196 | Jia Xuanning: Can Second Uncle Really Cure the "Laying Generation"? A bowl of chicken soup for the soul boiled with the suffering of the bottom
Text/Jia Xuanning (Born in Beijing, raised in Hong Kong, now living in Taiwan. Media person, commentator, but his main job is to do academics, focusing on Hong Kong and Taiwan regional studies, comparative politics and cultural studies.) (Original post published on August 8, 2022)
In just one day, the film topped the rankings of Station B, with over 10 million views, and 810 million views of related topics on Sina Weibo.
The story of "Second Uncle" is simply summed up, that is, a "genius boy" born in the countryside was made an unfortunate joke by fate. The second uncle was misdiagnosed by a barefoot doctor and was crippled, but he was still crippled. He made a living as a carpenter and was never married, but he helped his adopted daughter to buy a house. Now he is almost old, he is still taking care of his old mother who can't take care of herself. He has gone through the drastic changes of the times, and his life has been toiled and ups and downs, but he has always been happy.
In the following week, the "Second Uncle" video was viewed more than 37.4 million times, becoming a phenomenon-level communication event in mainland China. Netizens called on the second uncle to start a live broadcast, traditional media went to interview UP's "Yi Ge Conjecture", and we-media discussed this cultural phenomenon from various angles: Why is this video popular? Why are many viewers "cured" by the second uncle? Is Uncle's story true or fictional? How should I view this bowl of chicken soup boiled with the misery of my second uncle?
Let's take a look first, who moved by "Second Uncle"?
Who did the second uncle move?
The online public opinion attitudes surrounding "Second Uncle" can be roughly divided into three types: the first type of people are greatly moved and praise the second uncle; the second type of people are not too moved, thinking that the second uncle's story is very "everyday"; the third type of people Unable to accept the "beautification" of the second uncle's suffering.
The users of station B who expressed their emotions in the comment area of this video included "post-00s" who were diagnosed with leukemia this year and felt the impermanence of life; some people "went to college, and now is the best age, but they are very confused"; some people are 30 years old In the early days, "the work is not going well and the feelings are not going well", and I am very ashamed after seeing the second uncle's rich heart. Some people also said that they were young and strong but did not want to make progress. After watching the film, they found that "actually, there is a lack of role models like the second uncle around."
Without exception, they were all in some kind of life predicament, and they all gained "positive energy" from the experience of the second uncle.
In other words, my second uncle is disabled, has never been to college, and was born in such a bitter era, without complaining about others, what qualifications do I have to complain about life? This is also the reason why the second uncle's film can explode. After watching it, the audience was moved, and at the same time beat himself up: People are so miserable and yet so strong, what is the suffering I suffer in comparison?
The official media hurriedly seized the opportunity to output positive energy, praising the spirit of "Second Uncle" who refused to lie down despite the challenges of life, which is worth learning from today's youth.
Hu Xijin, the former editor-in-chief of Global Daily, was also very moved. He posted on Weibo that he praised the second uncle for transcending the worldly entanglement and living a wonderful life in the mountain village. Some positive emotions."
In the polarized online public opinion, between praising this video and criticizing it in anger, there is actually an attitude that considers the suffering of "Second Uncle" to be "everyday" - but because the expression is not extreme enough, it is more visible. Low.
The most representative of them is Yu Xiuhua, a poet with disabilities who was born in a rural area. She pointedly pointed out that although the second uncle's life was hard and difficult, "hardship and hardship are the daily life of many people."
She wrote on her personal account that she didn't know what those who left the message "was moved to tears" saw what they saw in the film, "Is it the perseverance of a 'disabled person', or the perseverance of still living in a remote area? The pity of the days that looked mossy in the village?"
In Yu Xiuhua's eyes, this is just an ordinary story. "Every life is worthy of praise, but not because of the tragedy of life," she said. "Anyway, my heart is not too touched."
"Move Yourself in the Suffering of Others"
More self-media criticized Erji's film negatively. These criticisms can be divided into three directions: questioning the authenticity of Uncle Er’s story, disapproving of “absorbing positive energy” from other people’s suffering, and disgusting the submissive meaning behind the narrative of suffering.
[This article is not over, see "Walking the World" for the full text: Jia Xuanning: Can Second Uncle Really Cure the "Laying Generation"? A bowl of chicken soup for the soul boiled with the suffering at the bottom ]
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196. Jia Xuanning: Can the second uncle really cure the "laying down generation"? A bowl of chicken soup for the soul boiled with the suffering of the bottom
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