Building "soft resources"

Vietnamese literature and arts are undergoing profound changes. Globalization, digital technology, artificial intelligence and dramatic changes in social structures and cultural and artistic reception habits create unprecedented opportunities, while also posing severe challenges.

People visit the Exhibition of 50 typical literary and artistic works, 50 typical construction works/construction clusters, 50 outstanding events and activities of Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: Organizing Committee)

Creating a strategic development orientation for literature and art has become an urgent requirement, not only to preserve and promote national identity but also to strongly integrate Vietnamese culture and people into international life, contributing to the sustainable development of the country.

Requirements of the times

Throughout history, Vietnamese literature and art have had many proud achievements. From rich and unique folk literature to classic literary works, from traditional theater to cinema, music , and modern fine arts, many works have affirmed their ideological and artistic values ​​and left a lasting impression on the community's consciousness.

Many works have been translated and introduced to the world , won international awards, and contributed to bringing the image of Vietnam and its people closer to friends around the world.

Nowadays, the participation of a generation of young artists with the awareness of preserving traditional cultural values ​​and actively absorbing the quintessence of human culture has created a new breeze in the country's literary and artistic creation.

However, we also need to look directly at the reality: Vietnamese literature and art still lack long-term and comprehensive development strategies. Artistic activities are often fragmented, without inter-sectoral coordination to create an ecosystem that nurtures top-notch works.

The book, theater, film, and music markets have not yet formed a strong enough structure to sustainably support creative work. Meanwhile, imported cultural products are flooding in at a rapid pace, with diversity and high quality, creating fierce competition.

In the context of changing public enjoyment needs, the trend of pure entertainment is somewhat dominant, aesthetic education and fostering healthy artistic tastes become strategic tasks.

It can be seen that the exchange and penetration of world ideological and cultural trends is inevitable, but without strategic orientation, social spiritual life can easily be caught up in short-term, superficial tastes, reducing cultural depth.

Since the August Revolution of 1945, Vietnamese literature and art have always been closely associated with the revolutionary cause. President Ho Chi Minh once affirmed: “Culture and art are also a front. You are soldiers on that front”. That guiding ideology has become the compass for the process of building a revolutionary literature and art for the people, for the Fatherland.

Artists in today's era need to absorb the spirit of previous generations and be creative to meet the demands of the new era. (Photo: LE MINH)

In the Party Congresses, the issue of culture and art has always been placed at the center of human development and national development. Resolution of the 5th Central Committee, Session VIII (1998) determined: Building and developing an advanced Vietnamese culture with a strong national identity.

At the 9th Central Conference of the 11th Term (2014), our Party continued to emphasize the requirement for comprehensive development of the field of literature and arts, considering culture as the spiritual foundation of society, both the goal and the driving force for development.

In the XIII Congress Document, the Party requested: Focus on improving the quality and effectiveness of cultural and artistic forms. Pay attention to enhancing ideological and artistic values, while ensuring freedom and democracy in literary and artistic creation; encourage new explorations to enrich Vietnamese cultural identity; limit deviations and manifestations of following trivial tastes. Pay attention to and create conditions for the development of culture and arts of ethnic minorities.

The correct policies and guidelines of the Party and State have created conditions for many art forms to recover and develop; socialization mechanisms have been encouraged, and cultural institutions have been gradually consolidated.

However, there are still some limitations, such as: Investment resources are still scattered; the mechanism for protecting copyright and related rights is not strong enough; funding policies are scattered; management is sometimes bureaucratic and lacks flexibility.

Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son, full-time member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society, analyzed: To develop literature and art sustainably, it is necessary to continue to improve institutions, encourage socialization, increase investment, and at the same time innovate funding mechanisms towards transparency and flexibility, creating a favorable environment for artists to create.

Seize the opportunity to grow

The digital age opens up new opportunities for literature and art. Online platforms, e-publishing, digital music, and movies released via OTT platforms are changing the way works are produced, distributed, and received.

Digitizing heritage, applying artificial intelligence in creation, and promoting works on international platforms such as Netflix, Spotify, Kindle, etc. can help Vietnamese literature and art reach a global audience.

However, the current reality shows that we still lack a systematic strategy to take advantage of this opportunity. Start-ups in the creative content sector have not received adequate support; cooperation with international platforms is limited; many artists are not familiar with new technology.

On the other hand, the demands of international integration also pose challenges to identity. How to preserve and promote traditional cultural values, while at the same time innovating and keeping up with the trends of the times?

This is not an easy problem, requiring close coordination between State policy, artists' efforts and society's support.

In order for Vietnamese literature and art to truly become a soft resource, contributing to enhancing the country's position in the new era, it is necessary to build a comprehensive, long-term development strategy, focusing on the main orientations: First, it is necessary to clearly identify that literature and art not only meet the spiritual needs of all classes of people, but also actively contribute to the development of the country's cultural industry.

Therefore, it is necessary to innovate mechanisms and policies for developing literature and art in an open and flexible direction, creating a healthy creative environment, encouraging experimentation, nurturing talent, and strengthening the team of artists who are both creatively talented and have political mettle and a sense of responsibility.

It is necessary to continue to improve the legal system on copyright, protect the legitimate interests of artists; increase investment and socialize resources for literature and art; build a creative ecosystem for literature and art associated with the cultural industry, and promote the application of digital technology.

In addition, it is necessary to develop a cultural and artistic market connected with tourism, education, and media to expand the space of influence of literature and art; proactively introduce Vietnamese works to the world, participate in international art events, and cooperate with global platforms, thereby promoting the image of Vietnam as rich in identity, creativity, and integration.

Vietnamese literature and art are facing a great opportunity to break through. Creating a strategic orientation for literature and art in the new era is to create a cultural future for the nation that is both imbued with Vietnamese identity and in harmony with humanity.

LU MAI and THI PHONG

Source: https://nhandan.vn/xay-dung-nguon-luc-mem-post909038.html