Big-Character Posters, China

Big-character posters are handwritten posters prominent in Chinese politics, typically comprising complaints about governmental officials or policies. The posters are usually just a large piece of white paper, on which the author has written slogans, poems, or even longer essays with ink and brush. The posters are hung on a wall or a post and have historically been a major aspect of political communication in China, used as a means of protest against governmental incompetence or corruption. Because the posters are typically written anonymously, it is a popular means of expressing dissatisfaction with local officials who might be able to exact revenge if a complaint were made in a more public setting. Moreover, because of the low expense of creating a poster, they effectively provide ...