Film and Television Works: The Captivity of Happiness and the Metaphor of the Era

——“思想史万有引力”

In recent years, Chinese New Year films have often been saturated with themes of happiness and inspiration. From weight-loss competitions to elderly romances, each production seems to embody the archetype of a dominant CEO, holding you by the throat against a wall, gently asking whether you're happy. If not, they invent a form of happiness to make you feel content. This captive happiness has become a metaphor of the era, crafting dreamlike self-gratification through dazzling visuals, refined dialogue, and crafted humor.

These productions grasp the psyche of the masses, keenly touching upon audience pain points, and uncovering resonances difficult to articulate. Though motivated by profit, they wear kindly smiles, standing as unreplicable accidents, earnestly teaching us what love and happiness truly are.

However, as time progresses, people instinctively recoil from this ubiquitous inspiration and happiness. They yearn for films that diverge from the mainstream, seeking to alleviate their ennui. The sly and banal nature of film and television works leaves many feeling increasingly fatigued.

Film and television works have undergone two phases of transformation: one centered around collectivism before the 1990s, emphasizing collective narratives and national class states, and the other from the 1990s to the present, characterized by individual expression replacing collective expression, with productions shifting towards farce and banality.

Yet, this deconstruction is incomplete, as the pursuit of quick gains precludes thorough examination. Productions lack scrutiny of complex issues, attributing societal tragedies solely to individuals and neglecting genuine problems.

While commercial success is paramount, film and television works struggle to attain artistic integrity. While they overflow with eye-catching happiness and blushing joy, they lack true depth and meaning. Despite their inner turmoil, they seek to teach happiness while avoiding confronting issues, ultimately leading to a fear of critical thinking.

What people truly need is not just entertainment, but an understanding and examination of the real world. Thus, film and television works must delve deeper into human nature, presenting more authentic and profound stories rather than simply pursuing happiness and satisfaction.