Correct understanding of "cultural products", "cultural products" and "cultural classics"

Since the Eighteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, cultural construction has been highly valued, and "cultural masterpieces" and "fine works" have become hot words. However, there is no clear definition of "cultural masterpiece", and people's understanding of it is inconsistent. If some vague understandings are not clarified, there may be some deviations in the project of promoting the quality improvement of literary and artistic works.

There are two one-sided views on the "vulgarization" and "absolutization" of cultural masterpieces

Regarding the three concepts of "cultural products", "cultural products" and "cultural classics", there is still no authoritative definition, in order to facilitate the discussion of the problem, try to make a definition: "cultural products" refers to the material and intangible products created by human beings in various periods of history, with spiritual consumption as the main value orientation. "Cultural masterpieces" are carefully created, ideological and artistic ornamental highly unified cultural products. "Excellent works" and "excellent works" also refer to "cultural masterpieces". "Cultural classics" are passed down from generation to generation, widely recognized by society, have historical, artistic and scientific value, and can be used as cultural masterpieces to learn and imitate standards. "Immortal works" also refer to "cultural classics".

From the perspective of logical relationship, the three aspects of "cultural products", "cultural products" and "cultural classics" should be a linear and progressive relationship, that is, cultural products - cultural products - cultural classics. Not all cultural products are cultural masterpieces, but cultural masterpieces must be cultural products; not all cultural masterpieces are cultural classics, but cultural classics must be cultural masterpieces.

From the perspective of quantitative relations, "cultural products", "cultural boutiques" and "cultural classics" present the form of pyramids. "Cultural products" are the foundation and have the largest number, and "cultural classics" are located at the top of the tower, with the least number. Without many "cultural products", it is impossible to produce "cultural masterpieces", and without a certain number of "cultural products", it is impossible to appear "cultural classics".

At present, there are two one-sided views on the "vulgarization" and "absolutization" of cultural fine products. The view of "vulgarization" of cultural products is actually a mixture of "cultural products" and "cultural products", and the vast majority of "cultural products" are regarded as "cultural products", and the cultural products are "generalized" and "vulgarized". The law of "absolutization" of cultural fine works believes that there are too many literary works to be seen now, but which one can be compared with "Leaving the Troubles" and "Dream of the Red Chamber"? This view is widespread and widely circulated. This view has its pertinence and rationality, but it is biased, confusing "cultural masterpieces" and "cultural classics".

Cultural classics have four characteristics

Cultural classics have distinct characteristics of the times. From a formal point of view, cultural products were limited by the stage of social development, the level of development of productive forces, and technical conditions at that time. Social existence determines social consciousness, and also determines the creation and production of cultural products. The progress of technology directly leads to the change and progress of the tools for the production of cultural products, and even leads to the emergence of new cultural categories. From the content point of view, cultural products reflect the main contradictions of the society at that time or are influenced by the mainstream ideology, aesthetic tendencies and philosophical concepts of the local society at that time, thus branding the times. Many literary classics profoundly reflect and expose the main contradictions of society at that time and are closely related to social reality.

Cultural classics are innovative. The vitality of cultural products lies in innovation, and cultural products without innovation cannot become cultural products, let alone become cultural classics. The content of cultural products must be innovative. The creation and production of cultural products is an intellectual activity, so all cultural classics have unique originality from the content point of view. Needless to say, even in arts and crafts, no two pieces are exactly the same. The technology of re-imitation of cultural relics is high, and the value cannot be compared with cultural relics. "Cottage" works can never become fine works, let alone classics.

Cultural classics have the characteristics of careful creation and production. Among the many cultural classics we see today, many of them were finally completed after a long period of creation by the author, and many "amazing works" have undergone the hardships of "ten years of grinding a sword". There are also some classic works whose creative process, although seemingly short and casual, always has the secret of "getting pregnant in October and giving birth in a day". Even producers of cultural products who have created classic masterpieces are not classics. A large number of social works, scene works and even game works in history are not classics. Without long-term accumulation, in-depth life experience and meticulous creation, it is impossible to become cultural products behind closed doors and shoddy production, and it is impossible to become cultural classics.

Cultural classics all have the characteristics of having to be tested by time. Modern scientific common sense tells us that when we look up at the starry sky, the light of the star was emitted as early as a few light years ago or even longer, not in the present. The same is true of cultural classics. Only after years of washing, after several generations of judgment and selection, can future generations feel the charm of traditional cultural classics. Some cultural works that were once popular for a while have disappeared in the long river of time. The fate of some cultural classics that have survived to this day is not consistent at the beginning of their birth. Without the test of time, cultural classics cannot be talked about. The longer the time, the more accurate our judgment of cultural classics will be.

Regarding the standards of cultural excellence, the benevolent see the benevolent and the wise see the wise. However, cultural classics are produced from cultural masterpieces, and according to the idea of "those who are above the law get it, and those who are in the law get below it", grasping the characteristics and elements of cultural classics in history may help to measure and grasp the standards for the creation and production of today's cultural fine works and excellent works.

Today's trend of cultural product creation and production

With the development of commodity economy and social progress, the variety of cultural products in human society is becoming more and more abundant, the number is increasing, the speed of dissemination is getting faster and faster, and the creation and production of cultural products have also shown some new trends.

Trend towards commercialization. The commodification of cultural products is understandable. In the context of the market economy, since cultural products can become commodities, some excellent cultural products can naturally become cultural brands, bringing rich economic returns to creative producers and investors. Moreover, commodification is conducive to the spread of cultural products, so that some cultural products that were previously "niche" can be contacted and appreciated by more people, which is the progress of the times. However, cultural products must not be considered to be valued only through the market. Commodity economies and markets do not necessarily produce cultural classics. The cultural market is only "possible", by no means "omnipotent".

Trend towards popularization. Historically, it is often a small number of "cultural people" who master culture, and those who create cultural products are cultural people, and those who can appreciate cultural works are often also cultural people. Although there are also poems created by Bai Juyi that can be understood by old women, most of the cultural works are still "Yangchun White Snow". The creation, production and consumption of cultural works are confined to a very small range, which is the prerogative of a few people. With the development of society, the popularization of culture, the progress of science and technology, especially with the continuous development of the market economy, cultural products to be commodified, it is necessary to cater to the aesthetic needs and levels of ordinary people, so it is bound to embark on the road of popularization. Under this trend, more and more cultural products can be accepted by the public, and more and more popular cultural products have become fine products. Works for the public may be fine or classic, but they must not be said in reverse: all cultural products popular with the public must be cultural masterpieces, let alone classics. In the extreme, for example, the "three customs" cultural products cannot be called fine products, let alone become classics.

Epidemic trends. The popular cultural products today are each leading the way for decades, even years. The trend of commercialization and popularization of cultural products and the acceleration of the pace of life in modern society have made many cultural products like a cloud of smoke, showing a trend of popularity and short-livedness. On the one hand, this is related to the impetuosity of producers of cultural products, and on the other hand, it is also related to the impetuousness of consumers of cultural products.

Technology-dependent trends. The production and creation of today's cultural products rely heavily on scientific and technological means, rely on scientific and technological means in the production process, and reproduce these cultural products also rely more on scientific and technological means, such as movies. This is the inevitable result of social development. Since ancient times, the production and creation of cultural products have been inseparable from the scientific and technological progress of the time. However, over-reliance on technological means is often overlooked: technology is only a means. Cultural products themselves must be the crystallization of people's thoughts, created and produced by people, and must point directly to human nature and people's hearts. No matter how advanced scientific and technological means are, if they do not adapt to the profound content, they can only cause sensory stimulation, but cannot impress people's hearts.

(Author Affilications:Education, Culture, Health and Sports Committee of Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference)