Reference News Network, November 17 report: The Hong Kong South China Morning Post website published an article titled "Why China's Grassroots Culture May Finally Step into the Global Spotlight" on November 16. The author is Zhuang Siwei. The following is a compilation of the article:
In a small town in the U.S. Midwest, 47-year-old veteran Natalie Haber enjoys immersing herself in the world depicted by Chinese fantasy stories at night.
Haber has never been to China, yet few people can tell Chinese mythological stories as vividly as she does.
For Haber and many others who have connected with Chinese culture, the Internet and social media have become a window to understand the lives of people on the other side of the globe.
In recent years, the popularity of various types of Chinese cultural works has increased overseas.
Electronic games such as "Black Myth: Wukong," based on the legend of "the Monkey King," and movies like "Ne Zha 2," which also draw from Chinese mythology, have achieved impressive commercial success abroad.
Observers say that the enhancement of China's soft power is largely due to the vitality of grassroots cultural creation. These works not only present diverse perspectives on contemporary Chinese society but also allow the outside world to understand the lives of ordinary Chinese people.
Many Chinese online cultural creations (from web novels to fantasy animations) are also spreading globally. This trend is driven by the development of digital platforms and the improved efficiency of translation tools.
A report states that there are about 200 million active users of Chinese online literature overseas. The report says that most of these readers live in Asia and North America, while the number of readers in Europe and Latin America is constantly growing.
The report mentions that cultivation-themed works have gained widespread popularity in North America. These novels draw inspiration from Chinese mythology, traditional religions, and martial arts, typically telling stories of immortal heroes.
Professor Wang Shouren from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Nanjing University said, "Taking Chinese fantasy novels as an example, they integrate elements of Chinese traditional culture, Western culture, and future visions, and have the potential to inspire and lead global trends."
The Chinese government has always encouraged film and television and video game producers to promote their works overseas. The latest five-year plan further strengthens this message, stating: "Comprehensively enhance international discourse power, tell good Chinese stories, and showcase a credible, lovable, and respectable image of China." (Translation/朱捷)
Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7573523864517378614/
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