Is a debate:
I am glad to have this opportunity to discuss with you the influence of popular literature and literary masterpieces on us in the next few days.
What is literature? The definition of Modern Chinese Dictionary is "the art of using language and characters as tools to intuitively reflect the objective reality". Its content can cover the country, society, humanities, politics, ideology and many other aspects, including drama, poetry, novels, essays and so on. Literature is the mirror of the times, reflecting the life of the times and recording the core dynamics of the times.
What is popular literature? Popular literature is a literature that coexists and prospers with the common people, is loved by the broad masses of the people, and has strong vitality and influence among the people. Since ancient times, popular literature has been regarded by many orthodox scholars as unpretentious "Xialiba people" and discriminated by so-called orthodox scholars and elite culture. But the undeniable fact is that "Xialiba people" have more vitality and influence than "Yangchun Baixue". Because it comes from the "grassroots class", it has the support and support of the largest proportion of people in society. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms and Water Margin, which have now become literary masterpieces, were all "Xialiba people" at the beginning of their publication, that is, popular literature.
What is a literary masterpiece? "masterpiece" has two meanings: 1. The author is a celebrity. The works written by ordinary people cannot be called masterpieces; 2. The works have been tested for a long time, generations or even dozens of generations. A literary work that lasts for a long time and still exudes unique charm after many years can be called a masterpiece. These two meanings complement each other and are indispensable.
Popular literature is around us, closest to our lives, best able to cater to the tastes of the public, best able to reflect the joys and sorrows of ordinary people, best able to show people's aesthetics, and best able to reflect a nation's humanistic spirit. Although all popular literature may not become famous works, most famous works are popular literature at the beginning of their birth. In this sense, masterpieces are the spires of the pyramid of popular literature, which make readers fear more than kindness.
After all, people with higher education are a minority, and those who can read literary classics are also a minority. Literary masterpieces have their specific reading groups and expert groups, while popular literature does not. It applies to all classes. Some people have never even read a literary masterpiece in their whole lives, but they may have read many works of popular literature.
We often see people making a cup of tea, holding a book and reading leisurely in their spare time. What book are you reading? Martial arts, romance, detective, science fiction and even comics. This is what most people read in real life.
There is another interesting phenomenon. The influence of literary masterpieces often comes not from the works themselves, but from the popular interpretation of famous works by other art forms. For example, it is the popular art forms such as storytelling, folk art and drama that make classic literary masterpieces such as Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Outlaws of the Marsh, Dream of Red Mansions and The Journey to the West enter thousands of households and get close to ordinary people. Most storytelling, folk art and drama are also part of popular literature.
Popularization is the vitality of literature and the inevitable direction of literature development. Popular literature is more influential than literary masterpieces, which is not only the necessity of their different positioning, but also an indisputable fact proved by history and reality.
Attached:
Counterparty 1: Distinguished guests and other debaters: Hello everyone!
I am glad to have this opportunity to discuss who has the greatest influence on literary masterpieces and popular literature. Our view is that the influence of literary masterpieces is greater than that of popular literature.
First of all, we need to know what a literary masterpiece is. The so-called literary masterpieces are also "classic events and immortal events". After years of vicissitudes, it is still shining, and it is still charming after storms, just like old wine, the older it is, the purer it is; Another example is emerald pearls, which have been passed down from generation to generation. Literary masterpieces are a mirror for us to understand the past and history. It condenses the wisdom of the past and the fashion of the old year; Carve the rings of history, the scars of years. Just like fossils handed down from ancient times, they tell us the ancient secrets hidden in them. Literary masterpieces have created the greatness and glory of an era, just like the ancient Greek civilization and Renaissance, as well as the contending times in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period and the brilliant Victorian era in Britain. Literary masterpieces, with their shocking power beyond time and space, have influenced our human civilization for thousands of years.
Secondly, the influence of literary masterpieces is "sneaking into the night with the wind, moistening things silently." In the development of human society, literary masterpieces have penetrated into the profound cultural environment. Literary masterpieces construct and influence the cultural atmosphere and air in which we live, and affect our every move. Although his power is intangible, it is like countless streams and gullies, providing inexhaustible gurgling springs for the rivers of human civilization. Just like the Confucian classic Analects, many people may not have read it in person, but their thoughts are deeply influenced by it. The ideological content of The Analects of Confucius has long been integrated into the blood of our nation, submerged in our lives and cast in our national character. In this profound cultural atmosphere, we feel that what flows in our hearts is a long cultural river with thousands of years of history.
Secondly, what we emphasize today is the profound influence of famous works on history, society and mankind, which is incomparable to popular literature in depth, breadth and duration. Here, in today's impetuous and noisy cultural and industrial era, we advocate a positive value orientation. We should not get lost in the overwhelming consumer culture, nor should we give up the once admirable sense of humanitarian responsibility and mission. However, it may be difficult to see the shocking era from the day when literary masterpieces came into being; Or cause the shock of the times, sweep the literary world, and finally make a classic. It always brings us inner purity and nobleness, and triggers our ultimate concern for society and profound experience of life. The cultural power it carries will never change. Even if we can do anything in the future, we can't do without the light of human civilization and our beautiful memories and pure dreams.
Literary masterpieces draw on the literary essence of ancient and modern China and the West, and absorb the essence of heaven, earth, sun and moon! We thank classics, call for classics, advocate classics and love classics.
We are convinced that literary masterpieces have a far-reaching influence on history, society and mankind. The value of famous books lies in the edification of model language, the nourishment of soul and the ultimate concern for human spirit. Literary masterpieces are more influential than popular literature!
Thank you for your wonderful speech. Let us welcome the second debate:
Zhengge: Distinguished guests, debaters and hosts,
Hello everyone!
In our previous debate with each other, we have put forward a point. From the speech, we can easily see that the other party is eloquent and poetic, but what is the content? It is empty, one-sided and dogmatic. Our side gives the definitions of literature, popular literature and famous works in detail, while the other side only expounds what is a famous work, which is not complete. The most exaggerated thing is that the other side infinitely magnifies the role of famous works, to the point where it is hard to see. It seems that without masterpieces, society will not develop and mankind will not progress. This is an absurd assertion, which does not conform to the general law of things. We can't help but ask: in the era when literature has not yet come into being, will society not progress and will mankind remain stagnant?
We never deny the influence of literary masterpieces on each of us, but this influence has not played a decisive role in our social development and human progress. Even the whole literary category can't replace sunshine, air, water and food. Literature only affects our spiritual field, enriches our thoughts, cultivates our sentiments and makes our lives more colorful.
So, in our spiritual field, is popular literature or famous works more influential?
Popular literature, of course!
The whole literary category is like a pyramid. Popular literature is the heavy cornerstone below, occupying the main body and supporting the pyramid, while masterpieces are the spires of the pyramid. Without the accumulation of countless popular literature, where can there be literary masterpieces? The influence of popular literature can be said to be "sneaking into the night with the wind, moistening things silently." From quantitative change to qualitative change, this is the general law of the development of objective things. Don't even famous writers and great writers "write like a god" after "reading thousands of books"?
For us ordinary readers, it is the main body of this pyramid, not the spire. After all, the spire is too high for ordinary people to reach. Many people read famous books, but how many can really read them? Bring me a complete book of Shakespeare. Can you understand its essence? Can you see how much this affects you?
To sum up, there is popular literature first, and then there are literary masterpieces. Popular literature is a vast universe, and masterpieces are stars in the universe. The influence of popular literature on us is universal and extensive, while the influence of famous books on us is limited and improved. So we think that the influence of popular literature is greater than that of literary masterpieces!
Thank you for your wonderful speech. Let's invite the other contestant to speak:
Counterparty 2: Ladies and gentlemen, opposing debater: Hello!
Our point of view is that the influence of literary masterpieces is greater than that of popular literature, provided that we do not deny the role of popular literature, nor do we intend to amplify the role of masterpieces, let alone absolutize them. We just say that the influence of literary masterpieces is greater than that of popular literature, and then tell each other clearly.
Literary masterpieces are the essence of culture, which have stood the test of vicissitudes and are the precious spiritual wealth of all mankind. I'm glad everyone has no objection to this. But the statement that "the works written by ordinary people cannot be called masterpieces" is completely wrong. It can be said that anyone's work, as long as it is excellent, can become a masterpiece! The phrase "Go home and be afraid to blame menstruation, steal the golden cup as evidence" can be passed down to this day. We only know that the author is an ordinary woman who steals cups, not to mention the works of the "Wind" Department of the Book of Songs.
Another debater thinks that popular literature "can best reflect the humanistic spirit of a nation." We beg to differ. As we all know, popular literature is difficult to be elegant. It is far-fetched to say that it "best embodies the humanistic spirit of a nation", which is really a national misfortune! Human sorrow!
There is a lesson plan that describes the characteristics of popular literature: first, the content is vulgar; second, the form is simple; third, the effect is rapid.
Its corresponding stratum is mainly the middle and lower classes. Its original forms of expression are folk songs and operas, as well as martial arts romance as the other side said.
To compare the influence, I think it is nothing more than comparing the length and size of its influence in time and space.
Literary masterpieces are the essence of history, and their cultural connotations are universally recognized. Their educational function is like spring breeze and rain, moistening things silently. Although not many people know that the epigram "He who has no long-term worries will have near worries" comes from The Analects of Confucius, its influence can be said to be everywhere. In addition, Confucian classics such as The Analects of Confucius have long gone beyond the limits of national boundaries and have been recognized and recognized by the whole world. Moreover, masterpieces are the accumulation of history, and their vitality is by no means decades, hundreds of years, or even eternal, and they are not affected by regions, nationalities and dynasties. Such influence and infiltration may be infinite in time and space, which is incomparable to non-popular literature.
However, popular literature often has geographical and time limitations, and most of them have strong regional (local) characteristics. At the same time, due to its "vulgar" characteristics, most of popular literature is weak in vitality, and some of them are not as short as Qiu Chan. Of course, it may have a great influence in a certain time and region, but due to the limitation of time and space, its influence is bound to be limited.
Another debater cited an example of Shakespeare's complete works to deny the influence of famous works. First, after all, this is a foreign work, and the study of China people is not as thorough as that of its own people. Secondly, no one dares to say that A Dream of Red Mansions can be thoroughly studied, let alone a complete foreign work (not an independent work). Is it too embarrassing? Third, masterpieces have essences, and how many essences does popular literature have? It can be seen that the opponent's debater gives people the feeling that Mount Tai is the top!
In fact, as far as the word "name" is concerned, the so-called "name" is famous enough and has far-reaching influence, otherwise it is not a masterpiece!
Thank you for your wonderful speech. Let's welcome three positive arguments:
Hello, debaters!
I want to talk about the view that popular literature is more influential than literary masterpieces.
1. Popular literature is popular literature, and popularization is the only way for the development of literature.
Popular literature comes from the lives of ordinary people, expressing their joys and sorrows, and has the widest mass base. Take Liu Heng's "The Happy Life of Rapping Zhang Damin" as an example. The works show the real living state of the grassroots through common people, common things and common sayings, and are deeply loved by readers from all walks of life. It is an excellent popular literary work with great vitality and influence. Ordinary people can understand it, like to watch it, and there is a * * * sound. This is a good literary work with great influence. Popular literature has natural advantages in this respect.
Pushkin said: "Proverbs used to have to be separated from written language, but later they became close, which gave us great power to express our thoughts." Language and writing are the performance tools of literature, and its popularization indicates that literature will take a road of continuous popularization. Popularity is the life of literature. Popular literature is the foundation of literature! Its influence must be greater than that of famous works.
Second, most famous books were popular literature at the beginning of their birth. Popular literature has the advantages of various forms and a large number.
The most important literary form today is the novel. This novel was deeply branded as "popular" at the beginning of its publication. Hanshu? I "Novelists Talk about Streets and Alleys" Lu Xun's A Brief History of Chinese Novels "As for Song Zhiping's words, The Romance of Yuan and Ming Dynasties has been popular among the people since its publication, and its books are very dense, but there is no record in the history books." When novels developed from ancient myths and strange books to take shape, they were despised by orthodoxy. Most literary masterpieces are popular literature when they are born.
When it comes to masterpieces, most of us think of novels, poems, and some political articles, and there are only a handful of them. Popular literature involves almost all literary styles, such as novels, poems, dramas, folk art, fairy tales and fables, ballads, folk proverbs and so on. It has an absolute advantage in quantity, and its influence is of course greater than that of masterpieces.
Third, the discussion of the other side's point of view.
1. I still have some objections to the statement that "all literary masterpieces are the essence of culture". Having a "name" is not necessarily "essence". Mein Kampf is famous enough, but it is a tool of Nazi spiritual rule and a complete cultural rubbish!
2. I'm glad that the other party mentioned the "wind" part in the Book of Songs. Isn't folk song the representative of popular literature?
3. "As we all know, popular literature is difficult to be elegant." Is the influence of literary works defined by refined and popular standards?
4. The Analects of Confucius mentioned by the other party is a work that Confucius disciples recorded the words and deeds of the former teacher. Although saints have confessions of "keeping promises and liking the past", they also have the teaching that "a threesome must have a teacher". A saint is a fickle teacher and is not ashamed to ask questions. My eyes are always down when I study. Popular literature also has a great influence on "saints"!
5. "Because of its' vulgar' characteristics, popular literature is mostly weak in vitality, and some have a short dissemination time, such as Qiu Chan." Many literary masterpieces have also been lost! Take the Warring States Policy as an example. There were 33 articles when it was written, but 1 1 was lost in the Northern Song Dynasty, which was supplemented by Ceng Gong. And this book is mostly forged by later generations! Some famous books are known only by their "names", but not by their books. Who has seen the Three Graves and Five Classics?
We don't deny that masterpieces are works that can stand the test of history, but it is also undeniable that
The Analects of Confucius is a work written by Confucius disciples to record the words and deeds of their predecessors. Although saints have confessions of "keeping promises and liking the past", they also have the teaching that "a threesome must have a teacher". A saint is a fickle teacher and is not ashamed to ask questions. My eyes are always down when I study. Popular literature also has a great influence on "saints"!
PS:
In addition, there is a video of this debate on Tudou. You can find it yourself.
(09 HKUST Debate Semifinal, Game 2) Is popular literature or literary classics the most influential?