The Creative Process of Crafting a Speech and a Poem for Cross-Cultural Communication: A Synthesis from the Kunming Urban Poetry Festival
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Abstract
Background and Objectives: The creative development of a speech and a poem for cross-cultural communication requires the integration of experience, literary knowledge, interpretation, and an understanding of cultural contexts in order to develop messages that can communicate with audiences from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. This academic article aims to: (1) synthesize the creative process of crafting a speech and a poem under the theme “Literature: The Power of Incompetence,” using the creative works developed for the Kunming Urban Poetry Festival as the basis for synthesis; (2) explain the relationships among experience, knowledge, literary reading, interpretation, meaning-making, and cross-cultural communication; and (3) propose a framework for the creative process of crafting a speech and a poem for cross-cultural communication that can serve as a guideline for understanding and application to literary creation in other cross-cultural contexts.
Method: This article employs a conceptual synthesis based on the creation of a speech and a poem for the Kunming Urban Poetry Festival. The synthesis draws on the content of both creative works and the author's retrospective reflection on the thinking and development processes involved in their creation. These are examined in relation to concepts of literature and cross-cultural communication, the creative process, interpretation and meaning-making, paradoxical thinking, and literature as cultural soft power. The analysis explores the relationships among these elements to synthesize a framework for the creative process of crafting a speech and a poem for cross-cultural communication.
Results: The synthesis indicates that the creative process of crafting a speech and a poem for cross-cultural communication can be explained through five stages: (1) problem recognition and interpretation; (2) integration of experience and knowledge; (3) meaning construction and concept development; (4) creative composition of the speech and poem; and (5) reflection and cross-cultural communication. These five stages are interconnected, allowing earlier stages to be revisited, reviewed, and refined throughout the creative process.
Applications of this study: The knowledge derived from this article can be applied as a guideline for literary creation, speech writing, creative writing, and communication design in cross-cultural contexts. It can also serve as a conceptual framework for teaching and learning in literature, communication arts, and intercultural communication.
Conclusions: This article proposes that the creation of a speech and a poem is not merely a process of producing literary works but a systematic process that integrates interpretation, experience, knowledge, meaning-making, and communication design. The synthesized five-stage framework can serve as a guideline for understanding and applying creative processes in other cross-cultural literary contexts, while taking into account differences among creators, audiences, and cultural settings. The synthesis focuses on the creative process from the creator's perspective rather than on an empirical assessment of audience understanding or responses.
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