China News Service, March 2, title: Xi Jinping’s metaphor for the two sessions | People are the source of creation
For whom are literary and artistic works created?
During the National Two Sessions in 2019, when participating in the joint meeting of members of the cultural, artistic and social science circles at the second session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, General Secretary Xi Jinping talked about the issue of who to create for and for whom to speak.
He told the meeting that cultural, literary and artistic workers should jump out of "the small joys and sorrows around them", go into the depths of practice, observe people's lives, express the people's aspirations, and study, describe and sing about the people with heart and emotion.
“The people are the source of creativity,” the general secretary emphasized.
The four words "source of living water" point to the fundamental source of creation by cultural and artistic workers.
Throughout ancient and modern times, the life practices of the broad masses of the people are the most vivid and vivid material library for literary and artistic creation. In the final analysis, all innovations in literature and art originate directly or indirectly from the people.
"If Cao Xueqin had not made a panoramic observation and microscopic analysis of the social life at that time, he would not have been able to complete the writing of an encyclopedic masterpiece like "A Dream of Red Mansions". If Lu Xun had not been familiar with the situation and mood of the people at the bottom before and after the Revolution of 1911, he would not have been able to create such lifelike characters as Sister Xianglin, Runtu, Ah Q, Kong Yiji, etc." General Secretary Xi Jinping once used Cao Xueqin and Lu Xun as examples to emphasize the importance of literary and artistic creations taking root in the people and life.
The writer sat in the room racking his brains and couldn't write anything. A Soviet poet once described this embarrassment as "wrenching his fingernails to the point of water." The General Secretary used this to warn literary and art workers that "there will be no lasting literary and artistic inspiration and creative passion if you are locked in an ivory tower" and "you must go into the depths of life, understand the essence of life among the people, and understand the true meaning of life."
Good literary and artistic works are all written for the people, for the people, and for the people. As the General Secretary said, the needs of the people are the fundamental value of the existence of literature and art.
Since the reform and opening up, our country's literary and artistic creation has ushered in a new spring, producing a large number of popular and excellent works. But at the same time, some problems also emerged.
“Some make fun of the sublime, distort classics, and subvert history.” “Some do not distinguish between right and wrong, do not distinguish between good and evil, and regard ugliness as beauty.” “Some search for novelties and beauty, blindly pursue kitsch, and have low taste.” At the 2014 symposium on literature and art work, General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out the current shortcomings and emphasized that “literature and art must not lose their way in the tide of market economy, and they must not deviate from the question of who they are.”
"You cannot use fictitious images to fictionalize the people, you cannot use a mocking attitude to ridicule the people, and you cannot use vilifying brushstrokes to vilify the people." At the opening ceremony of the 11th National Congress of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles and the 10th National Congress of the Chinese Writers Association in 2021, the General Secretary requested this.
At present, the world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century. The diversity of ideas and culture has become more prominent, and exchanges and exchanges have become increasingly frequent. Cultural and literary workers bear important responsibilities and missions.
Over the years, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly written letters to cultural, literary and art workers, instructing them to "keep up with the pulse of the times, adhere to the people's position, persist in integrity and innovation" and "strive to create more fine works that eulogize the spirit of the times and express the voices of the people."
"The 'strength' of a culturally powerful country must ultimately be reflected in the ideological realm, mental state, and cultural accomplishment of the people." The general secretary said with great meaning.
｜Chief Planner: Yu Lan
｜Planner: Zhou Rui
｜Coordinator: Ma Xueling Kan Feng
｜Written by: Yuan Xiuyue
｜Proofreading: Sun Jingbo
|Visual: Zhang Jianyuan
｜Produced by the "Xi Yan Dao" studio of China News Network
