CCTV Discovery. 4

Author: Xue Jijun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: The Journey of Discovery is the only science exploration documentary program on China Central Television (CCTV). It examines the course of human civilization from a scientific perspective and pursues the truth with a spirit of discovery. After four years of broadcasting, it gained widespread popularity and was hailed as "China's Discovery." Compared to other programs, The Journey of Discovery has very distinct features. Its captivating appeal lies in its storytelling approach. First comes a story, then the connections between events, and finally the scientific key to solving the mystery. Here, knowledge is set in the background, with stories driving the knowledge and integrating science into the plot to achieve the goal of education through entertainment. This entertaining creative method is not our invention, but we certainly took the lead in science programs in China.
The second feature is the program's value in media. A good program, one with artistic value, must necessarily fulfill the roles of education and advocacy. Education and advocacy can take various forms—shouting from the rooftops or expressing oneself directly, or calmly and objectively disseminating the spirit of science. We chose the latter.
The third is the social value. At this level, it reflects more of a cognitive value. Science itself is a clear and distinct attitude—seeking truth, being pragmatic, and being realistic. It gradually imparts the spirit and attitude of science to the audience, and naturally, social value is gained. The Journey of Discovery takes readers on a journey of scientific revelation and mystery-solving. Pushing aside the layers of fog in 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 with a scientific attitude and perspective. Each chapter begins with a story for the readers, followed by the connections between events, and finally the scientific key to solving the mystery. Knowledge is set in the background, suspense triggers the readers, stories introduce the knowledge, and science is integrated into the plot.
One of the key features of The Journey of Discovery is that suspense and entertainment run through the entire program. While calmly and objectively delving into the scientific significance behind the surface, it allows readers to truly experience the charm of discovery, feel the rigor of exploring the unknown world, and enjoy the pleasure of reading. Knowledge from various fields is integrated into the story, not only providing scientific knowledge but also, more importantly, offering a way of thinking for exploring the unknown and experiencing the joy of scientific discovery.
Another key feature of The Journey of Discovery is that the mysteries and mysterious places explored in the book are basically unique to China. Chinese readers can feel this, and they can participate in and appreciate it in real life. For example, chapters like The Mystery of the Wildman, Unidentified Flying Objects in Chinese Skies, Will the Giant Panda Become Extinct?, and The Legend of the Falcon all describe unsolved mysteries within China. For readers who have the opportunity to witness them firsthand, there is even the possibility of personally uncovering these mysteries.