Hot Spots Observation • Reflections on the Phenomenon of “Blockbusters in Literary and Artistic Creation”

■ The Alienation of the Literary and Artistic Ecosystem under the Logic of Traffic and the Way Out via Digital Humanities(Jin Yuanpu)

Abstract: In the current era, marked by the continued intensification of the attention economy and the high visibility of online sentiment, the channels of dissemination and media forms of literary and artistic creation are undergoing significant changes, profoundly influencing the fundamental mindsets underlying both artistic creation and its evaluation. In order to gain exposure within an increasingly overcrowded information landscape, content production is increasingly subjected to persistent pressure from traffic-allocation mechanisms. As a result, the logic of creation — originally centered on aesthetic judgment and the expression of thought — has increasingly shifted toward an operational model focused on click-through rates, repost volumes, and platform algorithms. Against this backdrop, a series of issues has gradually come to light: the environment of information distribution constructed by algorithms tends to render aesthetic experience increasingly homogeneous through constant repetition and reinforcement. Meanwhile, the tendency toward homogenization has become more evident at both the production and reception ends of literary and artistic creation. To address the widespread issues of “traffic anxiety” and the blurring of value judgments in today’s literary and artistic ecosystem, we should response should be formulated from the perspective of digital humanities.

Keywords: attention economy, algorithmic recommendation, literary and artistic ecosystem, digital humanities

■ A Critique of the “Blockbuster Obsession” in Contemporary Chinese Literary and Artistic Creation(He Wei)

Abstract: In the context of the integration of networked public communication and intelligent algorithms, literary and artistic creation is facing severe challenges of “traffic supremacy”. A “blockbuster” was originally a market outcome of quality literary and artistic works, yet it has now been alienated as a presupposed goal of creation. The “blockbuster obsession” oriented toward manufacturing hits has resulted in the alienation of literary and artistic production and communication, characterized by such pathological symptoms as stereotyped repetition of themes and plots, the crude piling and splicing of high-traffic elements, formulized and fragmented narration, as well as data fraud and vulgarization in marketing. The blockbuster obsession arises from the combined effects of economic factors, technological conditions, creative subjectivity and audience psychology within a specific socio-historical context. To break through this obsession, a balance must be struck between the artistry and communicative reach of works. Literary and artistic creators should uphold their artistic integrity, the public should enhance their media literacy and aesthetic standards, and a diversified and optimized evaluation system should be established.

Keywords: literary and artistic creation, blockbuster, online traffic, algorithmic discipline, attention commodity, cultural industry

■ Manufacturing “Blockbuster”: Data-Control Practices in the Digital Era’s Cultural Market(Zhao Lijin)

Abstract: In recent years, the phenomenon of “blockbuster” (bao kuan)has emerged as a new trendsetter for cultural production and market evaluation. This phenomenon reflects a profound reconstruction of artistic ecosystem and appraisal systems driven by social trends towards datafication and quantification. Taking the “blockbuster” phenomenon as an entry point, this article argues that the “blockbuster”, validated through platform-based data systems, is not only a demand of market development, but more fundamentally, functions as a strategy of quantification and control over cultural activities within the context of an information-controlled society. On this basis, the article further reflects on the far-reaching impact of data control on cultural production and evaluative systems, as well as the potential problems embedded in technological practices shaped by data-driven logic and the “computational turn.”

Keywords: cultural blockbusters, market strategy, data-control, platform algorithms

■ The Causes, Risks, and Breakthroughs of “Alienated Blockbusters” in the Era of Traffic(Lin Dihuan)

Abstract: Within the context of the traffic economy, the concept of the “blockbuster” has become deeply intertwined with traffic logic, giving rise to what may be termed the alienated blockbuster. Its emergence results from the combined effects of traffic monetization, algorithmic discipline, and the erosion of creative barriers, rather than being the responsibility of any single creator. Alienated blockbusters can damage the industrial ecosystem, weaken society’s capacity for critical thinking, intensify group antagonism, and increase the costs of social governance. Yet blockbusters and traffic themselves also possess positive value. It is therefore necessary to distinguish high-quality blockbusters from alienated ones. By mobilizing efforts across three key aspects —content creators, digital platforms, and society at large — we can rebuild the core value of content, resolve the dilemma of alienation, and achieve a virtuous cycle between content and traffic.

Keywords: traffic, alienated blockbusters, dissemination risks, content value

■ The Formation and Expression of Prominent Problems in High-Traffic Micro-Dramas (Liu Runkun)

Abstract: Micro-dramas are a new literary and artistic form nurtured by digital-intelligent media. They generate instant emotional gratification through innovative audio-visual experiences, frequently producing viral works and repeatedly breaking viewership records. With strong support of relevant departments, micro-dramas have evolved from the early stage of unregulated growth to a path of high-quality development, featuring increasingly diverse themes, sophisticated production, a maturing industry, and an expanding market, thus becoming a typical paradigm of new popular literature and art in the internet era. Nevertheless, prominent issues still exist in high-traffic micro-dramas, such as aesthetic homogenization, feudal value regression, and emotional commodification. In pursuit of profits, some works create addiction through simplistic aesthetics, distort perceptions via feudal values, and treat extreme emotions as the formula for viral success. The resulting or potential problems — including sensory alienation, ideological misguidance, and the risk of adverse market selection — demand vigilance.To address these problems objectively is essential for more micro-dramas to break free from the constraints of traffic obsession, return to the essence of literature and art, strike a balance between artistic taste, cultural cultivation, and economic benefits, and truly achieve high-quality development that reflects the spirit of the times, conveys mainstream values, and satisfies the public’s spiritual and cultural needs.

Keywords: high-traffic micro-dramas, aesthetics of micro-dramas, value system of micro-dramas, emotional capitalism, platform mechanism

Theoretical Explorations

■ From “Za yishu” (杂艺术类) to the “Aesthetics of Everyday Life”: The Discursive System of Ancient Chinese Art and Its Modern Transformation(Liu Jing)

Abstract: In various categories of ancient Chinese texts, there are records of a group of activities referred to as za yishu (miscellaneous arts), encompassing a wide range of practices, some of which possess the potential for aesthetic interpretation. Characterized by “disinterested use” (xuyong) and oriented toward experiences of self-attunement (zide) and pleasure (le), these activities constitute an important component of the discursive system of ancient Chinese art, and embody the intellectual foundation for the generation of discourses on the artification and aestheticization of everyday life.In the modern period, interpretations of za yishu activities were influenced by the imported concept of fine arts. Early modern scholars reinterpreted certain za yishu practices as non-utilitarian aesthetic activities, distinct from science and craftsmanship. This perspective formed a resonance with subsequent notions of aesthetic utilitarianism, which emphasized the role of emotional experience in the cultivation of moral character, and contributed to defining the “artistic nature” of za yishu activities. Subsequently, the scholarship on the aesthetic dimensions of za yishu has continued to develop along the trajectory of the aesthetics of everyday life, with these practices being interpreted as paradigmatic expressions of the traditional Chinese aesthetic spirit. This has offered inspiration for contemporary scholarship on the discursive system of ancient Chinese art and its modern transformation.

Keywords: za yishu, fine arts, art of beauty, aestheticization of everyday life, the discursive system of Chinese art

■ On Shi Hui’s Theatrical Thought and Advancement of the Exploration into a “National Form” of Theatrical Performance(Zhang Hua)

Abstract: Unlike his contemporaries — such as Zhang Min, Chen Liting, and He Mengfu — who were particularly noted for their achievements in directorial artistry, Shi Hui was an artistic explorer who combined the identities of performer and theorist. His contributions are reflected not only in his distinctive creativity and significant influence he exerted as an outstanding actor, but also in his theatrical thought, marked by strong practical relevance and actionable nature. He attached great importance to the spiritual core of “humanity” in spoken drama creation, and engaged in in-depth discussions of relationships within theatrical practice, including those between actor and audience, and actor and director, as well as the issues of “form” and “character” in character portrayal. He further proposed the theories of “centripetal performance” and “gear-mechanism theater,” explained such performing phenomena as “seizing the initiative head-on” and “acting from the roots,” and advocated that spoken drama should draw upon the artistic essence of traditional Chinese opera. From multiple dimensions, these views both responded to and advanced the spoken drama circle’scontemporary exploration of establishing a distinct “national form” for modern drama.

Keywords: Shi Hui, actor’s creative perspective, holistic view of theatrical performance, exploration of “national forms”

A Probe into Literary and Artistic Creation

■ Dialogicity: A Central Thread in Chen Yongquan’s Dramatic Adaptations and Creations on Lu Xun Themes(Sun Xianke)

Abstract: In Chen Yongquan’s dramatic oeuvre, works centered on “Lu Xun themes” constitute an important component. His decision to take Lu Xun and his fiction as the “source texts” for his “dramatic adaptation and creation stems,” and on the one hand, from Lu Xun’s status as a “super-signifier,” endowed with a vast space of possible signification. On the other hand, it also arises from the affinities between the two figures in personality, temperament, intellectual logic, and aesthetic aspiration. On this basis, Chen Yongquan engaged in a series of profoundcross-temporal dialogues with Lu Xun across such multiple dimensions as intellectual enlightenment, the stylistic transformation between fictional and dramatic forms, and the construction of aesthetic modes. “Dialogicity” is not only a central thread running through his dramatic adaptations and creations on Lu Xun themes, but also the internal logic and intellectual pathway through which readers may approach and understand this body of works.

Keywords: Chen Yongquan, Lu Xun themes, drama, adaptation and creation, dialogicity

Diverse and Extensive Art Phenomena

■ The Main Issues and Optimization Pathways in Recent Theater Creation: From the Perspective of the Three-Year Action Plan for Theater Revitalization (2026–2028)(Mu Hailiang)

Abstract: In recent years, Chinese theater creation has achieved notable successes, but there are also some issues that cannot be ignored. These are mainly reflected in the following aspects: a rushed and utilitarian approach to creation has led to homogenization in themes and styles; narrow-minded and conservative concepts and techniques have resulted in superficial artistic exploration; and a neglect of the essence of theatrical art has caused excessive spectacles in stage presentations. To address these issues, theater creators should uphold the craftsman spirit of “refining a single play over ten years” and fully showcase artistic individuality. Theater administrators should adhere to scientifically sound policy guidance and play a role in aesthetic leadership. The entire theater industry should work together to support the growth of young talents, allowing the art of theater to radiate youthful vitality.The Three-Year Action Plan for Theater Revitalization (2026–2028) makes accurate assessments in this regard and introduces targeted and practical measures, providing practical guidelines for fostering a healthy theatrical ecosystem.

Keywords: theater creation, current issues, development path, policy guidance, theater revitalization

■ A New Examination of the Concept ofAuthenticity in Contemporary Documentary(Zhang Zhaoli)

Abstract: In the context of profound transformations in the philosophy of technology and the media ecology, we are compelled to revisit the fundamental question: “What kind of authenticity do we need in documentaries?” The industrial and technological revolution in documentary filmmaking has not only altered the ways in which the world is recorded but also reshaped the understanding and practice of authenticity in documentaries. Theoretical breakthroughs — from postmodern deconstructions of truth, to redefinitions of subjectivity in posthuman contexts, to deeper revelations of psychological and cognitive mechanisms — have provided richer and more diverse perspectives for understanding the authenticity of documentaries. The perception of authenticity is an innate human need. With innovations in virtual imaging technology, the proliferation of immersive technologies, and the deepening of multisensory integration, our understanding of authenticity is shifting from external reference to internal experience, thereby giving rise to new aesthetic paradigms in documentary filmmaking. Theoretical advances, technological changes, and industrial practices collectively drive the concept of authenticity in contemporary documentaries toward diversity, dynamism, and dialectical thinking.

Keywords:documentary, authenticity, industry, technology, perceptual need

Art Beyond China

■ Filter, Media, and Module: Lothar Ledderose and the Study of Chinese Calligraphy from a Cross-Cultural Perspective(Pang Xiaofei)

Abstract: In the field of Sinology in Germany, Lothar Ledderose is a renowned scholar specializing in the study and interpretation of Chinese calligraphy, having made outstanding contributions to the overseas dissemination and reception of Chinese calligraphy. Throughout his academic career, Lothar Ledderose has demonstrated both a macro-historical perspective on Chinese calligraphy and meticulous empirical analysis, embodying a new paradigm and methodological framework for the study of calligraphy history. This article focuses on analyzing Lothar Ledderose’s unique perspective and approach to Chinese calligraphy, extracting three key terms — “filter” “media” and “module” — to systematically discuss how he examines the developmental trajectory and innovative mechanisms of classical Chinese calligraphy traditions through a “foreign perspective”, objectively revealing its academic value in advancing overseas research on Chinese calligraphy. By critically drawing from the methodological approaches of overseas Sinologists, we can not only expand the problem awareness and research dimensions of domestic academia but also effectively activate the theoretical growth points of the research of Chinese calligraphy history, thereby promoting the complementary and innovative development of research paradigms between China and the West from a cross-cultural perspective.

Keywords: Lothar Ledderose, Chinese calligraphy, cross-cultural studies, medium attributes, modular production

Interview with Renowned Experts

■ From the “Fourth Generation” to the “Academic”: Departure and Guardianship: an Interview with Film Director and Educator Xie Fei(Interviewed by Du Qiaoling)

an Interview with Film Director and Educator Xie Fei

Inside Front Cover

Chinese Literary and Art Critics: Jia Zhenxin

Inside Back Cover

Recommendation of Literary and Art Critics Associations in Sub-Provincial Cities: Chengdu Literary and Art Critics Association

Back Cover

Poster for the “Chinese Taste, Criticism on the Scene” Event