Representations of China in Soviet Lithuanian children's visual culture

The presentation aims to reveal the representations of Chinese history, culture, and people, and manifestations of the Soviet concept of the friendship of peoples with China as presented in the Soviet Lithuanian children’s visual culture, contextualizing them in related research of children’s literature, theatre, and film, and linking with Soviet ideology and geopolitical interests. The research is developed at the intersection of ideologized Soviet children’s culture and postcolonial theory.

The main questions posed in the presentation include: What images of China did the visual culture of the period promote? How are these themes presented, their motifs, and iconography? How was the Soviet politics of friendship with China constructed and presented to Lithuanian children during the Soviet era? To what extent was this related to the propaganda of the benefits of the socialist system?

The presentation will analyze the Soviet use of China-themed illustrations to present Soviet foreign policy as progressive and anti-colonial, making antiracism and anticolonialism the centerpieces of its Cold War stance vis-a-vis the West.

In order to achieve its goals, I will first unpack the concept itself, as well as highlight its historical, political, and cultural contexts. Secondly, I will explore direct contacts between Lithuanians and people from China during the Soviet era. Third, I will present different types and ways in which China was represented. In the final section of my argument, I will focus on tropes and stereotypes that were evident in selected illustrations.