This book explores xiangsheng, one of the most popular folk art
performance genres in China, its enlistment by official propaganda
machine after the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and
its revival in popularity under Guo Degang and his Deyun Club. Just as
the 1950's saw the shift of xiangsheng 's social function from
entertainment to the political tool of 'serving the party', Guo Degang
has completed the paradigm shift by turning its focus back to 'serving
the people' as a means of entertainment and social criticism. This
volume examines how Guo has resurrected the essence of xiangsheng,
successfully commercialised it in a market economy, and simultaneously
deconstructed the official discourse through grassroots means.