October Collection · Purple Volume: Essays

Author: Xie Mian
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-05-01
Features: October was ahead of the intellectual liberation trend and the artistic liberation trend of its time. If October had only been ahead of its time in its intellectual understanding but lacked corresponding rich and novel artistic expression, it would eventually lose its readers. Looking back now, among the works that attracted widespread attention, there were indeed flaws such as crude artistry or overly direct expression. As the saying goes, "what is not elegant will not endure." Those works with crude artistry, even if they caused a sensation for a time, would not last. The works published in October and praised by critics not only record the depth reached by a generation's thoughts but also the precision achieved by its art.
One or two works first sent out the "absolute signal" of artistic reform in theater creation and performance, depicting the decline, hesitation, and pursuit of young people facing adversity, as well as the solitary traveler who sets out on foot from the station. Another work pioneered the innovation of narrative in fiction, where the protagonist's 30 years of rise and fall transformed into a butterfly's dream. But in the end, the author said, "no matter how high you fly, it comes from the earth and must return to it. Whether human or butterfly, both are children of the earth." These works record the path of literature in a generation, condensing its entire hardship and glory. Perhaps all this explains the significance and value of publishing the October classic edition today.
Chinese literary journals, at the dawn of the new century, are facing severe challenges. Film and television screens and leisure publications have taken most of the spare time of people struggling with life, making it difficult for pure literature to engage those with little leisure to savor refined artistic works. Moreover, the results of market operations and media guidance have deprived a significant number of readers. In terms of creation, economic factors, incentives, and the motivations of following the crowd have caused some writers to lose patience and perseverance. The idea of writing for the times and using works for the world has been met with indifference or even ridicule by some writers. The fashionization of literature is like a rapidly spreading epidemic, and a considerable number of literary works are tragically becoming fast food and soft drinks. This is a severe test.
But in the midst of these difficulties, the banner of October still flies high, and its circulation remains among the top original literary journals in China. What does October rely on to sustain such favor from its readers? Where is its secret of success? This is the motivation behind our idea of publishing this classic series. This series includes the best works published in October from its founding in 1978 to 2000. Our goal is to remind people to cherish the efforts we have made. Looking back at the hardships we once faced and the joy that followed overcoming them, we have strived to bring people to the brink of awe—because these works reflect concern for social life and the human heart, making literature a symbol of hope and pursuit.
Literature has its own tradition, accumulated through the creative labor of countless writers, poets, literary critics, and literary editors. This lineage will not be broken.