1. In the Mao Zedong era, Chinese decision-makers and intellectuals viewed aesthetic experience and thought as servants of political order.
2. Li Zehou and other aesthetic thinkers criticized the subordinate status of aesthetics and reaffirmed the concepts of aesthetic autonomy and liberal humanism, calling for art and literature to be separated from political, social, and moral issues.
3. Famous aesthetic thinkers such as Wang Guowei, Cai Yuanpei, and Lu Xun sought to reconnect aesthetics with morality and politics by drawing on Chinese traditional aesthetic heritage in order to re-politicize aesthetics in the process of rebuilding China as a modern nation-state.
This article is generally reliable in its presentation of the history of Chinese aesthetics during the Mao Zedong era. It provides a clear overview of how Li Zehou and other aesthetic thinkers sought to separate art from politics while also attempting to reconnect aesthetics with morality and politics through drawing on Chinese traditional aesthetic heritage. The article is well-researched, providing detailed information about various figures such as Wang Guowei, Cai Yuanpei, and Lu Xun who were involved in this process.
However, there are some potential biases that should be noted. For example, the article does not explore any counterarguments or alternative perspectives on this issue; it only presents one side of the argument without considering any opposing views or evidence that may contradict its claims. Additionally, it does not provide any evidence for its claims or discuss any possible risks associated with this approach to aesthetics. Furthermore, it does not present both sides equally; instead it focuses primarily on one perspective without giving equal attention to other points of view.