Smashing the Old world

All of these pictures that are in this category really can make connections to Red Scarf Girl. All of these pictures depict people destroying the parts of the world that really represent the Old World and the Four Olds, things like destroying statues or even signs. Like Red Scarf Girl, all of these pictures represent the very violent and offensive part of the Revolution. The picture that I chose shows lots of people watching the destruction of a sign on what seems to be a church. It really creates a good example of what the destruction of the Four Olds looked like. It really shows what Red Scarf Girl, as well as the other pieces of writing, have described many times. Like the time when Ji-Li saw people taking down the signs that represent the Four Olds, many people are there watching, looking at the destruction of what they once wouldn't have thought of destroying. Or how in the document we read about people demonstrating in different cities described people destroying signs, they all have to do with people going with the revolution and destroying the Four Olds. This picture would even make a good picture to show what was happening in both of those writings. Everyone is very excited to bring their revolutionary spirit.

Not only does this picture show how everyone wants to be part of the revolution, but it also shows how people are willing to even take down some things that they once held dear. The building that is being destroyed in the picture seems to be a place that people have once held dear, all for the sake of the revolution. There have been many examples of that in the book too, like how Ji-Li and her family have destroyed and gotten rid of many of their prized possessions just to save them from the Red Guards. Or how the people of Shanghai would never have questioned their department stores and haircut parlors if the Red Guards hadn't brought up the idea first. They wouldn't have had to do this if it wasn't for the revolution, like how this church wouldn't have had to be destroyed if it wasn't for the revolution.