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How to Decipher Propaganda: A Conversation With Former Chinese Propaganda Artist
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By Terri Wu
5/27/2025Updated: 5/27/2025

He created propaganda by painting Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong’s portraits.

He studied in America to try to figure out a way to help China’s economy.

But with free access to information in the West, he realized that his world views were not grounded in reality—they were shaped by the regime’s propaganda, which he now calls a mass “brainwashing project.”

Li Shaomin, professor of international business at Old Dominion University in Virginia, lived through China’s communist propaganda and outgrew it.

He shares his intriguing life story of how he deciphered Chinese propaganda—narrative by narrative.

Views expressed in this episode are opinions of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.

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Terri Wu
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Terri Wu is a Washington-based freelance reporter for The Epoch Times covering education and China-related issues. Send tips to terri.wu@epochtimes.com.

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