TalkingAboutChineseFolkMusic.doc

Talking About Chinese Folk MusicMusic is an imaginative and affecting language to express peoples both internal and external emotions. Thanks to the moving expression, our society become more beautiful and wonderful than it is otherwise.Chinese folk music, characterized by its remarkably regional and periodic features, is a vital part of the whole system of the music. As an aspect of culture, it is a moving reflection of environment, in other words, a mirror to Chinese society in each era.Chinese folk music has witnessed the prosperity of ancient China, and achievements of modern China. But in contemporary world, when culture integration and international communications are no longer evitable, are there as many territories as Chinese folk music has ever had?In fact, each culture factor must have a reason to exist. A large part of Chinese folk music has lost its basic background so that maybe the essence of the music will partially vanish from our view.There are some changes we cant deny. In recent years, as the living standards rise higher and peoples leisure time become more, everyone should choose his own lifestyle from information over loading. Chinese folk music, because of its hard understandability and not easy acceptability, which were fashionable once, perhaps can no longer satisfy the masses need. We can predict in some degree: the value of part of Chinese folk music, will only function in academic level in one day. Because no need, no market!Some critics say that we should try our best to protect the Chinese folk music, in order that the costly traditional fortune will be perceived forever. If we compare the cost we may expend with the benefit we may get from it, the result is not definitely as optimistic.The depressing of Chinese folk music is perhaps striking and upsetting, but the action we can take is virtually limited. We cant violate the regulation of the nature and do what we want at will. Possibly the prospect is inevitable.The Decline of Traditional Culture and Reaction:Especially in Economic PerspectiveWe often regret the decline of traditional culture faced with contemporary world, for we treasure it as it will perish one day or other and never to be seen again.Traditional culture had played an important role in the past, which laid the foundation of today. No development or progress of the whole society should deny the influence of culture, because culture has an invisible power to control our mind and behavior, which can change almost everything. So, it looks sensible and necessary to take measures to protect traditional culture.But, will the benefit of traditional culture last forever? When there is a conflict between traditional culture and reality, what should we do then?Look back on the western history. Feudalism, political foundation of the Middle Ages, when established, was rational and promising. It provided more order and security, and enabled people to feel more stable than in the ancient world. While, when medieval civilization was no longer prosperous, Feudalism also blocked us. What should we do? Should we stay in the Middle Ages for ages just because we had benefited a lot from it? The answer is definitely not. The wise told us to struggle for freedom and equality, otherwise there would not have been the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, the transition and transformation to the modern world.Nothing can be available without cost. To gain the reward, you must invest first. To improve and perfect the society, we should abandon the traditional culture which is obviously out of time, or well stay in the same stage forever, which is too scary.While, should we give up the whole traditional culture? Its not necessary. Traditional culture had contributed so much to the development of the world that part of it is still useful today. The determination and bravery of the fighter, the innovation and confidence of the inventor, and the optimism and toughness of the worker, should be memorized and honored forever.Lets have a brief economic analysis. Look at the figure. The cost curve describes expense of protecting traditional culture, which increases as the quantity rises. The benefit curve indicates the reward we get from protecting traditional culture, when gets to the highest point, which will decrease.The best choice is when the slopes of the two curves are equal, as the Point E, where we can spend the least and get the most relatively.If we want to reserve more traditional culture, the essential way is to develop economy and improve society, which can reduce the expense as the slope of cost curve becomes smaller. The best choice is then Point F, which will bring more reward than Point E.But there is a problem. The development of economy and society enables us to reserve more traditional culture by reducing the cost, but at the same time it is destroying the latter. Maybe it is in a dilemma.As the figure illustrates, the ideal point (the highest point of the benefit curve) will never be realized, for the cost will never fall to zero.So, maybe what we should do is very limited. The positive effect of tradit