The literary era since 1979

Chapter 340 Root-Seeking Literature
The leaders' opening remarks were very brief, with only one core point, which was to develop a new type of western film and tap into the spiritual world of westerners!

"Next, please speak freely and express your opinions without any hesitation."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present at the meeting spoke enthusiastically, as if they wanted to get out what was in their hearts.

The first person to speak was from the Xi'an Film Studio, and as soon as he opened his mouth, he cited the sensational movie "Life".

"I think when making a western, the most unavoidable thing is the countryside. The countryside is the past of the city and the museum of national history..."

"I reserve my opinion!"

Then, a second speaker raised his hand and spoke incessantly: "The creative vision determines the film's ideological height, realistic breadth and value depth. We cannot limit westerns to the countryside. There are countless things that can be filmed in western movies, such as the life emotions, folk customs and regional culture of the western people. Filmmakers should find ways to present a rich and three-dimensional image of the west."

There were many different opinions and endless discussions, and the discussion became louder and more intense.

While discussing topics such as "city and countryside" and "history and modernity", a film critic emerged from the crowd:
"In developing westerns, we should not only focus on China, but also learn from the experience of American westerns, especially Hollywood movies like Once Upon a Time in the West, A Fistful of Dollars, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, so that our westerns can keep up with the international standards."

In an instant, the whole room was in an uproar, boiling like boiling water.

Like Zhu Lin, Gong Xing stared at Fang Yan's back, but he seemed indifferent, like an outsider watching a show.

"Please raise your hands if you want to speak."

The crowd of people below the stage raised their hands in unison.

Seeing that the whole meeting was becoming increasingly chaotic, Xia Yan pointed out by name, "Comrade Fangyan, what do you think of Western movies?"

This is too uncouth!
Didn’t we agree that it’s voluntary? Why do you have to name your name?
Fangyan was very helpless. Under the gaze of everyone, he slowly stood up. Well, everyone step back. It’s my turn to show off!

Zhu Lin looked around and saw people who were about to raise their hands paused and then slowly put their hands back.

"Cough cough."

Seeing Fangyan's tactical coughing, Gong Xing chuckled, his eyes full of affection and expectation.

"Just now, a comrade mentioned that we should learn from American westerns. What I want to say is that 'western' is a term borrowed from American western movies, and it cannot be used to describe the situation of Chinese western movies!"

"How do you know?"

Zhong Dianfei asked with great interest: "Comrade Fangyan, could you please make your words clearer?"

Fangyan looked around and said, "The essence of American Westerns is colonization, about the East conquering the barren West. I want to ask everyone here, do Chinese Westerns also have to be about colonization and conquest?"

Including Chen Kaige, those who supported learning from Hollywood's experience fell silent.

On the contrary, the local people were very excited, thinking that General Fang was on their side, but the result was unexpected.

“As for focusing on the countryside like in Life, that’s a misunderstanding.”

"Life is essentially a rural film, which just happened to be shot in the West. Such a story can also be shot in the central region, the northeast, and the south. How can it be regarded as a representative work of Western films?"

Faced with Fangyan's questioning, Zhang Yimou and others found it very reasonable and were speechless for a moment.

Wu Tianming's tone was full of admiration, "Then what do you think a western movie should be like, Mr. Fang?"

"First of all, we must make it clear that both American and Chinese westerns fall into the category of genre films."

Dialects are spoken bluntly.

For many people present, it was the first time they heard the new term "genre film".

"The more mature types of films in our country are martial arts films, military films, feature films and romance films. There is still a lack of genres such as comedy and science fiction films," Fang Yan said. "This also includes westerns. If we want to categorize westerns and explore the spiritual world of the West, including Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia and Qinghai, we must find cultural characteristics from the ethnic regions of the West."

"Go on."

On the stage, Xia Yan took off the pen from his chest and started taking notes. Zhong Dianfei and others followed suit.

Below the stage, Zhang Yimou, Wei Bi Da, Han San Ping and others immediately took out their notebooks to take notes, so as not to miss Teacher Fang's speech.

Seeing this, the surrounding film critics, editors, and reporters also took out their pens and papers and listened attentively. "In fact, the emergence of 'Western movies' in the film industry is not accidental."

Fangyan said seriously: "In the literary world, there are ethnic regional literature including 'Northwest Wind', and in the music world, there are folk songs of 'Northwest Wind'. The reason is that our literary and art circles have a tendency to 'seek cultural roots'."

"Searching for roots?!"

Compared with others, such as Shi Tiesheng, Mo Shen and Gong Xing who are close to the dialect, this is not the first time that he has mentioned similar concepts.

"Yes, for example, literature."

The dialects were introduced in detail.

Not to mention the Lingnan literature that first advocated "rooting literature in national and regional culture", let's just talk about the banner of "Xiangchu literature" headed by Han Shaogong and Gu Hua, the "Tianjin-style literature" advocated by Jiang Zilong and Feng Jicai, and the "New Beijing-style novel" that he had just developed.

In addition to novels, poetry and drama, all other works originate from the same pan-cultural trend.

"rustle."

"rustle."

The only sounds in the room were General Fang's speech and the voices of the crowd taking notes. Whether they were taking real notes or pretending to take notes, everyone was busy writing.

Zhong Acheng originally attended the symposium only reluctantly after his father Zhong Dianfei repeatedly requested it.

At this moment, after listening to Teacher Fang’s teachings, I felt as if a new door to literature had been opened.

“Is there anything you don’t understand?”

Fangyan glanced around.

"I have a question……"

Zhong Acheng raised his hand high. "According to Teacher Fang, western movies are also influenced by this trend of searching for roots?"

"Of course!"

“The Yellow River is the mother river, and its source is in the west. The vitality of Chinese literature, film and music is also in the west. Even the exchange and integration of Chinese civilization with foreign countries started from the Silk Road in the west. Therefore, I think that whether it is northern Shaanxi literature or western films, they should not be limited to the presentation of the western region and the stories that happened in the west, but the roots and leaves of culture.”

“If we want to take an international perspective, why not show the history and reality related to the Silk Road culture, such as Dunhuang?”

The speech in dialect opened up the whole pattern in all directions, which was undoubtedly an unprecedented development and great enrichment.

Not only the people in the film industry present here, but also the writers, editors and journalists engaged in literature, music and poetry all feel that in ethnic and regional literature, there is such a vibrant "root-seeking trend" flowing, which is simply unheard of and never seen before!

"Our literary and artistic workers should turn their attention to China's traditional culture, re-examine the land under their feet, and review the nation's past..."

“A nation’s own past is easy to forget, but also not so easy to forget.”

After saying this, everyone fell silent, including Fangyan.

In my previous life, China produced quite a few western movies.

"One and Eight", "Yellow Earth", "Silent Xiaoli River", "Wild Mountains", "Yellow River Ballad", "Swordsman from Shuangqi Town", "Qiu Ju's Lawsuit", and even "The Shepherd", these movies all have details of the western landscapes and folk customs.

But when it comes to the definition and theory of "Western movies", there is none.

The entire concept of Western movies was abandoned halfway because it was not fully sorted out, but now, the times are different.

General Fang's remarks at the symposium not only officially gave birth to the concepts of "Western movies" and "root-seeking culture", but also closely combined "Western movies" and "root-seeking culture", bringing out the best in each other and enriching the connotations of the two.

All the newspaper editors and reporters present became excited and stared at this piece of fat meat like hungry wolves.

Teacher Fang, if you can speak, please speak more!
It’s not that we don’t believe you, it’s just that we all want to broaden our horizons!

(End of this chapter)