Why Internet Literature Enters the "National Team" of Literature Research
[Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era-A New Era, A New Chapter]
A few days ago, the Network Literature Research Office of the Institute of Literature of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences was established in Beijing, marking a major step forward in the construction of the discipline of network literature.
"The time is right." Bai Ye, president of the Chinese Contemporary Literature Research Association, praised, "Most of the research on online literature in the past was individualized, unsystematic, and unorganized. The establishment of the research office means that online literature research has entered the national academic The vision of the organization, I believe there will be many new things in the future."
The Fifth Plenary Session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China proposed to promote the unity of meeting the people's cultural needs and strengthening the people's spiritual strength around the mission of raising the banner, gathering people's hearts, cultivating new people, promoting culture, and promoting the building of a socialist cultural power.
When the Institute of Literature of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences drafted the institute’s "14th Five-Year Plan" development plan, it specifically mentioned the need to promote the development of online literature, strengthen supervision and management, create a good ecological environment, and promote interdisciplinary and cross-project linkage. Carrying on the past and opening up the future, keeping integrity and innovation.
"The establishment of the Internet Literature Research Office meets the current needs of the development of the current literature discipline. It is also a major event in the history of the construction of the Internet literature discipline. It is also due to the promotion of the construction of a socialist cultural power." Institute of Literature, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Director Liu Yuejin lamented that the research office will launch a batch of outstanding achievements, and strive to become an important academic reference for the development and management of online literature at the national level, and promote the prosperity and healthy development of online literature.
Internet literature has become an indispensable existence in contemporary Chinese literature
Hearing that the Internet Literature Research Office was established, Zhou Zhixiong, a professor at Anhui University, became one of them.
More than a decade ago, when he first studied online literature, some people ridiculed him for "not doing his job properly."
Later, as online literature continued to grow, people also changed their views.
"Now many people tell me that you have chosen a good direction." Zhou Zhixiong said.
For more than 20 years, online literature has emerged and developed rapidly, becoming an integral part of socialist literature with Chinese characteristics and an indispensable existence of contemporary Chinese literature.
Some critics believe that the rise of online literature is the "second sailing of contemporary literature", "a major turning point in the cross-century", and "a major change in Chinese literature that has not been seen in a thousand years" since the new era.
According to data, as of June 2019, the number of online literature users in my country reached 455 million, an increase of 22.53 million from the end of 2018, accounting for 53.2% of the total Internet users; the number of mobile online literature users reached 435 million, an increase of 25.27 million from the end of 2018. Accounted for 51.4% of mobile Internet users.
"Practice has proved that network literature has forged another type of mainstream literature outside the traditional contemporary literary system. It not only occupies an important position in Chinese society, especially the spiritual life of youth groups, but also surpasses what the research community usually understands. The category of'literature' has penetrated into all levels of contemporary social culture and has become a literary phenomenon of great historical significance." said Ding Qiqi, deputy director of the Institute of Literature, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
With the development and growth of online literature, the study of online literature reviews has also received practical attention, the review team continues to grow, and the research front continues to expand.
Peking University, Anhui University, Shandong University and other universities have established network literature research centers. The National Social Science Research Fund and the Ministry of Education have also given key topics to network literature research projects.
"In my opinion, online literature research needs to be established as a separate subject. Even if it is not listed separately, it should be the main content of contemporary literature." Shao Yanjun, director of Peking University Internet Literature Research Center, told reporters that Peking University established Internet Literature Research. Although the center, a virtual institution, can teach and enroll students, it is not a separate teaching and research section, and it is difficult to make major breakthroughs in disciplines.
Internet writer Qi Cheng also feels deeply: “Internet literature entered the academic field very early, and many universities have also established Internet literature research institutions, but the overall research on Internet literature is weak, and even in the eyes of many people, Internet literature research is still It is an alternative, which obviously does not match the actual development of online literature. It needs an authoritative research institution to drive and lead."
The development of network literature is an important part of the national cultural development strategy
In October 2014, General Secretary Xi Jinping mentioned "Internet writers" at the literary work symposium, "Internet writers, contracted writers, freelance writers, independent producers, independent actors, singers, freelance art workers, etc. The literary and artistic community is very active" and demanded "expand the coverage of work, extend the contact arm, treat them with a new perspective, unite and attract them with new policies and methods, and guide them to become a viable force for the prosperity of socialist literature and art."
In October 2015, the "Opinions of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on the Prosperity and Development of Socialist Literature and Art" was released, specifically proposing to "vigorously develop network literature and art" and "promote new developments such as network literature, network music, network dramas, micro movies, network performances, and network animation). Prosperous and orderly development of literary and artistic genres".
The development of online literature has become an important part of the national cultural development strategy.
Professor Ouyang Youquan of Central South University pointed out that in the new situation of developed self-media and complex online public opinion, online literature is not only a "network" or "literary" issue, but also related to the construction of our country's social ideology and mainstream values, and the country Cultural strategy, Internet discourse power and new media position management are related to mass cultural consumption, national reading and youth growth, and even related to a series of major issues such as the building of cultural soft power and the spread of national image. It is related to contemporary literary fashion, cultural guidance and value. The orientation is closely related.
Bai Ye also believes that online literature was produced and developed in the historical process of reform and opening up. It itself is a product of reform and opening up. It sucks all kinds of nutrients to promote its healthy growth. It should also be used in socialist literature and art undertakings with Chinese characteristics and China. Play its unique role in the construction of socialist spiritual civilization with characteristics.
Internet writer He Chang has been deeply involved in Internet novels for many years, and he knows the importance of Internet literature in the minds of readers.
He told reporters: “Online literature has a considerable scale, but the good and the bad works are not good enough to meet the expectations of readers. Boutique and mainstreaming are the development direction of online literature. Therefore, at this critical stage, more authoritative theoretical research and higher The level of creative guidance is crucial."
Based on the vigorous development of network literature and the important position of network literature in the development of socialist literature and art, the network literature research office came into being, shouldering the important task of promoting discipline construction.
Liu Yuejin said that the Internet Literature Research Office is not only limited to the attention and analysis of the development trend of Internet literature, but more importantly, it concentrates its research strength and seeks new research discourses to meet the characteristics of Internet literature itself and discover the inherent driving force of Internet literature. At the same time, it has its own critical voice in the management, regulation and promotion of online literature, and put forward its own theoretical methods, so that literary research can more closely and deeply respond to the development of literature in the new era.
Highlight the "Chinese Phenomenon" of Internet Literature and the "Chinese Experience" in the Digital Age
Recently, the "Symposium on Development Opportunities and Challenges of Online Literature" organized by the Institute of Literature of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences was held online, and people inside and outside the conference have offered suggestions for the development of the research office.
——The development of online literature requires the establishment of evaluation standards for online literature.
"The research path of online literature based on traditional literary evaluation standards has already produced obvious signs of incompatibility. If Western literary theories are copied in full, and a set of theoretical models for measuring the value of online literature are formulated in accordance with Western literary theories, they will be lost. The freshness, reality and locality of the theory." Ouyang Youquan proposed that only by constructing scientific evaluation standards can we form correct public opinion guidance and value norms.
Zhou Zhixiong believes that the evaluation system of online literature should systematically evaluate online literature, and should have corresponding value dimensions, theoretical dimensions, aesthetic dimensions, cultural dimensions, technical dimensions, acceptance dimensions, and market dimensions. It must be able to promote the development of online literature on a higher level.
"Compared with traditional publishing, the production mode and dissemination mode of online literature have undergone major changes. For the development and management mode of online literature, if the same management methods as traditional publishing are adopted, it will inevitably be'cut your feet and fit your feet'." As an important creation base for online literature, Liu Xudong, president of Jinjiang Literature City, believes that the research office can make the production and communication mode of online literature understood and recognized through special research, and even subvert some of the old concepts that we are used to thinking "correct".
——In the development of online literature, online literary criticism cannot be absent.
"China's online media cultural production field and online literature production field have been formed. They have different production methods, operating rules, capital types, and positional relationships among elements that are different from the printed cultural field and the printed literature field. Some professional critics still lack this. I am accustomed to using printed literary concepts, evaluation standards, and critical methods." said Shan Xiaoxi, a professor at Hangzhou Normal University.
Shan Xiaoxi suggested that online literary critics should change their ideas, enter the scene of Chinese online literature, enter the field of online media and the paradigm of online literature.
At the same time, it is necessary to be familiar with the way of thinking, cultural norms and language of network culture, as well as to understand the types of network literature, and determine the concept of network literature.
To deepen the study of online literature, we should also highlight the "Chinese phenomenon" of online literature and the "Chinese experience" in the digital age.
When Wang Shuaijie saw the news of the establishment of the laboratory, his eyes lit up.
As a senior reader with 10 years of reading experience, he usually pays close attention to new trends in the development of online literature.
"Criticism and creation are mutually reinforcing, in order to continuously produce good works. Now there is a lack of good criticism articles. I hope the Internet Literature Research Office can make up for this shortcoming."
——In the development of online literature, research methods require innovation and integration.
"Currently, there is a common problem in online literary criticism, that is, to look at the Internet in terms of the Internet." According to Huang Fayou, director of the Internet Literature Research Center of Shandong University, Internet literature research should have a fusion and interactive academic vision.
Learn from sociology, cultural studies, journalism, communication, information science and other related disciplines to expand academic horizons.
Shao Yanjun mentioned that in the past research on online literature, many researchers were restricted by the discipline of contemporary literature. Their research horizons and research methods appeared to be relatively traditional, and their shift towards the entire digital humanities was relatively slow.
In the future network literature research work, it is necessary to introduce the concepts and research methods of digital humanities.
"The understanding and grasp of online literature cannot just focus on the Internet and ignore literature." Bai Ye expects that, as a kind of literature, online literature should maintain its artistic quality while adapting to the market, and give birth to an ideological nature in the pursuit of interest. , Adding luster to social development.
(Our reporter Liu Jiangwei)