Drama Knowledge 100 Questions (Golden Key Knowledge 100 Questions Series. Art Edition)

Author: Jiang Xin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-22
Features: This is a series of popular knowledge Q&A books, serving as a "key to entry." The first eight volumes introduced are all in the field of arts, including knowledge of film, dance, music, theater, traditional opera, art and craft design, painting and sculpture, and folk customs.
In the world of seventy-two trades or three hundred and sixty trades, each has its own expertise, and it is highly specialized—what is said to be "like crossing a mountain between different trades." Some trades may seem simple, and people might rely on their own small cleverness to tackle them, only to end up making a fool of themselves. This shows that knowledge must be studied seriously. However, art is interconnected. For example, Peking Opera itself is a comprehensive art form. From the performances of Peking Opera actors, we can recognize Chinese music, art, poetry, dance, acrobatics, and history. Understanding the freehand style of Peking Opera performance can also be beneficial for appreciating Chinese freehand painting.
This art series includes eight aspects: traditional opera, theater, film, painting and sculpture, music, dance, folk customs, and art and craft design. Each category of art, whether ancient or modern, Chinese or foreign, holds extremely valuable knowledge. You won’t know unless you see it, and the more you see, the more fascinating it becomes.
However, respecting knowledge should not make one a slave to it. Using this series to appreciate a painting or watch a play and then match it to your own preferences is also inappropriate. Because art is subjective—what one person sees as wisdom, another may see as foolishness. If you love Qi Baishi, I love Wu Changshuo; if you like "Qilin Tong," I like Ma Lianliang; if you admire Mei Lanfang, I admire Cheng Shouqiu, then we are all connoisseurs of art, and that is correct. It can’t be like arithmetic—where there must be a single correct answer.
Therefore, I strongly advocate for everyone to learn some basic knowledge to appreciate and master art, because art is the beautification of life and originally belongs to everyone. I congratulate the publication of this series of concise, accessible, and informative booklets designed to bring art more broadly into people’s lives.