介绍:
French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre once said: "Hell is other people".
According to Sartre, mankind is born free, but the values and expectations of others limit our freedom and even affect our own judgment and definition of ourselves.
But through his latest book, "Lives of Others", known in Chinese as "Bie Ren De Sheng Huo", budding writer Liu Ting has proved that the relation between oneself and others may not be that case.
Lets go to Xiong Siqi for more.
Reporter:
From the ancient Greek aphorism "know thyself" inscribed at the Temple of Apollo three millennia ago, to the discussion about human nature raised by German philosopher Kant, mankind has never ceased exploring itself. How to understand and develop self-awareness remains a key issue for modern philosophers.
In the eyes of Liu Ting, the runner-up at the 39th Hong Kong Youth Literary Award, the only way to identfy one's self is to recognize others.
"Just like the story of 'the blind men and the elephant' implies, our self-knowledge is usually limited. We know ourselves only by comparing with other people. "
In his latest work, "Lives of Others", or "Bie Ren De Sheng Huo" in Chinese, Liu presents 16 essays. Through trenchant and careful observation, the writer pens down seemingly negligible trifles and conversations of mundane life. Flipping through the pages, readers experience the anxiety and frustration of migrant workers, witness the prejudice of urbanites against subway entertainers, and realize the helplessness and resiliency of ordinary people when they are vulnerable to disease.
No matter whether it's a friend who suggests kissing up to someone in order to achieve a promotion, or rural youth eagerly seizing an opportunity to change their fate, the words and deeds of various people inside the book may give readers a strong sense of deja vu. Love, bewilderment, struggle and loneliness are delineated incisively and vividly, which easily strikes a chord amongst readers. Although the collection is entitled "Lives of Others", readers could also view it as a vicarious record of their own lives.
However, the book is not a chronicle of day-to-day happenings.
"I don't want my work appear unimportant. Of course, I could write in a light and graceful style, but the content of my collection is not blank; otherwise it would fail to touch readers. "
With chapters such as "How to explain the world", "What is soul?" and "Individual utopia", the author throws out questions that have bothered him for a long time. Even though the titles all sound abstract and obtuse, the collection is trying to discuss many practical social issues, such as resource allocation in healthcare and social equity.
Liu Ting says.
"I think the existence of questions has two meanings. First, they help us to solve problems, and secondly, they nurture discussion. Only when you raise a question can people start to be aware of certain problems. "
However, with a detached attitude, the writer claims that he has no intension to peddle any explicit concepts or value orientations.
"In my opinion, I wrote genuinely. I was pretty humble in terms of my position and attitude. Inside the book, I didn't set moral standards or make value judgments. But I was trying to advocate a positive and a poetic lifestyle. Although I didn't criticize nor preach, alert readers will realize what kind of outlook on life is worth pursuing. "
When talking about what makes a good book, award-winning writer Jiang Yitan praises Liu's efforts.
"In this day and age, we are not short of books. So, if there is a book that I can read through from the beginning to end, then it is a good one. In addition, if a book can stimulate at least 30 scenes in my head, I'll consider it to be a good read as well. Liu Ting's essay collection is up to par. The book title 'Lives of Others' is so well-chosen. On one hand, our values are embodied by others; on the other hand, we are all repeating the lives of others."
For Studio Plus, this is Xiong Siqi.
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