聚焦關注兩會 著名藝術家聚首論政

Over the past week, I have spent much time with some of the country's most famous artists – including filmmakers, singers, choreographers, writers, actors, painters and musicians - during the NPC and CPPCC sessions.

上週，我採訪了一些前來參加兩會的知名藝術家，他們中有電影製片人、歌唱家、舞蹈編導、作家、表演藝術家、畫家還有音樂家。

One thing that I can confirm about these people is that – perhaps unsurprisingly – they are usually completely devoted to their art, talk about little else – and they seem to live in their own world.I assumed they would support policies relating to their own field – possibly relating to financial assistance and promoting their art to the general , they did do that – but not only. Most of the time, when they were sitting together and chatting, they discussed social issues that affect everyone.

和大家一樣，我認爲這些藝術家平時都沉浸在自己的世界中，全身心投入藝術創作，很少談論國事。我猜想他們提出的議案會與自己的專業領域有關，比如政府的財政支持，讓藝術走進百姓的生活。可事實卻不僅如此，藝術家們大部分時間都圍坐在一塊兒，討論與所有人相關的社會問題。

Just this Sunday morning, the actress Song Dandan began a discussion about recent worrying trends that have been widely covered in the media. For example, there have been cases of people – especially the elderly – lying injured or sick on the sidewalk and passers-by walking past, ignoring them completely, as many are apparently afraid of being accused of involvement in the person's plight and some fear being blackmailed. Song and the rest of the group were dismayed by these incidents, and Feng Shuangbai, a dance critic, proposed a solution involving an improved medical system for the elderly – with the aim of putting an end to such incidents.

3月9日上午討論展開，表演藝術家宋丹丹表達了自己對於一些社會現象的擔憂，引發討論。比如，行人對於倒在路上的傷者或病人，特別是老年人，不聞不問，漠不關心，生怕被訛詐，陷入窘境。宋丹丹所在討論組的代表們對於此類現象表示非常失望。舞蹈評論家馮雙白建議建立更加完善的老年人醫療體系，希望能夠就此解決問題。

The comedian Gong Hanlin - who often appears on CCTV's Spring Festival gala - made several suggestions, including naming the area which was occupied by Japan's Unit 731 during the Anti-Japanese War a heritage site – so as to remember the victims - tackling pollution and offering financial support to those involved in endangered traditional art forms. Regarding the smog, Gong said: "What has the Ministry of Environment been doing?" and he called for civil servants to "take the blame and offer to resign". He added: "We've only seen expelling. But is this all that a transparent government does?"

春晚的常客，喜劇表演藝術家鞏漢林在會議上也提出不少建議。建議包括將日本侵略軍731部隊遺址申報爲世界文化遺產以紀念死難者，解決環境污染問題，政府對瀕臨失傳的傳統藝術給予財政支持等等。當談到霧霾時，鞏漢林發問：我們的環保部門做了哪些事？他認爲一些地方的環保部門官員應當引咎辭職。人們只看到了官員落馬，但一個透明化政府遠不止如此。

A group of painters discussed Sino-Japan relations, the Gulf War, and defense spending. They said that funds related to the Clean Your Plate Campaign could go to the military.

一些畫家討論了軍事方面的問題，例如中日關係、海灣戰爭和國防開支，他們認爲光盤行動也應當在軍隊推行。

A writer with the Guangzhou Military Command, Tang Dong, talked about traditional Chinese values and how they could be kept alive in the money-crazed, dog-eat-dog days. "We have to keep the essence of our tradition," he artists also talked about education - from primary school to vocational school - and a new evaluation system. They seemed to care very much about migrant workers, and whether or not they get the same treatment as urban residents. They also care about issues such as employment, the environment and food safety.

廣州軍區軍旅作家唐棟提出在如今這個金錢至上、競爭激烈的社會環境中，如何保持中國傳統文化活力的問題，他認爲我們應當傳承中國文化中最本質的精神。

Mo Yan, the Nobel laureate, made a proposal for couples who have lost their only child, suggesting that they should be given priority in hospitals, nursing homes and other facilities – and the government should cover their Yan wrote the controversial novel Frog – which focused on the one-child policy - and this may explain his concern and unusual insight in a social problem that affects many people around the country.

諾貝爾文學獎得主莫言針對“失獨夫婦”提出了議案。在他的小說《蛙》中，他就關注了中國獨生子女政策，用小說的形式從新的視角表達了他對這一國策的看法。他建議政府應當保障“失獨夫婦”的就醫、養老等問題並且承擔相應費用。

But many of these artists are trying to make an impact concerning matters that do not necessary affect them – and in which they have no expertise - and they are thus stepping out of their comfort zone.

藝術家們還談論了涵蓋小學直至職業培訓的教育問題以及新的教育評價體制。農民工問題也是他們關注的焦點，農民工和城市居民應當享有平等的權利。他們還討論了就業、環境和食品安全等方面的問題。

The artists are sincerely interested in offering their insight to tackle issues affecting the whole of the country. Though they may often seem aloof and detached from reality, when they become CPPCC members and receive training on how to push forward their opinions, they go out of their way to try and improve the lives of everyone – suggesting areas that require research and policies that could make a difference.

在兩會上許多藝術家走出了自己的圈子，不再談論自己的專業，而是將目光投向了社會問題，這些問題也許與他們的關係並不密切。藝術家們真誠地希望能夠從他們的角度爲國家大事獻言獻策。也許，人們認爲藝術家永遠活在藝術的世界中，脫離現實，但是當他們肩負兩會代表的使命時，他們將展現全新的一面，深入調研，提出議案，考慮如何提高百姓的生活質量。

Gao Peifen, a famous qin player, told me: "We're supposed to start from our areas of knowledge and then to investigate larger issues. We take this job very seriously."

古琴藝術家高培芬說：“作爲政協委員，我們十分認真嚴謹。我們首先要立足於自身的專業領域，之後探討更加宏觀的社會問題。”

I have witnessed that with my own eyes.

這些都是我親眼所見。