In May, the Inner Mongolian branch of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) dropped a hip-hop track praising Karl Marx.

The best thing that can be said for it is that it doesn’t sound quite as ridiculous as one might expect. The beat is fairly grimy and minimalist; the hook is underwhelming, but provides something of a counterpoint. For the casual listener who can’t understand the words, it’s a pleasant but ultimately forgettable experience. In the end it’s more mediocre art as propaganda that leaves its subject matter flat and deflated.

Called “Marx is a Post-90” — “post-90” is the Chinese version of a millennial — the song appeared as part of a new television show designed to reengage young people with Marxism. In the abstract, this sounds like a worthy project. Marxist thought is taught in all Chinese schools, but, according to a 2014 poll, nearly half of all Chinese students either don’t understand it or find it boring.