Cultural Creativity Idea and Cultural Confidence

At 19:00 on September 6, 2019, Professor Hu Yu was invited to give a lecture to the SFS). Professor Hu is a doctoral supervisor from School of Journalism and Communication, Tsinghua University (THU) and executive dean of Institute for Culture Creativity, THU. Professor Hu got his bachelor’s degree in economics, master’s degree in journalism and doctor’s degree in law from THU. His research interests include news communication theory and cultural studies. The theme of this lecture was Cultural Creativity Idea and Cultural Confidence.

Professor Hu set forth three aspects---Chinese culture development from the perspective of new human civilization, cultural creativity idea and cultural industry, and taking cultural creativity as the main impetus driving Chinese culture.

First，he pointed out that China’s composite national strength was greatly strengthened after the reform and opening up, but cultural development was lagging behind economic development. That was to say, China’s “going global” was just going global commercially without being recognized culturally. A Spanish journalist wrote in an article, “China is gaining economic development while losing cultural identity”. It will soon become a world power and quietly integrate into the world in some way. However, will a westernized China make the world wealthier or poorer? Facing this kind of problems, Professor Hu thought that we should re-examine the traditional culture and let it shine with new glory.

Then, as of how to treat cultural development, Professor Hu gave his answer from three aspects, including the logic of cultural development, and its national and global significance. In terms of the logic of cultural development, Professor Hu thought that cultural development would go through three stages---cultural awareness, cultural strength and cultural confidence. Only when we realize the charm of traditional culture could we consciously develop and create it, thus become strong and confident. In terms of global significance of cultural development, Professor Hu believed that the world is facing many problems on immigration, environment and terrorism. In the face of these problems, there are two prominent trends: one is to look backward to seek development resources from respective traditions; the other is to look to the East and look for a breakthrough by paying wide attention to the eastern culture.

In the end, Professor Hu spelled out three aspects including the strategic significance, idea and priorities of cultural creativity. He also illustrated the infinite potential of economic development driven by cultural innovation through a large number of vivid examples.

After his speech, Professor Hu enthusiastically interacted with students and answered their questions one by one. At last, he used six words to end the lecture and extend his hope for the students—find your love and pursue excellence.