Exclusive interview ｜ Ma Ji: Online literature is the second sailing of contemporary Chinese literature

Text/Yangcheng Evening News all -media reporter Sun Lei

On August 10, "2021 China Online Literature Blue Book" was officially released: more than 270,000 new real -themed works in the country's major literary websites, a year -on -year increase of 27%, the existence of reality theme works exceeded 1.3 million units. warm;

Nearly 220,000 new science fiction works, a year -on -year increase of 23%, and more than 1.1 million science fiction works; more than 220,000 new historical works, an increase of 11%year -on -year, and the existing of historical theme works exceeded 2.3 million units.

In the rapid development, there are also hidden concerns: how to improve quality? How to create a big IP of the world's influence? In response to related topics, Ma Ji, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Literature, China Writing Association, accepted an exclusive interview with Yangcheng Evening News ——

The original text was published on August 14, 2022 "Yangcheng Evening News" A6 wide -angle version

Why do the subjects of reality and science fiction have increased rapidly

Yangcheng Evening News: "2021 China Online Literature Blue Book" pointed out that in 2021, more than 270,000 new real -themed works were added to the national major literary websites, a year -on -year increase of 27%. Why are the proportion of practical themes so much?

Ma Ji: First of all, the leadership of national policies requires online literature creation to pay attention to reality. The reality mainly refers to changes in national aspects in the past forty years of reform and opening up. Literature has always been from reality. Whether it can write the actual subject matter is about whether online literature can produce boutiques.

In response to the country's policies, many online writers have joined the creation of realistic themes, and their own writing is also a kind of exercise. At the same time, the website also actively cooperates to encourage authors to write reality through various forms to increase support for realistic themes.

In addition to policy -oriented, the online literature industry itself also needs to develop in the direction of mainstreamization. From the perspective of theoretical research, the so -called mainstreamization is to enter the college research field. At present, academic research is more concerned about practical themes. In addition, the actual subject matter has been available in online literature very early, such as workplace, youth, and campus. In recent years, there have been themes such as support and poverty alleviation.

More importantly, after so many years of development in online literature, it has gradually found its own development path. In the past, the edge of reality themes was because of its low commercial value and low IP conversion. In recent years, especially since 2014, a large number of outstanding works have emerged in realistic themes. Many works have been adapted into film and television dramas, and their commercial value has also been affirmed.

Yangcheng Evening News: In addition to the actual subject matter, the proportion of online literature ranks second is science fiction.

Ma Ji: Internet science fiction has always been there, and the growth rate was relatively slow. The most famous is Liu Cixin's "Three Body", but this is also between online literature and traditional literature. In recent years, with the improvement of the overall national strength and the development of science and technology, science fiction novels have also emerged, which is in line with China's development status. Today we really need to pay attention to the propositions that humans care together and explore the future of the universe and human beings.

Liu Cixin's writing has increased the influence of Chinese science fiction in the world, but in my opinion, the online science fiction is still in its infancy, and it has not reached a good level. There is no excellent work that can be compared with it on the Internet. In particular, hard science fiction needs to be combined with rigorous scientific knowledge and deep literary literacy, which is a very test of writer skills.

However, online science fiction has great development potential, has high commercial value, and is suitable for the creation of IP. In addition, the country also supports the development of online science fiction themes. In addition to fantasy novels, it pays more attention to science fiction novels that combine with reality to present our current science and technology level, deepen readers' cognition of science, and do not stay in "one punch punch. Blasting a planet "such a simple and rude stage.

The hope of Chinese online literature is in "generation Z"

Yangcheng Evening News: What is the difference between online literature created by "Gen Z"?

Ma Ji: "Gen Z" mainly refers to the generation of the post -95s. They are the "aboriginal people" of the Internet and a pure "Internet generation". They already have a considerable number of writers in the field of online literature, and their entire growth process is accompanied by the Internet, so creative networking characteristics are even more prominent.

The second is internationalization. Many of the young authors of this group have experienced overseas experience. The Internet also opened the window to the world for them. It is also wider, and the works written can be more integrated into the tide of international culture.

The future hope of Chinese online literature is on them, because they are completely standing at the height of modern civilization and standing on the shoulders of several generations of Chinese online writers to see the world. After so many years of development, Chinese online literature has a large number of successful works. The younger generation can innovate on this basis. Moreover, they not only understand the trend of popular culture, but also the spread and construction of cultural IP.

However, this generation is still in the launching stage, and online literature still lacks works that are highly synchronized with the times. Therefore, this generation of young writers has their own mission. They must learn from traditional online writers and actively innovate. There is a long way to go ahead.

Yangcheng Evening News: According to the report, last year's online literature IP adaptation results are bright. In your opinion, what issues should be paid attention to in IP adaptation? Ma Ji: Online literature works and anime film and television works are two different artworks, and they should respect each other. Film and television dramas have their own logical system, and online literature also has its own running laws. Moreover, the reorganization is relatively wide, and the operating cost is higher and more difficult.

Online literature IP is actually a cross -art door product. After the adaptation, it will definitely be different from the original. Many people say that after the adaptation, it is separated from the original work, but sometimes it is not separated from the rules of film and television drama.

The creation of online literature IP is actually the basic driving force in the field of Internet literature and art. The commercial value of online literature breeding may be only tens of billions, but the commercial value it can drive is often as high as hundreds of billions. Therefore, in the process of incubation network literature IP, we must try to launch high -quality cultural brands as much as possible. This brand can surpass the original work, and at the same time, we can retain the most valuable part of the original work and minimize loss in the process of transformation.

Go to the world's market decisive battle

Yangcheng Evening News: "Netwen to the sea" has become a consensus. In your opinion, why does Chinese online literature become popular overseas and how will it further develop in the future?

Ma Ji: After the reform and opening up, it was the first sailing of contemporary Chinese literature. The first generation of writers on behalf of the first generation of writers to the world is well known to readers of the world. Online literature is the second setting of Chinese contemporary literature. Its main task is to spread Chinese culture.

Many of the first -generation writers who went to sea did not understand English, and they did not have awareness of overseas communication. The means of communication and spreads were limited. The writing of online literary writers relies on the Internet. The Internet was originally an international platform, and has natural communication advantages.

This popularity is not only related to the development of Chinese online literature, but more importantly, the West also has the reading needs and soil of online literature. Since the 1980s, western elite literature and popular literature have trended in a combination. The popularity of writers such as Haruki and Dan Brown, Murakami, and Dan Brown are inseparable from this trend. And China's online literature meets the needs of the public.

Yangcheng Evening News: If you want to better spread the image of China and tell the story of Chinese, do you still have a long way to go?

Ma Ji: The reader's reading aesthetic level is constantly improving, the quality of online literature also needs to be continuously improved, and the quality of online literature is imminent. In particular, online literature transmission needs to improve the compatibility of its artistic level and cultural symbols. This cultural symbol must not only meet the aesthetic habits of the Chinese, but also meet the cultural context of the West. This is a running -in process.

Chinese online literature has been practicing in the country in the past two decades. Now it is going to go to the market in the world. Whether your work can become a big IP depends on whether you can make a lot of light in the English world.

Source | Yangcheng Evening News • Yangcheng School

Responsible editor | Wu Xiaopan

School Division | Li Hongyu

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