The 2024 Blancpain Utopia Literary Award: Exploring the Originality of Original Literature
The prestigious Blancpain Utopia Literary Award has officially launched its seventh edition on April 15, 2024. The annual theme for this year’s award is “Where is the originality of original literature?” The organizing committee is now accepting submissions from publishers, publishing companies, or authors themselves until May 15. The final winner will be announced at the awards ceremony in October, where the first prize winner will receive RMB 300,000 in writing support. Additionally, shortlisted authors will receive the Blancpain Young Friend Award and a writing fee of 20,000 yuan to encourage young writers to continue their creative pursuits.
The Blancpain Utopia Literary Award aims to encourage and discover outstanding young writers under the age of 45 in the field of Chinese literature. With the principles of “fairness, authority, and professionalism,” the award sponsors, Blancpain and Utopia, continue to emphasize the message that “Reading makes time more valuable.”
The judging panel for the 2024 award includes prominent figures in the field of Chinese literature and culture such as Chen Chong, Luo Yijun, Shuang Xuetao, Xu Zidong, and Zhang Dinghao.
The annual theme of the award sheds light on the impact of artificial intelligence on creativity and originality in literature. As technology advances and AI tools become more prevalent in the creative process, the question of what constitutes “original” work becomes increasingly complex. The rapid development of AI prompts reflection on human existence, the nature of creativity, and the essence of original literature.
As literature explores human subjectivity amidst technological advancements, the 2024 Blancpain Utopia Literary Award challenges writers to delve into the concept of originality. How can one become an “original person” in pursuit of an “original world,” and in turn, produce “original literature”? These are the profound questions that the award seeks to address through the lens of literary creation.
The Blancpain Utopia Literary Award continues to be a beacon for emerging writers, providing a platform for critical discourse and creative exploration in the ever-evolving landscape of literature. The judges for this year’s award bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the evaluation process, ensuring a fair and rigorous selection process for the next generation of literary talents.