When will the controversy over cultural elegance and vulgarity stop when Yang li Ping Dance Company dances ＂Subject III＂？

□ Xu Jinglan (Chongqing University)

Recently, the Yang li Ping Dance Company and the Russian Royal Dance Company danced "Subject III", which once again pushed this dance to the forefront, and triggered a heated discussion among the public about the boundaries between dance art and culture. Many netizens have previously said that "Yang li Ping’s jumping subject three is my biggest bottom line". However, Yang li Ping’s team really jumped up "Subject 3" at the curtain call recently.

With its unique repetitive movements and magical music, the dance of "Kemusan" quickly became popular in the Haidilao incident, and its easy-to-understand characteristics undoubtedly attracted a large number of audiences. However, the popularity of this "vulgar" culture has also triggered in-depth discussions on artistic value and connotation. Many people question whether a professional art team like Yang li Ping should take part in such a "popular" performance, which is considered to be detrimental to the elegance and depth of art.

The debate between refined culture and popular culture is not a new topic, it reflects the society’s pluralistic cognition of art and culture. On the one hand, we can’t ignore the powerful influence and attraction of "vulgar" culture in mass communication. Popular cultural phenomena such as Phoenix Legend’s Divine Comedy in Square Dance, with its grounded language, cheerful melody and easy-to-imitate movements, have successfully crossed the boundaries of age, region and social class and won the love and pursuit of the general public. This feature of being close to the people and entertaining makes the "vulgar" culture spread and popularize rapidly and become an indispensable part of people’s daily life.

However, on the other hand, we should also be soberly aware that those enduring cultural treasures often contain profound connotations and far-reaching significance. These cultural forms may be classical literature, traditional art, philosophical thoughts or historical heritage. They have undergone the baptism of time and the precipitation of history, bearing the crystallization of human wisdom and the richness and diversity of the spiritual world. These cultural treasures are not only our cultural heritage, but also important resources for us to understand ourselves, explore the world, improve our literacy and enlighten our thinking.

The evaluation of art and culture should not only stay on the superficial distinction between elegance and vulgarity. Every cultural form has its own value and significance. Whether it is elegant art or popular entertainment, it may touch people’s emotions at some level, lead to thinking or bring fun. In recent years, with the rise of "fast-paced culture", people’s stay for works of art is shorter, and magical works of art occupy our eyes. However, this does not mean that the value of depth and connotation in art and culture has been weakened. On the contrary, the existence of fast-paced culture highlights people’s desire for instant satisfaction and relaxed entertainment, which is an important embodiment of the diversity of art and culture.

We need a more open and inclusive attitude in the face of the controversy over cultural elegance and vulgarity. The development of art and culture should be a process of multiple coexistence and mutual influence. Professional art teams try different performance forms, including the so-called "vulgar" culture, which may provide new inspiration and perspective for artistic innovation, and at the same time attract public attention to artistic works. At the same time, we should also encourage and support those cultural creations with profound meaning and connotation, so as to enrich our spiritual life and social and cultural landscape.

The phenomenon that "the world is a huge subject three" reminds us that no matter who jumps into "subject three", in this era of information explosion, we encourage artists and creators to explore and try different art forms and expressions bravely, and at the same time, we should create more and better works that people like. We should also face and evaluate art and culture with an open and inclusive attitude, so as to jointly promote the progress and development of human spiritual civilization.