The Rise of Realism: The Depth and Warmth of Online Literature

Introduction

In the vast sky of Chinese online literature, works with realistic themes have emerged like brilliant new stars, rising and shining brightly. These works enrich the content of online literature with their close-to-life stories and profound social significance, inspiring readers to pay attention to real life and explore social issues.

1.1 The Emergence of Realistic Themes

In the past, we are familiar with online novels mostly fiction, plot twists and turns, and full of imagination. However, more and more writers have started to move beyond traditional genres like romance and fantasy in recent years, turning their attention to real life. Take “All Is Well” （都挺好） for example, which focuses on the issues of original family problems and career challenges, depicting the conflicts and struggles in real life and the workplace with delicate brushstrokes, touching the hearts of countless Chinese readers. The emergence of these works not only provides readers with profound reading experiences but also adds new colors to online literature. Nowadays, realistic themes have become a hot trend in Chinese online literature, with both the quantity and quality of works continually improving, indicating that online literature is moving towards a more mature and diversified direction.

1.2 The Surge of Realistic Works and Social Response

Data shows that a total of 230,000 creators have participated since the first realistic-themed online literature contest was held in China in 2015. Compared to 2015, the number of realistic-themed works increased by 4.85 times by 2022, with a compound annual growth rate of 25.3% over past seven years. These works cover various fields such as education, healthcare, real estate, and even anti-corruption, addressing themes like historical realism, workplace challenges, family relationships, and human nature, reflecting social hotspots, livelihood difficulties, and moral ethics. They are deep observations and revelations of the current social status instead of simple entertainment. The readership of realistic-themed works is broad and diverse, including students concerned with social issues, environmentalists worried about pollution and resource scarcity, legal professionals focused on social justice, and ordinary readers interested in family and interpersonal relationships. They gain insight into social realities and draw strength and solutions to problems through such works. The growth trend not only shows authors’ deep concern and meticulous observation of social realities but also reflects the market’s strong demand for realistic themes. Power of words often resonates with readers through vivid stories that transform personal observations and thoughts.

1.3 Realistic Concerns and Creative Challenges

From fantasy to romance, and now to realistic themes, the journey of Chinese online literature has already entered deep waters. The rise of realistic-themed works has made online literature not just a tool for escaping reality but a breakthrough of reality and exploring social issues. Writers no longer uniformly pursue twists and turns in plots but start focusing on the lives of ordinary people, depicting their joys and sorrows with detailed brushstrokes. Works like “Ming Yue Du Guan Shan”（明月度关山） focus on hot social issues such as rural education and targeted poverty alleviation in China, telling a story of Mingyue, a female volunteer teacher, who teaches in the Qinba Mountains, showing her growth and transformation in the face of difficulties and the love between her and the border guard Guan Shan. It not only portrays the growth of characters’ inner worlds but also highlights the unique charm of online literature in character development and emotional expression, thus drawing readers’ attention to the plight of rural education and volunteer teachers.

However, this realistic portrayal significantly increases the difficulty of creation. It requires writers to have solid writing skills, detailed observations of life, and rich life experiences. Only in this way can they accurately reflect real issues in their works and create vivid characters. This kind of depth and refinement make realistic-themed online literature a more challenging form of creation, providing readers with unforgettable reading experiences.

1.4 The IP Value of Realistic Themes

Realistic-themed web novels has achieved success not only in the literary realm but also in the IP adaptation market. Many works, due to their close-to-reality and deeply moving narratives, have garnered widespread acclaim. “All Is Well,” for instance, has not only won extensive praise online but also been adapted into a television series, achieving high ratings and acclaim in real life. The adaptation brings more revenue and recognition to the original authors and further expands the influence of online literature. Works like “Dying to Survive” and the TV series”In the Name of the People” have also performed exceptionally well in terms of box office and ratings, sparking widespread social discussions both in reality and online, with considerable economic benefits. Of course, film and television adaptations are only one aspect of the market performance of realistic-themed works. They also show significant commercial potential in other segments like animation and games.

1.5 Future Innovation Requirements for Realistic Themes

At the current juncture, we can be full of expectations for the future of realistic-themed online literature. With the continuous progress of society and the increasing richness of people’s spiritual world, realistic-themed works are expected to maintain a strong growth trend. Online literature, as a medium, is constantly absorbing and reflecting the diverse and changing cultural connotations of society, providing readers with different life experiences, better understanding of various social phenomena, and offering solutions to their problems.

However, constant innovation in creation is essential, to continuously attract readers and maintain the vitality and charm of online literature. It requires authors to continuously explore novel ways of expression and deeply excavate the complexities of real life to keep online literature vibrant and appealing. Only in this way can realistic-themed online literature continue to shine on the literary stage of the future, leading Chinese online literature to a higher level.

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