Chapter 743 — The Intangible
Blade of Dawn · Page 2 of 4
"Come now, friend, you are an adult!" Fendir widened his eyes in exaggeration. "Are you the sort of child who can only learn by being cooped up in a study with a tutor? This is the Southern Frontier—nearly everything you come into contact with is material for your learning!"
Gaoyang watched this scene with a smile, and unexpectedly a trace of sentiment welled up in him—ah, youth is wonderful.
He spoke, breaking the silence: "Given your stations and the responsibilities you bear, you ought to do things that let you take part in social activity. The coursework at the Imperial Academy will not be too great a burden for you, and it encourages its students to engage in practical work."
Fendir looked at Ilaven. "See? His Majesty says so himself."
"Then... I am willing to join," Ilaven smiled and extended his hand to Film. "Master Film, I hope we get along well."
Rebecca, who had been pretending to read a book at the side for quite a while, seized the moment to edge over and cut in: "If you run into technical trouble, you can come to me. I have a great deal of work normally and cannot join you, but lending a bit of help is no problem... I think that magic-film drama is terribly interesting!"
...
The young people departed, and only Gaoyang and Amber remained in the study.
Film had not taken the "projection equipment" with him; it stayed on Gaoyang's desk, still looping the video fragment. Amber, after watching it so many times, had finally lost interest in it—she was merely curious about the enthusiasm Gaoyang had displayed earlier, and could not help asking: "Is this magic-film drama really so important? Your attitude is unlike your usual self; your attention to it completely exceeds that for ordinary folk inventions... it is almost the same as when you heard the flying machine had been successfully test-built."
"Of course it is important. The building of the spiritual realm has always been as important as the material realm," Gaoyang glanced at Amber. "Have you forgotten how the newspapers and the Magic Web broadcast swiftly and broadly influenced the masses? Have you forgotten how you wielded the power of propaganda in Holy Sunil?"
"That I do remember—the Military Intelligence Bureau even held a review meeting afterward, and old Master Godwin went as an advisor and proposed the concept of 'the influence upon a group of the efficiency of information coverage per unit time.' Even now the Military Intelligence Bureau and the Propaganda Department each have a team studying it. But speaking of magic-film drama... it seems rather different from newspapers and broadcasts?"
"You are sharp—it is indeed different," Gaoyang nodded slightly. "It is not direct propaganda, but it can be used for propaganda. Its essence is a tool of entertainment, meant to satisfy people's spiritual needs, which means people will absorb what it presents more actively and unconsciously. It may not deliberately or openly propagandize anything, but it can convey information subtly and over the long term—that effect is unique to it.
"Of course, I do not focus on such things alone. Even setting aside its propaganda function, magic-film drama is itself quite interesting, is it not?
"Once people have enough food and warm clothing, they will always seek some spiritual satisfaction. Now everyone has football, has chess and cards for entertainment, has newspapers and broadcasts; next, they will have magic-film drama. I call this spiritual sustenance."
"...Your theories always come in neat sets," Amber pursed her lips. "But there is some sense in them."
Gaoyang smiled, paying no mind to the small impertinence in Amber's words. He merely lowered his head, looking at some documents and letters on the desk, and lapsed for a time into thought.