These five characters are written on the blackboard.
Zhang Zhong stood on the podium and asked with a smile, "What do you think of when you see these five words?"
The students had different expressions. Zhang Zhong continued, "Let me ask you a question first. Should the author have readers in mind? Those who think so raise their hands."
Some people raised their hands.
"Those who think it shouldn't do so raise their hands."
Another group of people raised their hands, but the number of people who raised their hands twice was far less than half. Comparing the two, there were more people who felt that it should be done.
Zhang Chong said with a smile, "It seems that there are still many people who haven't thought about it well. Let me elaborate on this issue again. Do you think that literature and art only express the author himself, or do you think that readers should get the emotions and thoughts that the author wants to express from this expression?
Come on, raise your hands if you think you should."
"Raise your hands if you feel it shouldn't be done."
This time even fewer raised their hands.
"It seems that after I explained it once, you have no answer in your mind. This classmate, if I remember correctly, you raised your hand twice and felt that you should not consider readers, right?"
The person who was called was a female classmate. She stood up unconsciously and said, "Yes, teacher."
"Then can you tell me why you think so?" Zhang Zhong asked.
The female student thought for a while and said, "I have read Lawrence's theory before. He said 'art for myself'. I think a writer can only retain his creative impulse by putting others aside. Art is expression, and expression is
Intuition, intuition is the simple comprehensive application of the mind where emotion and image intersect to produce concrete new life.”
She said Lawrence, and there were some whispers below.
Zhang Zhong frowned, knowing why other students behaved like this.
Most people are rarely willing to talk about Lawrence in public, especially girls, because Lawrence's works have always been very straightforward and unabashed.
Many of his works contain very explicit descriptions of sex.
A British court once opened a case for "obscenity" due to the sexually explicit description of "Lady Chatterley's Lover".
Seeing the behavior of other students, Zhang Zhong decided to change the subject.
Let’s change the topic first. I want to ask everyone, what attitude should we use when evaluating a literary work?”
One student raised his hand and said, "Teacher, I think evaluating a work is the same as evaluating a person. We should be value-neutral."
"Value neutral." Zhang Zhong smiled, "It's a term often heard in the field of psychology. So I would like to ask how it can be considered value neutral."
"After determining the research object, we must give up any subjective values and observe and analyze strictly with an objective and neutral attitude, so as to ensure the objectivity and scientific nature of the research." The student replied.
Since the student mentioned a word often used in psychological counseling, Zhang Zhong continued, "Then how can we achieve value neutrality?"
This question is a bit big, and the students couldn't answer it at the moment.
Zhang Zhong continued, "Now, if there is a man who is carefree, for example, this person is me. I am a married man. My wife and I have been together for several years, but now I am more and more interested in my wife.
I have no feelings. I recently met a young girl. I want to divorce my wife and marry this girl. Do you think I am right?"
Many students shook their heads.
"It seems that many people don't agree with my approach, so do you hope that I will still be with my wife?"
Some students nodded.
"Okay, now let's change the perspective. If my wife is your sister, and your sister is a carefree man like me, then do you still want me to continue to be with your sister?"
The students who had nodded just now were suddenly at a loss. Yes, if their sister married such a scumbag, I would definitely hope that they could break up.
But when things happen to others, why do you think men should return to their families?
Just now they even felt that they were doing the original wife a favor by letting this man return to the family.
"I'm not saying that value neutrality is bad, I just want to tell you that value neutrality is not a simple term. We are all human beings and have our own experiences and feelings. So I hope that when you look at literary works in the future, you can look at them from different perspectives.
Starting from the perspective of others. This different perspective is not about techniques and content, but allows you to watch from different perspectives. Don’t be blinded by your own experience, otherwise experience will become a cage that traps you. Okay, let’s put this question aside for now
Next, let’s talk about authors and readers.”
…
After the morning class, Zhang Zhong drove home and received a call from Wang Kewang on the way.
"Zhang Zhong, I have a heartfelt request." Wang Kewang's tone was a little embarrassed.
"Let's not be so polite, let's just say what you have to say."
"Well, our "Poetry" is going to hold a poetry conference. You know this. Inspired by your poem, I want to set the theme of the poetry conference as 'time', and I want to put your poem on it.
It’s in the theme brochure of the conference, I wonder if you would like it.” Wang Kewang expressed his thoughts.
Zhang Chong smiled and said, "Is that all? Since this poem has been given to you, you can just decide what to do. There is no need to ask me."
"So, you agree?"
"Agreed."
"Then I'll thank you on the phone first, and then I'll thank you in person later."
"Come on, I haven't thanked you for booking the box before."
"That's just a way to raise your hands, it's not the way."
"Okay, we don't need to thank you anymore. I'm driving here, so I won't talk to you anymore."
"Well, you can drive."
…
After hanging up the phone, Wang Kewang let out a long sigh of relief. Now that Zhang Zhong has joined, the poetry conference will be easier to handle.
He took a photo of Zhang Zhong's poem with his mobile phone and sent it to deputy editor Er Shan.
Ershan immediately called after receiving the photo, "Editor Wang, what is this photo?"
"A poem is the theme of this poetry conference."
"This...I don't know much about cursive writing." Ershan meant that he couldn't understand what the poem said.
"I never saw the ancients before me, and never saw the newcomers after me. I thought about the long journey of heaven and earth, and cried with sadness." Wang Kewang read the poem to Ershan.
After a long while, Ershan spoke again, "What a poem! Editor Wang, your poem is sad, melodious, and catchy. It is definitely a masterpiece of the time. No, not of the time. Even in ancient times, it was rare.