Frequently, outside a big hardware and appliance chain called GOME, young people can be seen holding up boards, and banners, clearly promoting the current special offers, new products and other commercial messages. The format is reminiscent of that of demonstrators, holding up boards with protest slogans.

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In an interview with an American sinologist, about the 60th anniversary celebrations in China, about I came across some comments that I find interesting in relation to the above mentioned observation:

“The Western eye might see the slogans as blatant propaganda, but (…) the Chinese see it more like an advertisement.”

“Propaganda is simply making the case for the kind of product you have to sell — whether it’s a candidate or it’s a policy, or whether it’s something to buy”

“Thirty years ago, the party’s message might have been the only one to see on the streets of China’s cities. But now, (…) “these slogans [party slogans] have to compete with actual advertisements for products.”

The whole interview can be found at:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113469963&ps=cprs