CCTV Discovery. 5

Author: Xue Jijun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: What does "Journey of Discovery" hope to bring to the audience? What have the creators gained from this journey of discovery? The answer is not immediate. A brand-new program format must go through stages of creation, growth, and maturity. Therefore, the positioning and target audience of the program, including its presentation methods and unique personality that distinguishes it from similar programs, are all gradually clarified through exploration. For young creators of the program, as a popular saying goes in society, they naturally hope to satisfy themselves while contributing to others. If this can be achieved, it can become a passionate and fulfilling era. In fact, these are the inner thoughts of the program's creators, rarely shared openly. As mentioned earlier, the creation of the program was also a trial-and-error process, but it did not mean that there was no original concept from the beginning. To better explain "Journey of Discovery," it is necessary to first discuss what we did not want the program to be like. First, the program is not a traditional science and education documentary; it cannot plunge headfirst into the ocean of knowledge and lose itself. Second, it is not an elite documentary; it does not blindly follow sensational statements. This is indeed too risky. Finally, it is certainly not a news-style documentary; it is superficial and lacks depth. So, what kind of program is "Journey of Discovery"? Or, where does its value lie?
First and foremost, a program should realize its artistic value. Compared to other programs, "Journey of Discovery" has very distinct characteristics. Its appeal lies in its emphasis on storytelling. It starts with a story, then explores the connections between events, and finally presents the scientific key to solving the mystery. Here, knowledge is pushed into the background, with stories driving the knowledge and science integrated into the plot to achieve the goal of education through entertainment. This entertaining creative approach is not our invention, but we were indeed pioneers in science programs in China.
Second, the media value of the program. A good program, one with artistic value, must inevitably fulfill the roles of education and promotion. Education and promotion can take various forms—shouting from the rooftops, expressing oneself directly, or calmly and objectively disseminating the spirit of science. We chose the latter.
Third, the social value of the program. At this level, it primarily reflects a cognitive value. Science itself is a clear and distinct attitude—separating truth from falsehood, seeking truth, being pragmatic, and being realistic. By subtly immersing the audience in the spirit and attitude of science, social value is naturally achieved. And I believe this is precisely what is missing in our national spirit today.
"Journey of Discovery" is the only science exploration documentary program on China Central Television (CCTV). It examines the progress of human civilization from a scientific perspective and pursues the truth with a spirit of discovery. Four years after its launch, it gained widespread popularity from the audience and was hailed as "China's Discovery." Compared to other programs, "Journey of Discovery" has very distinct characteristics. Its appeal lies in its emphasis on storytelling. It starts with a story, then explores the connections between events, and finally presents the scientific key to solving the mystery. Here, knowledge is pushed into the background, with stories driving the knowledge and science integrated into the plot to achieve the goal of education through entertainment. This entertaining creative approach is not our invention, but we were indeed pioneers in science programs in China.
Second, the media value of the program. A good program, one with artistic value, must inevitably fulfill the roles of education and promotion. Education and promotion can take various forms—shouting from the rooftops, expressing oneself directly, or calmly and objectively disseminating the spirit of science. We chose the latter.
Third, the social value of the program. At this level, it primarily reflects a cognitive value. Science itself is a clear and distinct attitude—separating truth from falsehood, seeking truth, being pragmatic, and being realistic. By subtly immersing the audience in the spirit and attitude of science, social value is naturally achieved. And I believe this is precisely what is missing in our national spirit today.
"Journey of Discovery" is the only science exploration documentary program on China Central Television (CCTV). It examines the progress of human civilization from a scientific perspective and pursues the truth with a spirit of discovery. Four years after its launch, it gained widespread popularity from the audience and was hailed as "China's Discovery."
"Journey of Discovery" will take readers on a journey of scientific revelation and mystery-solving. It pushes aside the layers of fog in various fields such as archaeology, biology, architecture, medicine, and geography. This series of books uses a suspenseful storytelling style to showcase the process of unraveling mysteries, revealing the wonders of the world through a scientific attitude and perspective. Each chapter begins with a story, then explores the connections between events, and finally presents the scientific key to solving the mystery. Knowledge is pushed into the background, suspense triggers the readers, stories introduce the knowledge, and science is integrated into the plot.
One of the key features of "Journey of Discovery" is the consistent integration of suspense and entertainment. While calmly and objectively digging deeper into the scientific meaning behind the surface, it allows readers to truly experience the charm of discovery, feel the rigor of exploring the unknown, and enjoy the pleasure of reading. Various types of knowledge are integrated into a series of progressively unfolding stories. In the process of reading, readers not only gain scientific knowledge but also, more importantly, develop the thinking methods for exploring the unknown and experience the joy of scientific discovery.
Another key feature of "Journey of Discovery" is that the mysteries and mysterious places explored are basically unique to China. Chinese readers can sense this and can participate in and appreciate them in real life. For example, "The Mystery of the Wild Man," "Unidentified Flying Objects in Chinese Skies," "Will the Giant Panda Become Extinct?" and "The Legend of the Falcon." These chapters describe unsolved mysteries within China, offering readers the opportunity to witness them firsthand and even the possibility of uncovering these mysteries themselves.