Tonight, a program on Phoenix TV has the theme of "Shanzhai Civilization." In the past half year, we've seen Shanzhai Spring Festival Gala, counterfeit mobile phones, and various other imitations, all making quite an impact. The term "Shanzhai" originated with the domestic mobile phones from Huaqiangbei. After the MTK platform alliance, which was like a poverty alleviation effort, the entire mobile phone industry took shape. Over the course of three bustling years, in 2008, some big figure came up with the elegant name: "Shanzhai Phone." Perhaps because this word was so flavorful, it became instantly famous and was widely used across all industries under socialism. Then came the Shanzhai Spring Festival Gala, with rumors swirling online. Though I haven't seen it, I imagine it wouldn't be much worse than the official gala when it comes to entertainment, as it caters to public taste and self-entertainment. We don't want to sit neatly in front of the TV like we did ten years ago and be re-educated.
Some people say that Shanzhai is all about copying and lacks innovation. But isn't there a saying by some great man that you should stand on the shoulders of giants... meaning that the shoulders of giants are meant for standing on and serving as a foundation. Those lucky shoulders that get stood upon should indeed feel honored by such recognition.
At the start of this year, everyone talks about innovation every day, but is it really that easy to innovate? Can you just take a shoe and call it a mustache shaver like Mr. Stephen Chow did? No matter how much innovation happens, in one household, the TV, washing machine, and refrigerator still haven't merged into one. Not to mention how much Chinese people love to copy and disregard intellectual property rights. Anyway, over these many years, foreign products have been copied back and forth domestically. At the beginning of the year, what is truly original? Even if the iPhone innovates, it's still just a phone; it can't turn into an airplane.
The most crucial point about Shanzhai culture is that it resonates deeply with the hearts of the general populace, giving them exactly what they want. As for highbrow culture, that's not something the average person can easily perceive. For example, iOrgane, priced at over eight hundred with high quality, completely overturned the price system of iPhones, which cost several thousand. Numerous dual SIM dual standby phones have already satisfied the needs of the masses for two years, while the brand giants have only recently released a few models, at nearly ten times the price of Shanzhai phones.
Therefore, from the bottom of my heart, I genuinely support Shanzhai culture becoming stronger and more powerful, striking fear without killing. Only when it becomes stronger will its quality and service improve. Why should we let foreign giants change the soup but not the medicine, altering the design slightly and then raking in huge profits?
Let Shanzhai phones and all things Shanzhai come even stronger!!