Literature and art about revolutionary war still flow forever.

The flow of history is endless.

Revolutionary literature and art flourished during the two great resistance wars of the nation and continued to be inherited and promoted in the period after 1975. This genre of works not only truly reflects the glorious feats of arms but also spreads patriotism and national pride. Although no longer occupying a central position as in the period 1945-1975, these themes still play a strong guiding and spreading role in the country's literary and artistic life.

The Vietnam People's Army participates in United Nations peacekeeping - a topic that has not yet been exploited in current literature and art.

Writer Chu Lai affirmed: “The theme of war is a “super theme” and the character of the soldier is a “super character”. It is not only limited to the battlefield but also affects many areas of life”. Works such as Footprints of a Soldier (Nguyen Minh Chau), The Sorrow of War (Bao Ninh) or the song Unforgettable Song (Pham Minh Tuan)... have become deep marks in the minds of many generations.

From the perspective of innovation, writer Nguyen Minh Ngoc emphasized: “Works about revolutionary war not only reflect the sacrifices of soldiers but also highlight the humanistic spirit, patriotism and resilience of the nation”. In fact, since 1986, the perspective on war in literature and art has undergone many changes. The works not only recreate the feats but also exploit the consequences of war, post-war pain, and silent sacrifices; still maintaining the core value: depicting the image of “Uncle Ho’s soldiers” in all historical periods, from fighting to protect the Fatherland to peacetime to building the country.

Writer Nguyen Viet Chien also said: “Composing about the armed forces and revolutionary war is not simply recording events, but must portray the thoughts and feelings of the people involved. Literature and art must not only honor the past but also inspire the future.”

Challenges and directions in the new era

Besides the achievements, literature and art on the theme of revolutionary war are facing many challenges. The number of works is large but few are of excellent quality, worthy of the title. Contemporary themes about "Uncle Ho's soldiers", about today's soldiers in the mission of being ready to fight, protecting the sovereignty of borders, islands, fighting natural disasters, epidemics, keeping peace... are still lacking. Globalization also leads to the introduction of hybrid culture, some artists follow low tastes, distort history, "de-sacred" historical figures...

Writer Nguyen Minh Ngoc emphasized: “It is necessary to create conditions for artists, even those outside the army, to have the opportunity to penetrate reality, eat, live and work with soldiers to understand more deeply the lives of soldiers in peacetime”. Meanwhile, Dr. Ngo Phuong Lan said: “We must promote and communicate so that works about revolutionary war can reach a wider audience of young people, especially on digital platforms”. One of the major problems today is the lack of successors. The creative team that experienced the war is now old, while the young generation is less attached to this topic. Writer Chu Lai pondered: “War and soldiers are big topics, but no work has reached the peak. This generation has not done it yet, the next generation will do it”.

In order to overcome these limitations, many artists have proposed key solutions to promote the development of literature and art on the theme of revolutionary war. Writer Tran Van Tuan emphasized: "It is necessary to raise awareness of the role of this theme in the process of innovation, integration and development of the country". At the same time, it is necessary to innovate creative methods, take advantage of modern technology to popularize works to the public, especially the youth.

Dr. Doan Minh Tam, Army Literature Magazine, suggested: “We must eliminate one-sided views on war, instead of focusing on propaganda, we need to move towards a more realistic, profound, and humane perspective”. To do that, many opinions say that artists need to proactively seek out documents, go to the old battlefields, and study historical witnesses from both sides to have a more objective perspective. In addition, nurturing the young creative generation is also a key factor. Writer Nguyen Binh Phuong, Vice President of the Vietnam Writers Association, emphasized: “Revolutionary war is a topic that never gets old, but the way it is exploited must always be innovated to suit the times”.

MAI AN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dong-van-hoc-nghe-thuat-ve-chien-tranh-cach-mang-van-chay-mai-post787844.html