China's Poverty Alleviation and Cultural Symbolism

This chapter explores China's aggressive strategies to eradicate poverty through urbanization, highlighting the experiences of relocated villagers and the political implications of these initiatives. It contrasts historical farming practices with a current technocratic model and scrutinizes the staged nature of propaganda tours intended to showcase progress while raising questions about authenticity. Additionally, the chapter examines the evolution of the meme character Pepe the Frog, tracing its journey from innocent origins to a complex cultural symbol entwined with extremist ideologies.