The Cult of Personality

China Bar, Swanston St.

Is anyone bothered by Mao being used in this way? Should he be made out to be a portly, iconic, inoffensive, figure of fun?

It only recently occurred to me that some people might find this sort of thing in poor taste; since then I’ve asked around and not found one—even people from mainland China seem to be okay with it. Why is this? Why is the architect of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution celebrated like this? Is no customer ever offended?

(I don’t care terribly much, I just find it odd. (Imagine Hitler in his place!) Perhaps Warhol is to blame.)