40 years of realistic TV series： keeping close to the pulse of the times and reflecting the people’s voices

Cartography: Cai Huawei

　　From 1978 to 2018, 40 years of reform and opening up. This is a rare era of great changes in the history of China, from the mode of production, lifestyle, values to basic necessities of life, there have been new changes in "modernization". Art is a mirror of reality, and realistic TV series is a vivid and intuitive reflection of this "living" historical image. Looking back on the past 40 years, what kind of development and changes have realistic TV dramas experienced, and what kind of artistic enlightenment have they provided?

　　In the 1980s, the selection of materials was influenced by the trend of reform literature.

　　After the reform and opening up, television has gradually become popular, and television has become a very convenient window for people to receive information, and TV plays have gradually become one of the most common artistic needs. In the 1980s, TV stations integrated production and broadcasting, and TV dramas were mostly self-made and broadcast by TV stations. Almost all TV stations above the provincial level had their own TV drama departments (later changed to production centers and later changed to production companies). In this period, TV communication technology and literature and art just became attached to each other, and the material selection was influenced by the literary trend at that time. The realistic TV series was directly based on novels, and so was the film. The ideological trend of "reforming literature" was the main content of realistic novels at that time. Its main purpose was to think about reality and call for reform, and a large number of works emerged, which attracted much attention from the society. For example, The Appointment of Director Joe, The New Star, The Years Wasted, etc., all these works have produced great social repercussions after being made into TV series. It can be said that the early realistic dramas basically revolved around the idea of "reform and opening up", which was also the main trend of literature and art at that time. As a new art form, TV drama can’t be separated from this main trend of literature and art. This is why the early realistic drama set off a "reform wind" and won the audience for the TV series. Voice-over of female reporter, Basan and her siblings, Snow Field, Love, Ge shopkeeper, There is such a policeman, Fence, Women and Dogs, Ordinary People, Ordinary World, etc.They are all changes that focus on real life.

　　Life flows forward, and "change" is the biggest feature. During this period, the theme of realistic drama was relatively concentrated, people all had good wishes and hoped to create a rich and beautiful life, and the whole society was full of longing for the realization of the "four modernizations" in the future. The realistic dramas in this period are relatively simple and pure. Contradictions and conflicts are often conflicts in ideas and personalities. They struggle with conservative ideas, backward ideas and rigid systems, and break away from the tangible and intangible shackles. When ideas are opened, contradictions are solved, and there is no deeper conflict of interests, which is basically limited to personal quality and morality. In this period, the rational elements of realistic TV series are relatively heavy, and the most prominent feature is sincerity. It undertakes the thinking function of social reform through artistic aesthetic methods, and the "ratings" have not yet appeared, so it is impossible to interfere with the creation of TV series. When people create TV dramas, they are directed at the reflection and reflection of art on reality, and the main purpose is to express.

　　The 1990s witnessed social transformation and colorful life.

　　In the 1990s, with the continuous expansion of reform, the reality became increasingly complex and diverse, and TV dramas reflecting real life also went through that simple period.

　　The appearance of Desire has aroused widespread concern. The plot is full of ups and downs, and multiple contradictions are intertwined. The biggest feature is no longer to focus on reform and counter-reform, but to write the fate of people in this transitional era, and it is also the fate of citizens, which has shaped the vivid images of a generation of urbanites such as Song Dacheng, Liu Huifang, Wang Husheng and Wang Yaru. This also stems from the fact that the tide of reform began in the countryside and gradually spread to the city. With the rural reform, farmers get rid of the bondage of land, the outside world is wonderful, the tide of working quietly rises, and "Foreign Girls" comes. The drama reflects the life of migrant workers in Guangdong, which is a new opportunity, a new life, a new character and a great flavor of the times. Leaving the countryside to work hard, new opportunities have rewritten the fate of many rural youths. The drama has aroused great repercussions because it focuses on the fate of migrant workers for the first time, vividly showing the different fates of young women such as Zhao Xiaoyun, A Fang, Feng Zhen and pretty girls, as well as their uncontrollable love. Rural youth entering the city brings new stories, and urban youth going abroad also brings new stories. Peking Man in new york opens a window to the outside world. The play shows the real American scene through the experience of the protagonist Wang Qiming, which opens the eyes of the audience. Society is becoming more and more diversified, life is becoming more and more complicated, and people are inevitably confused. The Story of the Editorial Department shows the kaleidoscope of society through various things encountered by several editors of the Editorial Department of Human Guide. All kinds of people, strange things and various social topics have gathered in this editorial department, appealing for "A guide to the world. " This drama is the first sitcom in China, and its comedy style and various social phenomena attract the audience. With the diversification of society, new phenomena emerge one after another, which people need to interpret and understand. Society is changing, and the original morality and customs are being impacted by the tide of commodities. Where will society go? The Great Tide, Full of Love in the Pearl River, Black Sophora Tree, Hand in Hand and other works show different realistic scenes, conveying rich life information from rural areas to cities, from home to abroad, and telling a completely different life, which makes the audience dizzying.

　　The reality is changing with each passing day, fresh and unfamiliar, and TV plays are closely chasing the pace of life. The economy is developing, and corruption is also breeding. Works such as Walking through Liuyuan, Heaven is Above, and Snow Without Trace face the anti-corruption problem directly, highlighting the concept of eliminating evil and winning the favor of the audience. At the turn of the century, a number of military realistic dramas, such as Breaking through the encirclement, DA Division and Missile Brigade Commander, focused on military reform, expressed the requirements of the times and called for national spirit, which were loved by the audience. In a word, reality is constantly showing new content in the process of change. TV dramas with realistic themes are almost in sync with life, showing a variety of real life, showing the transformation of society and the beauty of life.

　　In the new century, art should respond to practical problems

　　In the 21st century, the social reality is becoming more and more complicated, the development is unbalanced and inadequate, and different regions, different classes and diverse values have formed a complicated situation of differentiation, so it is impossible for realistic TV dramas to reflect real life as simple as before. In the face of complicated reality, it has become a difficult problem which life phenomena can and can’t be put into play. Most people see light comedies, such as Country Love, Spring of Zhang Xiaowu, Beautiful Times of Daughter-in-law, Golden Marriage, Beijing Love Story, Parents’ Love, Du Lala’s Promotion, Happiness of the Boss, Happy Knocking at the Door, Long Live a Happy Life and Happy Life. These works, just from the name, can feel festive, warm and harmonious. It can be said that a kind of "light comedy" with "entertainment" as its main function has gradually become the production mode of realistic TV series.

　　Light comedy, the story mostly focuses on the relationship between husband and wife in the family, the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, the education of children, the support of the elderly, etc., or between colleagues in the unit, friends and girlfriends, which are often caused by differences in ideas, generation gaps and misunderstandings. After some strong plot conflicts that do not give way to each other, the clouds finally cleared up and ushered in a happy reunion. The light comedy mode has indeed produced some excellent works, giving people a relaxed and pleasant aesthetic feeling. However, "mode" is a limited routine after all, which makes the realistic TV series’ reflection of reality not broad, profound and powerful enough. The enthusiasm and ability of realistic TV dramas to follow real life have weakened, the amount of information provided is far behind the content of reality itself, and the artistic tentacles are dull, which makes the audience’s expectation and attention to realistic TV dramas decrease.

　　In 2014, the General Secretary of the Supreme Leader presided over a symposium on literary and artistic work, pointing out that in terms of literary and artistic creation, "there are ‘ Plateau ’ Lack of ‘ Gaofeng ’ The phenomenon, there are problems of plagiarism, sameness, mechanized production and fast food consumption. " "Mechanized production" and "sameness" are model production. "Without excellent works, other things will be more lively and fancy, which is only superficial. It can’t really go deep into the people’s spiritual world, and it can’t touch people’s souls and resonate with people’s thoughts." This is exactly the case. Any works that can resonate with people’s thoughts will surely be eagerly concerned by the audience.

　　To create a peak, we must overcome difficulties, assume the responsibility of the times that art should bear, and take the initiative to answer practical questions with artistic thinking. This is the proposition of the times, and it is also an artistic answer. The quality of artistic works, in a sense, is reflected in the content of ideological content and the power of art to bear the responsibility of the times.

　　Literature and art not only have the function of entertainment, but also have the responsibility of promoting social progress. "All literary and artistic works that were sensational at that time and passed down to the future reflect the requirements of the times and the aspirations of the people." The realistic TV series has the most reason to adhere to the principle of realistic creation, face reality directly and respond to the times. The mission of the times is the theme of literature and art, especially the theme of realistic literature and art. Whether realistic TV series can achieve great success and lead the trend of literary and artistic creation again lies in whether it can truly and artistically reflect "the requirements of the times and the voice of the people". Literature and art in the new era should be literature and art that closely follows the pulse of the times, responds to the requirements of the times, and reflects the aspirations of the people. It should be literature and art that creates outstanding works worthy of the times and promotes social progress.

　　(Vice Chairman of Zhang Dexiang Chinese Literary Critics Association)