Culture is not just about flags, lanterns, trumpets, and drums.

Traveling far and wide to learn about the positive transformation of culture.

Immediately after the 2021 National Cultural Conference, journalist Bui Thoa of the Vietnam Communist Party's online newspaper was assigned by the Editorial Board to directly implement numerous topics and programs on culture, such as: cultural industry; cultural heritage; behavioral culture, workplace culture; building national values, cultural values, family values ​​and standards for the new era; cultural revival… in accordance with the spirit of the Party's 13th National Congress Resolution and the directives of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the 2021 National Cultural Conference.

To carry out these projects, journalist Bui Thoa and her colleagues traveled extensively throughout the provinces and cities of Dien Bien, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Bac Ninh , Quang Ninh, and Ho Chi Minh City… to learn about the positive transformations in culture since the Resolution of the 13th National Congress illuminated the way.

“Besides regularly visiting local communities, I also frequently go to museums or heritage sites in need of rescue, festivals or historical sites, sometimes theaters with diverse performances, or lively coffee chats with artists and cultural experts… Many times, seeing me like this, my children ask, ‘Mom, what are you doing? You’re always just going out to have fun!’” – Ms. Bui Thoa shared.

It's true that if you don't understand culture, you'll see it as just "flags, lights, trumpets, drums...", dancing, singing... people working in culture get to have fun, but in reality, working in culture is very difficult and arduous, no less demanding than other fields.

Journalist Bui Thoa recounted: "The performances and major programs often took place on holidays or evenings. After working hard all day and all week, we had to continue working at events on Saturdays and Sundays. Sometimes we had to work through the night; it was normal for us to have no days off."

Journalist Bui Thoa (second from the left) and the team of authors.

Choosing to write about the cultural field is very difficult and sensitive. If a reporter is not "sharp," "sensitive," and possesses a certain level of insight, it is very easy to make mistakes and go astray. Therefore, to ensure that the articles accurately reflect the policies of the Party and the State, while also conveying the necessary messages, Ms. Thoa and her colleagues had to carefully read and research the Party's directives on the cultural field. Many times, they had to reread the material many times before an idea came to mind.

“We chose this topic not only because it is a major policy throughout the Party Congresses and was especially emphasized at the 13th Party Congress, but also because we believe that cultural revitalization is the source and root of all development. This is one of the most important tasks in building the spiritual foundation and internal strength; creating an important driving force for national development as set forth by the 13th Party Congress,” journalist Bui Thoa shared.

It's deeply ingrained in our lives, like "food and water every day."

This series of five articles addresses the issue of cultural revitalization, a major and consistent policy of the Party not only through its Party Congresses but throughout the process of building, developing, and defending the nation. Because they were undertaking such a major topic, reflecting a significant policy of the Party and the State, journalist Bui Thoa and her colleagues had to prepare very carefully.

The team had to divide up the tasks: gathering materials; interviewing experts and managers; preparing photographic materials, editing photos , etc. “After gathering the basic materials, we began implementing each article with clear ideas and messages. During the process, the biggest challenge and obstacle was probably interviewing top leaders of various sectors and units… and researching documents and directives from the Party in this field.”

During the process of creating the work, journalist Bui Thoa was particularly impressed by the interviews with leaders of relevant agencies and units. Listening to their explanations broadened her horizons and gave her many insights that would not have been possible if she had only read and researched documents.

"Through conversations and interviews with experts and managers, I not only gained more material for my articles but also accumulated a great deal of knowledge and experience to equip myself for my work and life," journalist Bui Thoa expressed.

For example, experts have very different views on the issue of "cultural revival." Some believe it should be used, while others argue against it, suggesting it could easily lead to the misunderstanding that current culture is at its lowest point, when in reality, modern culture is still developing.

Faced with such differing viewpoints, journalist Bui Thoa and her colleagues need a discerning filter. Cultural revitalization simply means making culture more developed. If culture is already developed now, then in the future it will develop even further, as set out in the objectives of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Cultural revival aims to enhance soft power and internal strength, igniting the aspiration for a prosperous and happy nation.

While the content preparation for the article was meticulous, journalist Bui Thoa also paid close attention to selecting and designing images that were accurate, relevant to the content, and clearly illustrated the article's ideas. She and her colleagues spent just as much time and effort on this as they did on creating the content itself.

“Many nights, Thanh Thao – the main designer for the series – and I would exchange and send back and forth design ideas until one or two in the morning. Although young, Thanh Thao is very responsible and quite meticulous in her work, and she has many creative ideas for designing images that I never expected when working with her,” Ms. Thoa shared.

To revitalize culture, it's not just about beautiful ideas on paper, empty slogans, or stories of movements… but about concrete, practical, meaningful, and effective actions that deeply permeate daily life, like "eating and drinking every day." This is the important message that this series of articles aims to affirm and convey to readers.

In addition, the five-part series "The Story of Cultural Revival" also presents many viewpoints and solutions on cultural development and revival so that culture truly becomes the "spiritual foundation," the "driving force for development," and the "guiding light for the nation."

Hoang Anh

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/van-hoa-khong-chi-la-co-den-ken-trong-post299597.html