Film is a form of objective art,

meaningful only when we focus on portraying others and forget ourselves.

On March 26th, 2024, the eighth lecture of the Peking University Dishui Lake Lecture Hall (PKU-DSLLH) was successfully held. Professor Dai Jinhua, Peking University Professor of Humanities of Department of Chinese Language and Literature and Director of the Film and Culture Research Center of Peking University, was invited to give a special lecture on Approaching the Art of Cinema（《走近电影艺术》）. She elaborated on the functions of film art to date, the significance of the film screen, and the "parallelogram" elements that constitute film art, opened up a journey of thought about light and shadow in the world of cinema at Lingang Performing Arts Center.

During the lecture, Professor Dai Jinhua first traced back the history of film, and then taking history as a guide, combined with interesting cases and vivid metaphors, she elaborated on the three basic functions of film art as the world's seventh art: as a "window" to reproduce reality; as a "mirror" to capture and visualize our inner world and soul; and as a "painting" to construct beauty with power. She pointed out that film art is so far the only art form that can relatively accurately and easily show many groups of people, events, and emotions that are obscured by mainstream big screens. Through the film screen, we encounter others, get to know others, and see lives of others that we cannot imagine, thus gaining different perspectives on our own lives and hence a bit more understanding and cognition of ourselves.

Dai Jinhua is a pioneer in Chinese film studies and one of the earliest scholars at Peking University to engage in Chinese film theory and cultural research. She led the establishment of China's first cinema history and theory major, as well as the creation of China's first comparative cultural research institution. She is one of the most popular professors at Peking University, as the students are willing to queue for two hours just to attend her lectures.

Catering to the needs of more citizens enjoying a high-quality cultural feast, this edition of PKU-DSLLH breaks through time limitations for the first time and holds a "Night Session" that aligns with the end of working hours. Subsequently, the night sessions will be held regularly based on actual conditions.

Wu Xiaohua, Deputy-secretary of the Party Working Committee of Lin-gang Special Area met with Professor Dai Jinhua, and presented her with a commemorative plaque as the eighth lecturer of PKU-DSLLH. A total of more than 700 people participated in this event, including various divisions and departments of Lin-gang Special Area Administration (LSAA), PKU-IICSH, Shanghai Harbour City Development (Group) Co., Ltd., as well as representatives from Peking University Alumni Association, and online registered participants.

Before the lecture, Professor Dai Jinhua conducted on-site inspections at PKU-IICSH and provided guidance on the center's development.

Initiated with the support of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Lin-gang Speacial Area Administration (hereinafter referred to as Lin-gang Special Area, or LSAA), Peking University Dishui Lake Lecture Hall (PKU-DSLLH) is a collaborative effort involving Peking University Intertional Innovational Center, Lin-gang Special Area, China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (PKU-IICSH), Peking University Office of Science and Technology Development, and Office of Humanities and Social Science, and enjoying an active participation from Peking University Press, Peking University Alumni Association, and other relevant offices and departments. Leveraging Peking University's profound academic foundation and expert resources in the humanities and social sciences, PKU-DSLLH focuses on key areas including economic development, humanities and arts, and social governance.

Since August 2023, PKU-DSLLH has been hosting monthly lectures featuring renowned professors or expert scholars from Peking University, who provide specialized lectures and engage in in-depth discussions with residents in Lin-gang. This initiative aims to facilitate the concentration of high-quality humanities and social science resources from Peking University in Lingang, effectively enhancing the cultural image and urban competitiveness of the Lin-gang Special Area.