Do we still have the ability to love? The annual speech “When We Talk About 2024” is recruiting an audience.
Time flows like a river, never pausing day or night. As we reflect on 2024, how would you like to unfold the creases of time to gain the strength to move forward?
We cordially invite you to attend a large-scale speech event on the evening of December 16 at 7 PM, titled “When We Talk About 2024.” Seven distinguished guests will take the grand stage at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center to share their insights.
Time may not provide you with answers, but many answers are embedded in each person’s story, filled with struggles and adventures, regrets and growth, contemplation and hope. In these salvaged stories, there are moments and fragments that we seem to share and coexist.
Have you ever felt regret despite giving your all? How do you navigate the gap between reality and ideals?
Zhang Yufei, a swimmer from the Chinese national team and a medalist with one silver and five bronze medals at the Paris Olympics, will share her journey of facing greater challenges after winning her previous Olympic title. Although her path seemed smooth, as if she were “chosen by destiny,” she suddenly faced setbacks. How did she overcome these difficulties and become a better version of herself?
In the midst of glamour and noise, how do we protect our inner peace?
Cecilia So, a renowned actress and winner of the Hong Kong Film Award, has portrayed many characters full of life and dramatic tension. On-screen, she is passionate and intense, while off-screen, she retreats gracefully. Embracing a philosophy of “going with the flow,” she may suggest that “desire” and “ambition” are often misinterpreted. She will engage in an open and sincere dialogue with the audience, sharing stories of overcoming adversity to reach for the stars.
How can we reduce internal friction and live more harmoniously?
What does the person urging you not to “lie flat” in trending topics really mean? This time, Professor Yao Yang from Peking University will discuss the current era of anxiety, exploring how young people can navigate between “lying flat” and “involution” to achieve a more harmonious state of life, as well as what governments and businesses can do during this historical phase.
Do we still have the capacity for love and connection?
Professor Liang Yong’an is regarded as a scholar who understands young people. He will analyze the emotional states of today’s youth, including “disconnection from parents,” “diminishing friendships,” and “inability to engage in romantic relationships,” discussing how to enhance emotional experiences for young people and empower them to face the external world.
What are we consuming when we watch female-led films?
Films such as “Determination to Leave” and “Good Things” have achieved both box office success and critical acclaim this year. As a professor, writer, and film critic at East China Normal University, Mao Jian will discuss the circumstances faced by women, interpreting the prevailing feminist trends in society through the lens of film and television.
How do we overcome creative bottlenecks?
Chen Nianxi, a writer from a mining background, has been balancing live streaming and writing, with several new projects this year. He has appeared on “Thirteen Invitations” and Dong Yuhui’s live stream, published a new book titled “The River Flows West,” and begun exploring the e-commerce sector. In this speech, Mr. Chen will discuss his gains and losses this year, touching on his hometown, literature, and writing.
How do we perceive the new bottle of live streaming that contains the old wine of labor?
Young scholar Wang Yilin spent six months undercover in a live streaming room, unlocking a unique life experience and completing her doctoral thesis. Beyond a few top streamers, she witnessed some harsh realities, manipulation, and appeasement outside the mainstream narrative. The undercurrents of desire surge within the live streaming space.
Additionally, we have invited Fang Li, the director of one of this year’s most notable documentaries, “The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru,” to give an online talk. Previously, Fang sold his assets and invested nearly everything into the filming. He is currently working on a documentary searching for MH370. He is emotional in his approach yet rational in his actions, pursuing the completion of his interests without forcing results. He attempts to answer whether, at over seventy, he still has the right to take bold risks.
This event is co-hosted by Toutiao and The Paper. We look forward to your participation, as we reflect on the past and gain insights into the future during this event. Click the link “When We Talk About 2024” to register for the event.
