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.
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 public.
Well, 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.
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.
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?"
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.
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 said.
The 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.
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 fees.
Mo 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.
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.
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.
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."
I have witnessed that with my own eyes.
上周，我采访了一些前来参加两会的知名艺术家，他们中有电影制片人、歌唱家、舞蹈编导、作家、表演艺术家、画家还有音乐家。
和大家一样，我认为这些艺术家平时都沉浸在自己的世界中，全身心投入艺术创作，很少谈论国事。我猜想他们提出的议案会与自己的专业领域有关，比如政府的财政支持，让艺术走进百姓的生活。可事实却不仅如此，艺术家们大部分时间都围坐在一块儿，讨论与所有人相关的社会问题。
3月9日上午讨论展开，表演艺术家宋丹丹表达了自己对于一些社会现象的担忧，引发讨论。比如，行人对于倒在路上的伤者或病人，特别是老年人，不闻不问，漠不关心，生怕被讹诈，陷入窘境。宋丹丹所在讨论组的代表们对于此类现象表示非常失望。舞蹈评论家冯双白建议建立更加完善的老年人医疗体系，希望能够就此解决问题。
春晚的常客，喜剧表演艺术家巩汉林在会议上也提出不少建议。建议包括将日本侵略军731部队遗址申报为世界文化遗产以纪念死难者，解决环境污染问题，政府对濒临失传的传统艺术给予财政支持等等。当谈到雾霾时，巩汉林发问：我们的环保部门做了哪些事？他认为一些地方的环保部门官员应当引咎辞职。人们只看到了官员落马，但一个透明化政府远不止如此。
一些画家讨论了军事方面的问题，例如中日关系、海湾战争和国防开支，他们认为光盘行动也应当在军队推行。
广州军区军旅作家唐栋提出在如今这个金钱至上、竞争激烈的社会环境中，如何保持中国传统文化活力的问题，他认为我们应当传承中国文化中最本质的精神。
诺贝尔文学奖得主莫言针对“失独夫妇”提出了议案。在他的小说《蛙》中，他就关注了中国独生子女政策，用小说的形式从新的视角表达了他对这一国策的看法。他建议政府应当保障“失独夫妇”的就医、养老等问题并且承担相应费用。
艺术家们还谈论了涵盖小学直至职业培训的教育问题以及新的教育评价体制。农民工问题也是他们关注的焦点，农民工和城市居民应当享有平等的权利。他们还讨论了就业、环境和食品安全等方面的问题。
在两会上许多艺术家走出了自己的圈子，不再谈论自己的专业，而是将目光投向了社会问题，这些问题也许与他们的关系并不密切。艺术家们真诚地希望能够从他们的角度为国家大事献言献策。也许，人们认为艺术家永远活在艺术的世界中，脱离现实，但是当他们肩负两会代表的使命时，他们将展现全新的一面，深入调研，提出议案，考虑如何提高百姓的生活质量。
古琴艺术家高培芬说：“作为政协委员，我们十分认真严谨。我们首先要立足于自身的专业领域，之后探讨更加宏观的社会问题。”
这些都是我亲眼所见。
