ABSTRACT
The origin of the Chinese Communist Party Model Worker has its own roots, born not only from the accumulated experience of its native predecessors but also from specific circumstances that the nation faced in the mid to late 1800s. Depictions of Model Workers, both in the cinematic and poster form, frequently detail historical events and illustrate the ascendency of the people and, by extension, the nation. Cinematic representations of Model Workers frequently promote selflessness, a characteristic perfected by depictions of Lei Feng. The importance of Model Workers to the ideological development of ‘New China’ is apparent because of the sheer volume of policy documents that contain references either directly to the concept of creating a new citizen or which assert values aligned to the same core values. Physical fitness as a theme runs throughout Model Worker propaganda, both in film and poster productions.
