Discovery Journey 1

Author: Xue Jijun, Editor-in-Chief
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-05-01
Features: What does "Journey of Discovery" hope to bring to its audience? What have the creators gained from this journey of discovery? The answer is not immediate. A new program format must go through stages of creation, growth, and maturity. Therefore, the program's positioning and target audience, including its presentation methods and unique charm that distinguishes it from similar programs, are all gradually clarified through exploration. For young creators of the program, as a popular saying goes, they naturally hope to satisfy themselves while contributing to others. If this is achieved, it can be a passionate and fulfilling era. In fact, these are the inner thoughts of the program's creators, rarely shared openly. As mentioned earlier, the program's inception was also a trial-and-error process, but it did not lack an original concept. To better explain "Journey of Discovery," it is necessary to first discuss what we did not want the program to be. First, it is not a traditional science and education program; it cannot be completely immersed in the ocean of knowledge. Second, it is not an elite documentary; it does not blindly follow sensational statements, which is indeed too risky. Last, it is certainly not a news-style documentary; it does not just skim the surface with vague generalizations. 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 features, its appeal lying in its storytelling approach. It starts with a story, then explores the connections between events, and finally, it provides the scientific key to solving the mystery. Here, knowledge is set in the background, stories drive the knowledge, and science is integrated into the plot to achieve the goal of education through entertainment. This entertainment-oriented 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, speaking directly, or calmly and objectively spreading 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 stance—separating truth from falsehood, seeking truth, being pragmatic, and being realistic. It gradually imparts the spirit and attitude of science to the audience, naturally leading to social value. In my opinion, 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 through a scientific lens and pursues the truth with a spirit of discovery. Four years after its launch, it gained widespread popularity and was hailed as "China's Discovery." Compared to other programs, "Journey of Discovery" has very distinct features, its appeal lying in its storytelling approach. It starts with a story, then explores the connections between events, and finally, it provides the scientific key to solving the mystery. Here, knowledge is set in the background, stories drive the knowledge, and science is integrated into the plot to achieve the goal of education through entertainment. This entertainment-oriented 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, speaking directly, or calmly and objectively spreading 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 stance—separating truth from falsehood, seeking truth, being pragmatic, and being realistic. It gradually imparts the spirit and attitude of science to the audience, naturally leading to social value. In my opinion, this is precisely what is missing in our national spirit today.
"Journey of Discovery" takes readers on a journey of scientific revelation and mystery-solving. It peels away 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 perspective. Each chapter begins with a story, then explores the connections between events, and finally, it provides 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 "Journey of Discovery" is its consistent blend 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. Through reading, not only do readers gain scientific knowledge, but more importantly, they acquire 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 it explores are mostly 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 Wild Man," "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.