“Outlook” Report: Affirming Cultural Self-Confidence, Building on the Great Rena

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Shen Haixiong, director-general of the publicity department of CPC Guangdong Committee

On 19th December ‘Outlook’ magazine issue 51 will publish Shen Haixiong’s article, ‘Affirming Cultural Self-Confidence, Building on the Great Renaissance’s Artistic Peak’.

Summary:

The vicissitudes of literature correspond with the vicissitudes of the nation. Literature represents the style of an era, and is most able to lead the spirit of the times and demonstrate cultural confidence.

Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, delivered an important speech at the General Assembly, building on work published two years ago. The speech was far-sighted and profound, shining the light of Marxist truth throughout. It constitutes a major innovation in the theory of Socialism with Chinese characteristics and is a programmatic document guiding the Party's literary and artistic work and cultural construction, promoting the prosperity and development of China's cultural undertakings.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), under the inspiration of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speeches, the broad masses of literary and art workers in Guangdong closely focus on the theme of the Chinese Dream and Socialist Core Values, deepening their lives and taking root among the people to persist in synchronizing with the times. They actively participate in Reform and Opening Up and the creation of a moderately prosperous society with high-spirited style, excellent talent, and hard work, creativity, and enthusiasm. The overall strength and influence of Guangdong arts and literature is growing as part of national cultural development as the "Guangdong sound".

To study and implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping's important speech is to further unify thinking and action to promote the prosperity and development of Guangdong's literature and art with higher awareness, greater enthusiasm and more practical measures, and make efforts to promote Guangdong as the vanguard of coordinated development of the two civilizations.

Affirm cultural self-confidence, better carry the historical mission of literary workers

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized cultural self-confidence. To create outstanding works with distinctive national characteristics and individuality requires a deep understanding of the profundity of Chinese culture and a high level of cultural self-confidence. Self-confidence in one’s path, self-confidence in theory, institutional self-confidence and cultural self-confidence are sources of our spiritual strength; cultural self-confidence is more fundamental, more extensive, more profound. If cultural self-confidence is lost, in spite of this country’s history and resources, it is difficult to work against the infiltration and subversion of the spiritual pillar. Americans are very confident, but not because of its history; they think their values, their "doctrine", is the best. Some countries in the Mediterranean boast a brilliant history, but their recent past is marred by chaos; some countries in the Middle East are rich in oil, but in the face of a Western campaign of aggression, infiltration occurs. China's current history and the history of the formation of a strong nation in contrast to the weak is founded on "the four self-confidences"! The mission of literary and art workers is to build a new era and affirm cultural self - confidence.

Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out that the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is a great cause requiring perseverance in great spirit, but also needing to inspire great works. The broad masses of literary and art workers should be good at extracting the essence from the treasures of Chinese culture and drawing energy to make their works a spiritual force that inspires the Chinese people and the Chinese nation to move forward. We must look at and understand literary and artistic work from such stations and perspectives, recognize their historical mission and important responsibilities, and workers must have a great design in their hearts, a great vision in their eyes, and have great works in their hands. They must grasp the pulse of the times, assume the mission of the times, listen to the voice of the times, and answer the times.

We have to tap the good resources of Guangdong's "rich mine” to enhance cultural confidence in the inventory of the classics, inspired by dialogue with the classics, and in tribute to the classical era. The 90th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, the Nineteenth National Congress of the CPC, the 40th anniversary of Reform and Opening Up, the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and other important anniversaries, needs to focus on the creation of eulogies to the Party, the people, heroes, and the spirit of the times. Such works must show the true and the good in the human world, showing the warmth of the human heart, recording the times, vividly depicting contemporary China and Guangdong’s social development and change, to better stimulate the spirit of the whole society struggling forward strength.

Have the People in your heart, and in creativity take the People as the centre

General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that the people are the creators of history, the sculptors of the times. All outstanding literary and artistic workers are derived from the people, and all the outstanding literary and artistic creations are due to the people.

Guangdong arts have been classics for centuries. The core reason is that Guangdong people are pragmatic and open-minded, and they are writers and artists who come from the people and accept the people's creative mindset. Many Guangdong masterpieces focus on the people's lives and record the times. A large number of works of art with unique style, such as the "Three Family Lane" of Ouyang Shan, are for the people, for the creation of works of life. All these works are the creation of the people. Guangdong literary and art workers inherit this deep feeling for the people, in accordance with the requirements of the General Secretary, with a firm Marxist view of literature and art, consciously taking the people as the main expression, and focusing on the people's well-being and happiness.

Innovation and creativity, striving to build on the Guangdong literary peak

Xi Jinping pointed out that innovation is the life of literature and art. Guangdong is the forefront of Reform and Opening Up, and innovation-driven development, so we must continue to innovate.

We should try our best to create a literary and creative environment that encourages creativity, rejects mediocrity, and tolerates mistakes. We will try our best to introduce more literary works that can stand up, live, stay, and express Lingnan characteristics, producing innovative ideas to overcome the imitation mentality. We will try our best to enhance original ability, grasp the source, grasp the script, implement the opera and movie incubation plan, grasp basic work such as text and lyrics, and introduce more literary works and cultural brands with original value, independent intellectual property rights and core competitiveness. We must be good at using a variety of modern technology and artistic elements, and actively explore genre, form, style, and content innovation, enhance the artistic expression and appeal. We should vigorously promote cross-border cooperation in literary and artistic production, promote the integration of tradition and modernity, promote the integration of arts and science and technology, and the integration of arts and finance. We should treat art creation in a serious way, and strive for the perfection and beauty of works of art. To adapt to the new situation of networks and digitalization, actively adapt to the new requirements of the era of large data, and vigorously develop the network literature and art, we should encourage the introduction of more excellent original works as a leader in the implementation of network art creation and dissemination programs.

Adhere to the ideal of art, vigorously cultivate arts and crafts talent

General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed that art is the soul bringing culture to the people and educating the people in responsibility, and should nurture the enlightenment of people's minds, instilling good values. The broad masses of literary and art workers are to take this as a firm pursuit and communicate it, bringing lofty values and good feelings into their own works, and guiding people to noble morals. Great literature and art develop the soul, and great literature and art come from the soul. Classics have been able to become classics, as they contain timeless beauty and eternal feelings. To write one first is a person, and virtue is the soul of art. For art to shape the people, the creators must first shape themselves. In the final analysis, masters influence us not only their work, but also their spiritual and moral sentiments. Literary and art workers start with self-cultivation, noble professional ethics, good social image, and the quality of beauty to win social respect.

Xi Jinping pointed out that strengthening and improving the Party's leadership of literary and artistic work is the fundamental guarantee of prosperity and development. Now when it comes to the Party's leadership, some people will say that it is interference, but this is obviously one-sided and wrong.

It is important to stress that, first, we must uphold the Party's leadership. The creation of literature and art as personalized works should be respected, but literature and art are important parts of the superstructure and ideology, always closely linked with the basic economic and political system. The leadership of the Party in the work of literature and art is not only grasping the principle of direction, but also implementing literary and artistic creation. We must conscientiously implement the Party's policy on literature and art, so that art is always moving in the right direction.

Second, we must follow the laws of literature and art, and constantly strengthen and improve the Party's leadership. In this regard, the General Secretary clearly stressed that Party committees at all levels should attach great importance to literary and artistic work, and should use literary and artistic methods to lead literary and artistic undertakings. We must profoundly understand the instructions of the General Secretary, follow the laws of literature and art, and use them to better release artistic and cultural productive forces.

The vicissitudes of literature correspond with the vicissitudes of the nation. Literature represents the style of an era, and is most able to lead the spirit of the times and demonstrate cultural confidence. Guangdong literary and art workers must keep in mind the ardent hope of the General Secretary, firmly grasp the creation of outstanding works without forgetting the heart, in order to move forward in building the great rejuvenation of the Chinese literary and artistic peak and highlight the power of cultural self-confidence.