A Comparative Study Of "Speech" In The Symposium On Literature And Art

Mao Zedong’s Talks at the Yan’an Forum on Literature and Art and Xi Jinping’s Talks at the Beijing Forum on literature and art are the two monuments of theoretical development in two periods of Chinese Marxism. According to Marxism thought on the Literature and Art and China’s national conditions Mao pointed out that literature and art should serve the politics and people. Mao had given a clear solution to "To whom should the literature and art should serve and How to serve them"and make literature and art as a useful way of propaganda and political struggle.In October, 2014 Xi Jinping held Beijing Forum on Literature and Art to introduce a new theory of literature and art for the Reform and Opening. From the new theory, people can enjoy better literature and art. Both of the two forums shed light on the Renaissance of Chinese national literature and art. Regarding development, the theory and idea of Beijing Forum is the descend of Yan’ an Forum. In this paper I shall analyse the key points of the talks of Beijing Forum and Yan’an Forum in a comparative way.The paper starts with general review of the historical background of the two forums. Lack of stable and systematic literature and art policy, the Yan’ an Rectification Movement, the weak points of intellectuals and artists in The Shaanxi-Gansu-Ningxia Border Region alongside with Mao Zedong’s philosophy of Chinese revolution and Chinese Literature and Art contributed to the Talks at Yan’ an Forum on Literature and Art. Globalization, vulgar productions and kitsch, commerciallisation of entertainment are influential key factors concerned with Xi Jinping’s talks. Form the different historical background we can analyses the difference between the two talks.The second part is the analysis of the contents of the two talks.Focusing on the difference of methods, stands,aims as well as the relations between politics and economic factors. Then make a conclusion of the comparison.The third part is the comparison of the methodology of the two talks. Both of the two talks highlight the CPC’s leadership on literature and art, and they share the question-oriented methodology. Mao’s talks emphasise versatility of the methodology while Xi’s talks accord great importance on cultural awareness and public opinion.The fourth part tries to summarise the contemporary significance of the two talks. Here I give a deep analysis on the influence of the two talks on the modernisation of China, Chinese Socialism, core socialist values.