Liu Xiaowei: Poetry in the new era should overcome the tendency of Westernization and vulgarization

The theme of this forum is "Ten Years of Poetry in the New Era: Progress and Space". It reminds us that the creation of poetry in the new era, which began at the 18th Party Congress in 2012, has entered its tenth year. Throughout the past ten years of poetry creation, many achievements have been made, and the poetry industry in the new era has made great efforts from the concept of putting forward to forming consensus and practicing. However, it has to be pointed out that the current poetry creation also has the tendency of Westernization, niche and vulgarization to varying degrees. At the key time node of the "Decade of Poetry in the New Era", it is necessary for us to comprehensively sort out and review the gains and losses of new poetry creation, so as to facilitate the more healthy development of poetry creation in the new era.

Overcome the tendency of "niche" and establish a grand view of poetry creation

The tendency to "niche" is a major problem in the Chinese poetry world. This is mainly manifested in the fact that the works of some poets are out of touch with the times, and there is no refraction of the times, the fate of the country, or the voice of the people in the works, only personal sorrows and joys, private feelings, and the "krikon" of language. In particular, the creation of some young poets is a portrayal of personal emotions and private space, without the spirit of the times. "Accession to the WTO" has always been a glorious tradition of Chinese poetry. Starting from the Book of Poetry and the Chu Ci, the mainstream of classical Chinese poetry has been beating with the times. The vernacular poems that originated in the era of salvation and survival, such as Guo Moruo's poetry collection "Goddess", Ai Qing's "Torch", "Trumpeter", "To the Sun" and other poems, their core imagery has also been following the times. Until around the 1980s, there were still poems like Huang Zhong Dalu who wrote the wind and clouds of the times. From about the end of the 20th century, the voice of the times began to gradually fade into Chinese poetry, and the writing era became synonymous with "false big space", and the main melody creation has been criticized. Among them, there is not only the problem of the creation of the main theme of poetry itself, but also the problem of our insufficient guidance of poetry creation. The new era is an era in which the Chinese nation is moving toward great rejuvenation. In this new historical orientation, as the most sensitive, changeable, and most leading genre in the literary category, poetry should play a greater role in recording the times.

"Writers and artists should become the forerunners, forerunners, and initiators of the atmosphere of the times," "The literature and art of any era can only make a sound that vibrates and stirs up deafness if it is closely linked with the country and the nation," "Paints a portrait of the times, establishes a biography for the times, and serves the mingde of the times," "We must establish a great view of history and a great era, with a thousand rivers and rivers in our eyes, and with millions of soldiers in our chests, grasp the historical process and the general trend of the times, reflect the great changes of the Chinese nation over the past thousand years, and reveal the correct path of the world in a century of China." These are all important expositions of General Secretary Xi Jinping on literary and artistic work, which have a fundamental guiding role in how to establish a great era concept for poetry creation in the new era. The creation of poetry in the new era is to integrate itself into the new era, write out the emotions, images, dreams, and pursuits of the new era, and let the poetry radiate brilliant light in the storms of the times.

Overcome the tendency of "Westernization" and adhere to the people's position of poetry in the new era

Since the beginning of the new century, Chinese poetry has been greatly influenced by the West. We should look at this impact positively, but we must also reflect on the problems that exist. This influence is not limited to poetic techniques, but more importantly to the idea of poetic creation. In some poets, the source of poetry is not to go deep into life and take root in the people, but to read books and meditate; poetry creation has become the product of personal inspiration and skills, and many works have problems such as detachment from the people, separation from life, obscurity, etc.; there is no profound theme, no object of praise, and poetry works become "seemingly profound duckweed"; the poet's creative language, skills, and even branches blindly worship and imitate poems translated from the West.

There are many reasons for these problems, but the most fundamental one is that the people's position of poetry creation has deviated. Socialist literature and art, in essence, is the literature and art of the people. In this sense, the creation of poetry in the new era is essentially a poetry creation for the people, writing for the people, and judged by the people.

Regarding the people's position, General Secretary Xi Jinping has made many important expositions. For example, "there are a hundred or a thousand methods of literary and artistic creation, but the most fundamental, crucial, and reliable way is to take root in the people and take root in life." For example, "singing the motherland and praising heroes has always been the eternal theme of literary and artistic creation." For another example, "Originating from the people, serving the people, and belonging to the people is the fundamental position of socialist literature and art, and it is also the driving force for the prosperity and development of socialist literature and art." From the aspects of methods, themes, and positions, it is highlighted that "the people are the mother of literature and art" and "life is the people, and the people are life." Poetry in the new era has entered its tenth year, and a broader consensus should be formed on adhering to the people's position. Our poetry should come from the people, from life. The theme of poetry creation should reflect the people's joys and sorrows and praise the people's lofty feelings and feelings; the results of poetry creation should be more widely accepted by the masses of the people; and the merits and demerits of poetry should be judged by the masses of the people. For poets of the new era, personalized creation is important, and people's writing is even more indispensable.

Overcome the tendency of "vulgarization" and shape the noble poet character

In the new era, many excellent poets with both literary quality and beauty and excellent poets with both moral and artistic qualities have emerged. However, it is undeniable that there are still some vulgar tendencies in the poetry world: some works are not high in style, pursue low-level interests, and regard ugliness as beauty; some do not work the works themselves, but are keen on speculation and win attention; and some are engaged in acts of undermining unity and spreading rumors and smears in the name of justice. In the minds of the broad masses of the people, both the image of the poet and the poet have been affected to varying degrees.

In the new era, it is time to reshape the image of the poet. The poet should be noble and widely respected; the poet should be holy, bringing warmth, light and hope; the poet should be sunny, and should shine in character and personality.

General Secretary Xi Jinping profoundly pointed out: "Writers and artists have social influence, and every move will have an impact on society." Everyone should cherish their social impact and seriously consider the social effects of their works. If a literary and art worker misbehaves, the people will not accept it, and the times will not accept it! Without self-respect, there is no respect! General Secretary Xi also stressed, "Literature and art should be popular, but they must not be vulgar, vulgar, and kitsch." Literature and art must live, but they must not become the makers, followers, and advocates of unhealthy trends. Literature and art must be innovative, but we must not engage in strange and absurd things. Literature and art must be effective, but they must not be contaminated with the smell of copper and become slaves to the market. "These are all worthy of serious consideration by poets of the new era."

What kind of people will write what kind of poetry. The theme of this symposium is "Progress and Space", which contains such a meaning - to improve the character and style of poets, and to provide room for growth for the progress of poetry in the new era.

(The author is the director of the Cultural Department of the People's Liberation Army Daily)