Unblocking bottlenecks, innovating thinking and mechanisms for literature and art to develop

Panorama of the National Conference summarizing 50 years of Vietnamese literature and arts after the country's reunification. (Photo: Mai Lu)

However, in the context of the country entering a new stage of development, Vietnamese Literature and Arts are facing many long-standing "bottlenecks", requiring strong innovation in thinking, operating mechanisms and organizational methods to unleash creative resources.

The heated discussions at the most recent important forums, the National Conference summarizing 50 years of Vietnamese literature and art after the country's reunification and the Scientific Workshop of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Literature and Art Associations, which was recently held, both frankly pointed out the shortcomings in order to seek fundamental solutions, in order to effectively implement the spirit of Conclusion 84-KL/TW, Resolution 23-NQ/TW, Resolution 33-NQ/TW and the Party's policy of cultural revival.

Identify the "bottlenecks" that hinder creativity

The report at the National Conference summarizing 50 years of Vietnamese literature and art after the country's reunification pointed out: During the past 50 years, under the leadership of the Party, Vietnamese literature and art have achieved important achievements, strongly developing from theoretical thinking to creative practice and reception trends.

However, in addition to the achievements, the development of the country's Literature and Arts has not been commensurate with its potential and is facing many fierce challenges. Notably, current theoretical and critical work has not kept up with new creative practices and the changes in the digital content market. Many good works are not properly recognized; meanwhile, deviant phenomena can cause public uproar and create value disturbances. The lack of in-depth critics, lack of quality academic forums and lack of long-term research support policies have caused criticism to "run out of steam" in the face of the diverse, fast and wide flow of creativity...

At the Scientific Conference of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Literature and Arts Associations, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Literature and Arts Associations Nguyen Truong Luu also pointed out that many works still "revolve around personal stories in a specific region," do not reflect dynamic urban life, and do not touch on new issues such as digital transformation, social change, or citizen pressure in the era of globalization. The gap in topics and limitations in problem-posing have caused a number of works to not keep up with the demands of modern life, which is moving in a complex way every day with issues of the environment, immigration, digital challenges, and consumer culture. This is not only a limitation in creative techniques, but also a requirement for innovation in thinking, a new perspective, and boldness in tackling thorny topics instead of being safe and general.

From another perspective, Director and journalist Tang Hoang Thuan is concerned that the "formal achievement disease" is still continuing, especially in the field of theater. The situation of plays "made to win medals," without real theatrical life and untested artistic value. Perhaps this is also one of the reasons why traditional fields such as tuong, cheo, cai luong, and traditional musical instruments have been facing the risk of lacking successors for many years.

In the new era, digital space has created both opportunities and great challenges when "fast, cheap, easy-to-watch" entertainment products flood the internet, overwhelming true spiritual values. Meanwhile, public art - especially urban fine arts and sculptures - has not yet played its role in "beautifying the soul" and creating a distinctive identity. Although Ho Chi Minh City is a large city with a vibrant artistic life, from the perspective of Professor Dr. Nguyen Xuan Tien, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association, literature and art here, especially fine arts, still "lacks outstanding works" and lacks integration with the urban space.

Assessing the causes of these shortcomings, in many forums, most artists and writers believe that the fundamental cause is still due to the current policy "not yet being implemented"; the mechanism for organizing competitions, festivals, and commissioning works is still confusing and heavily administrative. The implementation of Conclusion 84-KL/TW on transferring the role of organizing festivals and performances to professional associations is still slow, causing artistic activities to lack professional standards and lack professional verification...

Unleash creativity and innovate operating structures

To clear the bottlenecks to create conditions for the country's literature and arts to develop more strongly, perhaps the most important thing, as Professor Dr. Nguyen Xuan Tien, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association, affirmed at the Scientific Conference of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Literature and Arts Associations, is that we must innovate the institution and transfer real power in the spirit of Conclusion 84-KL/TW; define roles in which state agencies play a management role, while creativity and professional organization belong to professional associations, artists and creative units; transfer real power to organize festivals and performances to professional associations; consider professional associations as the subject of criticism and appraisal. In addition, it is also necessary to perfect a flexible and transparent legal corridor and reduce administrative procedures for art projects.

To prevent the situation of "running for achievements" and improve the quality of art, many artists also agree that it is necessary to build a mechanism of "autonomy - responsibility - transparency" for literary and artistic associations, especially in large cities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi .

In addition to mechanism innovation, it is necessary to increase key investment and create a professional creative environment. The State needs to focus resources on priority areas, major works on contemporary themes, traditional arts, public art projects, digital creation and multimedia arts, training young talents... In particular, it is necessary to form a public-private partnership model in culture and arts, encourage businesses to invest in public art, film, theater, cultural industry...

Investing in creative human resources is a "valuable capital", so it is necessary to strongly shift to training according to market needs and new creative trends, strengthen international cooperation, and send young artists to study and practice art abroad. Study programs need to go hand in hand with creative practice spaces, and need to support first creations and provide digital platforms to promote works for young artists.

Finally, through forums, artists and managers have affirmed the particularly important role of developing theory and criticism. Strong development of theory and criticism is key to awakening the role of aesthetic guidance. Only when criticism is strong, the flow of art will be pure; true values will be honored; and deviations will be corrected.

Once synchronous solutions are implemented, together with high political determination and broad social consensus, we can completely believe that our country's literature and arts will have a new step of development, truly being the spiritual foundation and driving force contributing to building a prosperous and happy country.

Thanh Thao

Source: https://nhandan.vn/khoi-thong-diem-nghen-doi-moi-tu-duy-va-co-che-de-van-hoc-nghe-thuat-phat-trien-post928050.html