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Commentary on “Some Opinions Expressed by Intra-Party Leading Cadres in Shanghai’s Press, Publishing, and Literary and Artistic Sectors” (March 15, 1958) This document [1] may be read briefly, after which we can discuss it. Why are intellectuals afraid to speak out or to write? Has the freedom of our people been completely stifled? Mao Zedong, March 15. Printed from the manuscript. Note [1] Refers to “Some Opinions Expressed by Intra-Party Leading Cadres in Shanghai’s Press, Publishing, and Literary and Artistic Sectors,” which appeared in Issue No. 28 of the CCP Central Propaganda Department’s publication “Propaganda and Education Dynamics.” These opinions summarized the situation arising from four separate symposiums convened by Lu Dingyi, Minister of the CCP Central Propaganda Department, on January 8, 9, 13, and 14, 1958, with intra-party leading cadres from Shanghai’s press, publishing, literature, and film industries. At the press sector symposium, some participants noted that certain comrades were overly cautious and hesitant to express themselves; leftists were reluctant to contribute articles to newspapers, feeling somewhat apprehensive, while centrists and center-right elements dared not associate themselves with the press at all, resulting in a lack of vitality on the pages. At the publishing sector symposium, it was pointed out that book publishing lacked long-term planning: publishers operated day to day without a clear sense of direction, a state of affairs incompatible with the nation’s current construction goals. As for implementing the policy of “letting a hundred flowers bloom” in publishing, the prevailing attitude seemed to be one of meticulous caution rather than bold experimentation. Moreover, there remained no clearly defined policy regarding how to deal with older popular literary works. Meanwhile, children’s literature suffered from a severe shortage of writers, particularly for books intended for younger students. At the literary arts symposium, participants observed a disconnect between university faculty teaching classical literature and contemporary literary practice, suggesting the establishment of a Literature Research Institute in Shanghai. At the film industry symposium, the question of “how far to go” was raised: Should films containing harmful content be released only after being sanitized or revised, or should production be halted entirely upon discovery of such issues? Others noted that, following the Anti-Rightist Campaign, everyone had become overly cautious, especially when it came to creative expression. Mao Zedong’s commentary and this summary of the situation were distributed at the Chengdu Conference as conference documents.