicly seen before. The autobiographical section has been expanded by nearly twenty thousand characters, revealing richer historical details. Furthermore, the Chinese edition endeavors to be a visual history book for Chinese readers, involving adjustments to the photo arrangements and pacing, which alters the overall feel and viewing experience of the book. Author: Zhengsheng Li Publication Date: July 2018 ISBN: 9789882370586 Binding: Hardcover Language: Traditional Chinese Pages: 360 Dimensions: 260mm x 185mm **About the Author** Zhengsheng Li served as a photojournalist for "Heilongjiang Daily" starting in 1963. In 1982, he became the Director of the News Photography Teaching and Research Section in the Journalism Department at the Beijing International Political Academy (later renamed the People's Public Security University of China). In 1996, he was invited by the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University to visit and lecture in the United States. He has since resided in New York, serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the New York Chinese monthly magazine "Tianxia Huaren." **Praise** "Zhengsheng Li's 'Red Propaganda Soldier' moved me deeply. We all bear witness to history through our lenses; we are fellow travelers in documenting history. It is through documentary photography that our friendship was forged. I pay tribute to Zhengsheng Li in the name of a non-violent anarchist!" — Henri Cartier-Bresson (French photographer, hailed as the "father of modern photojournalism") "The Lucie Award, bearing the names of heroes like Henri Cartier-Bresson, Marc Riboud, Josef Koudelka, William Klein, and so many others, adds Zhengsheng Li's name today. The masters he now joins are those who, in the eternal relationship between conscience and pain, use their lenses to keep humanity astonished by its own actions." — Award speech by Chinese artist Chen Danqing at the 11th Annual Lucie Awards Ceremony in the United States, 2013 "The memory of a people, the lens of a nation." — Fan Jianchuan, founder of Jianchuan Museum Cluster and the "Zhengsheng Li Photography Museum" "Zhengsheng Li's immortal collection of photographs comprises images of mass criticism, executions, and the political fervor of the masses. Though unable to fully comprehend the events unfolding, he captured with his camera the collapse of a society, irrational violence, fanatical worship, and the degradation of humanity. These photographs possess both significant historical value and high artistic merit. In a sense, Zhengsheng Li is a hero of contemporary China." — The New York Times, USA "Zhengsheng Li is an experienced photojournalist, and the tens of thousands of Cultural Revolution photos he has kept are invaluable. Through this rare collection of photographs, Zhengsheng Li has borne witness to history with his own hands." — Time Magazine, USA "For an event that might have been forgotten, Zhengsheng Li provides rare, powerful reminders and testimony." — Reader’s Digest, USA "These historical photographs of the Cultural Revolution are 'talking history' images that leave the viewer in deep contemplation. Each one tells a story of the blood, sweat, and tears of an absurd era. Using 'photographs that speak' to convey the absurdity and cruelty of the Cultural Revolution is an imagery that settled text cannot express." — World Journal, USA "Zhengsheng Li's photographs are sorrowful, forming part of a unique visual archive." — The Times, UK "For a long time, Zhengsheng Li has meticulously preserved tens of thousands of black-and-white negatives he shot at the time. Today, these negatives remain intact, untouched, and undamaged, holding immense historical significance." — Le Nouvel Observateur Magazine, France "These records exist due to extraordinary patience and a courage that was so easily lost in that storm." — Le Monde, France "Zhengsheng Li's compelling images offer glimpses into stories that unfolded beyond the frame, serving as testimony to an unprecedented period of history." — L’Humanité, France "'Red Propaganda Soldier' powerfully embodies the crucial role of photographic art as a witness to its era." — Tages-Anzeiger, Switzerland "By hiding his photographs, Zhengsheng Li preserved a complete picture of the Cultural Revolution." — El País, Spain "The extensive collection of documentary photographs of the Cultural Revolution owned by Zhengsheng Li encapsulates the fates of numerous individuals during that special era. The texture of black and white photography further reflects the heart-stopping intensity of that fervent period. A good photograph is worth a thousand words." — Asiaweek, Hong Kong