"Literature of My Time" - a sober and humane perspective on contemporary literature

Recently, Associate Professor, Doctor Phung Gia The - a prestigious literary researcher and critic, who has been involved in training activities and literary life for many years - has launched the book of essays and criticism "Literature of My Time".

The book of essays and criticism "Literature of my time" by Associate Professor, Dr. Phung Gia The.

In recent years, in the space of Vietnamese literary creation and criticism, the name of Associate Professor, Doctor Phung Gia The (working at Hanoi Pedagogical University 2) has appeared with a style and contributions full of personality, seriousness and responsibility.

"Literature of My Time" includes 32 articles divided into two main parts, reflecting the author's two parallel interests: Theoretical and practical issues of contemporary literature and typical creative figures of the renovation and post-renovation periods.

In the first part, the author focuses on articles summarizing literary life, such as: "Literary theory, criticism and changes", "The joys and sorrows of literary life at school", "Literary activities in contemporary life", "Contemporary: a literary space near and far...", "Marxist theoretical and critical thinking in current literary research", or "Literature is gradually losing readers", "ChatGPT, writing, reading and other things"...

The second part of the book includes portraits and literary sketches. The author devotes much affection and effort to contemporary writers and poets: Doan Minh Phuong, La Nguyen, Van Gia, Hoang Dang Khoa, Do Nguyen Thuong, Le Anh Hoai, Nguyen Tien Thanh, Binh Nguyen Trang, Ho Minh Tam, Hoang Cuc, Nhu Binh, Tran Thang, Thy Nguyen, Lu Mai, Nguyen Thi Kim Nhung, Tran Nhat Minh, Nguyen Khac Ngan Vi, Nguyen Phu, Do Anh Vu, Chu Thi Minh Hue, Nguyen The Hoang Linh, the new Binh Dinh poetry group...

Associate Professor, Dr. Phung Gia The.

With a writing style that is both subtle and scientific , the author depicts the creative appearance of each person, and at the same time sketches a vivid picture of Vietnamese literature in the integration period with many efforts to find a unique voice and affirm personal identity.

Commenting on this elaborate work, journalist-poet Tran Nhat Minh said: This is the result of a journey of persistent, quiet but powerful work by critic-teacher Phung Gia The - who is "getting into the groove" with a mature, confident and alert style. The author asserts himself through profound and thoughtful books.

According to journalist Tran Nhat Minh, the collection of essays and criticisms is just enough in volume but rich in emotion and academics. Phung Gia The's writing style is a blend of "four people in one": a serious critic, a charming teacher, a quick journalist and a delicate writer. It is this interweaving that makes the text both academic, lively and approachable.

Associate Professor, Doctor Phung Gia The writes with a beautiful attitude towards words and people; caring about each author and work with a scientific eye but also with a friendly heart - "emotional criticism". That makes the work full of dialogue, encouraging creativity. Poet Tran Nhat Minh evaluates this as a "warm-to-read" criticism style, completely different from the usual extreme praise and criticism.

Educator and critic Phung Gia The (second from left) at the launch of the essay-critic collection "Literary Dangers".

The highlight that journalist Tran Nhat Minh emphasized is "code" - a characteristic concept in Phung Gia The's critical thinking. Accordingly, the author seeks "human code", "work code", "living code", "written code"... to decode literature and creative people. This approach helps the author reflect broader portraits placed in the vast space of contemporary literature.

Associate Professor, Doctor Phung Gia The is a typical face of a generation of scholars who have a blend of the qualities of a teacher and the courage of a writer who wants to dialogue with literature. What is easily recognizable in him is the way he creates his own voice and point of view. The author writes not to affirm the power of a critic but to deeply inspire faith in words, in writers and the vitality of creativity.

Contributions to: "Signs of postmodernism in contemporary Vietnamese prose" (monograph, Hanoi National University Publishing House, 2016); "Vietnamese literature after 1986 - Criticism and dialogue" (critical essay, Literature Publishing House, 2016); "Literature and women - Some issues of theory and history" (editor, The Gioi Publishing House, 2016); "Literary dangerous land" (essay-criticism, Writers Association Publishing House, 2023) and most recently "Literature of my time", demonstrate a series of critical thinking journeys of writing to understand, share and go to the end.

Phung Gia The does not advocate "theorizing literature", although he is very knowledgeable about modern theory. For the author, criticism is not separated from life; each article is a bridge between research and creation, between the lecture hall and literary practice. He is a writer capable of reconciling two levels - academic and popular - so that his articles ensure professional and receptive value. His intelligence, sophistication in language, flexibility in argument and humanistic spirit in viewpoint have created a unique style, often like a form of soul-mate conversation.

Associate Professor, Doctor Phung Gia The is a teacher respected by many generations of pedagogical students.

In addition to his research role, Associate Professor, Dr. Phung Gia The is also a teacher who plays an important role in inspiring many generations of students in the field of education to read and write. In the classroom, he helps students understand literary criticism to improve their academics, discipline and, most importantly, their love of literature. In life, he aims to open up decent dialogues, because "criticism without dialogue is just a monologue".

In the writing world, anyone who has met Phung Gia The remembers his gentle smile and warm, friendly voice. He often appears in literary meetings with sincere, open, and kind feelings. From critical discussions, academic roundtables, to intimate appointments, he spends a lot of time listening, always making the person he is talking to feel respected.

As a teacher and researcher, but above all, Phung Gia The is a connecting factor, sociable without being ostentatious, intimate without being sloppy... so that all conversations or writings open up sincerity about words, career, and life. That is why, whether you are a veteran artist or a young writer, you will find in him a companionship in listening and encouraging. Writing about "the literature of my time", the author also quietly lives and contributes in that literary period, where the connections become a source of energy for a reliable journey.

It can be said that Phung Gia The’s journey is the journey of a person who studies with love, and criticizes with personality. He goes through the “dangerous terrain” of literature to affirm the meaning of literary criticism when it focuses on people and illuminates human qualities in literature.

MAI LU

Source: https://nhandan.vn/van-hoc-thoi-toi-goc-nhin-tinh-tao-va-nhan-ai-ve-van-chuong-duong-dai-post919523.html