Just this summer
Lawrence Oliver Award for Blackbird
At the Center Stage of Shanghai Dramatic Arts
Rehearsed again
But few people think about it
The re-director of the play
Is a Frenchman with an authentic Chinese name
Lu Yifan
And say an authentic Chinese
He is
Department of Chinese and Chinese Literature of East China Normal University
Major in Comparative Literature and World Literature
Associate Researcher of the Teaching and Research Department
Lu Yifan, from France, French name is ivan ruviditch. Graduated from the University of Paris VII, he lived in China for more than ten years during his studies, engaged in cultural exchange work at the Consulate General of France in Shanghai, was an associate professor at the School of Humanities of Shanghai Normal University, and won the "Magnolia Memorial Award" of the Shanghai Municipal People's Government in 2019.
4 minutes to learn about sinologists & artists
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Dual identity, sinologist's path to drama directing
During his stay in China, Lu Yifan worked in the Department of Foreign Languages of East China Normal University, the Consulate General of France in Shanghai, the School of Humanities of Shanghai Normal University and other units, promoting academic exchanges between China and France as a scholar, and promoting various cooperation projects between Shanghai universities and French universities.
Lu Yifan discussed with students of the department of Chinese of East China Normal University
In 2019, he joined the Department of Chinese of East China Normal University, became a foreign teacher in the Department of Comparative Literature and World Literature, participated in the exchange program between the Department of Chinese of China Normal University and the University of Göttingen in Germany, and taught Chinese literature classes for German students. "I hope to exchange classical poetry with you from the dimension of overseas sinology and collide with different sparks."
In addition to sinologists, Lu Yifan also has a "hidden" identity - director. While teaching at Shanghai Normal University, Lu Yifan led the establishment of an international drama studio to absorb theater lovers among college students and social figures, provide them with professional stage guidance, and rehearse plays with strong literary and artistic characteristics.
In 2018, he co-founded a professional artistic theater creation platform with the main members of the theater studio, the Meta Theater. This year, Lu Yifan also cooperated with the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center as a rehearsal director, directing the contemporary play "Blackbird", and the performance was highly acclaimed.
Lu Yifan and the "Blackbird" crew rehearsed
His dual identity as a sinologist and artist allowed him to break through the barriers between traditional literature and drama. "There are many bridges between drama and the ancient literature I studied, there are many poems in Chinese opera, and the language is very close to poetry, and drama can bring me back to ancient Chinese culture."
In 2017, Lu Yifan cooperated with Chinese screenwriters to adapt Guan Hanqing's meta-miscellaneous drama "Zhao Pan'er Wind and Moon Saves the Wind and Dust", on the basis of retaining classical charm, adding personal thinking and modern stage style, combining Chinese and Western styles, reaching a new height of dramatic aesthetics.
Written and poetic, studied classical Chinese literature for decades
For the average Westerner, Chinese characters, as hieroglyphs, are one of the most mysterious and striking Oriental symbols, and after decades of studying classical Chinese literature, Lu Yifan has a deeper view of the charm of Chinese culture.
"I think the charm of Chinese culture is not only in words, but more easily reflected in poetry, ancient Chinese poetry has been using metaphors, it seems to be talking about pictures and scenery, in fact, it is all emotions inside."
In Lu Yifan's view, to appreciate poetry, we must break through the limitation of "seeing mountains is mountains, seeing water is water", and rise to the realm of "seeing mountains is not mountains, seeing water is not water", so as to better interpret the things behind poetry.
Ancient poetry often used "than" and "Xing" techniques, relying on things and words, and integrating feelings into the scene, these are the less commonly used methods in Western literature, starting from the perspective of comparative literature, exploring the similarities and differences between the two, so that Lu Yifan is happy in it.
"I think the most special thing in Chinese is the lyrical expression method of borrowing scenery, many ancient poems, such as Wang Wei's poems, Li Bai's poems, at first glance there is no mention of emotion, but read the last sentence, 'Return to the deep forest, look back at the moss'." 'Look at each other without getting tired, only Jingting Mountain.' You'll suddenly realize that it's all emotions. ”
This implicit style and sense of epiphany of "sending affection to the middle and meaning to the outside" are the most prominent characteristics of chinese culture that pursues blank space.
Cultural exchanges have great responsibilities as "bridges"
With the deepening of world globalization and the increasing frequency of cultural exchanges between countries, as a Frenchman living in China, Lu Yifan has been thinking about how to let the world listen to Chinese stories and feel Chinese culture.
To do a good job in cultural exchanges, Sindaya's translation is indispensable, Lu Yifan's association with Chinese culture is also derived from excellent translation works, translators and sinologists are an important bridge between China and foreign communication.
Although bridges are important, Lu Yifan feels that in order to make Chinese culture better "go out", it is first necessary to consolidate the domestic mass foundation of Chinese culture.
"As long as a local culture develops to a certain extent, has vitality, vitality, and is highlighted in the local value, then it will naturally go out."
"We should support the cultural industry and art education, encourage young artists to develop, and have a variety of cultural activities such as theaters, exhibitions, movies, and book clubs, so that the local culture will be slowly enriched, driving and radiating the surrounding areas." ”
In addition, Lu Yifan also pointed out three key words - a sense of belonging, a sense of identity and a sense of pride, "I think the most important thing is to let Chinese people really like their local writers, artists, dancers, appreciate and respect their own unique culture, so as to generate national pride and self-confidence, and culture will naturally go out."
For Lu Yifan, the city of Shanghai has become his second home. The years of living in Shanghai have given Lu Yifan a deeper understanding of the city.
"China is developing very fast, when I came to study in my sophomore year, the wooden house on Nanjing West Road in Shanghai was still there, but now Lujiazui's high-rise buildings are lined up one after another, and social welfare is getting better and better." Living in shanghai, an international metropolis, open and inclusive, connecting East and West, I have a sense of familiarity. ”
Buy a cup of coffee in the bustling streets, read a volume of poetry at a dimly lit table, direct a play in a colorful theater, tradition and modernity, classic and trend, in Lu Yifan's body just right, his story with China, with Shanghai, and with Chinese culture, continues.
*This film was selected for the Ministry of Science and Technology
"100 International Friends Sending a Message to China" video display
Produced | the International Exchange Office of the Propaganda Department of the Party Committee
Tonglian interviewed | Xu Xincheng
Wen | Xu Xincheng Fu Wang Nan
Editor| Wu Xiaolan