Da Nang Literature before the New Era

City readers attend the reading culture festival at the Da Nang General Science Library. Photo: DOAN HAO LUONG

The city's literature is constantly evolving.

Over the past 50 years, Da Nang city’s literature and arts have produced many outstanding works and creative works with valuable content, ideas, and artistic quality, consistent with the national cultural identity and cultural characteristics of the city, meeting the spiritual needs of the people. Up to now, there have been 113 writers of generations before and after 1975, especially the veteran writers with rich writing experience since the war and the young writers after 1986 who are dynamic and enthusiastic on the path of literary creation with passion and happiness on each page.

Looking back at the literary creation journey of Da Nang writers after 1975, poet Nguyen Kim Huy, Chairman of the City Writers' Association, said that over the past 50 years, many authors who are members of the City Writers' Association have continuously introduced themselves to readers near and far every year with many works that have had a wide influence and have been awarded many international and national literary awards..., notably with names recognized by readers such as: Phan Tu, Hoang Chau Ky, Thu Bon (Ho Chi Minh Prize for Literature and Arts); Luu Trung Duong, Thai Ba Loi, Thanh Que (State Prize for Literature and Arts); Vinh Quyen (ASEAN Literature Award 2021)...

Works of literary value that are highly appreciated by readers and have been awarded international awards (ASEAN Literature, Mekong Literature), national (Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations, Vietnam Writers Association, Central Council for Literature and Arts Theory and Criticism; 5-year and annual literature and arts of provinces and cities...) and city (5-year periodic literature and arts awards of the City People's Committee, annual awards of the Union of Literature and Arts Associations of the City and the City Writers Association) by authors who are members of the Writers Association are compiled and introduced quite richly by the Da Nang Writers Association in the Anthology "Da Nang Writers Association - Award-winning works 2001-2021" (Da Nang Publishing House, 2022).

Each year, 10 to 18 literary and poetic works of the association’s members are published and introduced, many of which are widely received and highly appreciated by readers. In particular, it is worth noting the constant and persistent creation of works that clearly reflect the breath and vitality of the new era by young authors such as: Le Hang, Vu Ngoc Giao, Tran Ngoc Duc, Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, Truong Thi Bach My, Le Hai Ky, Tran Thien Huong, etc.

Poet Thanh Que believes that with the increasingly large number of writers, many literary works have been published, including quality works, Da Nang writers have made their mark on the map of Vietnamese literature. From the movement of writing, researching, and criticizing literature in Da Nang, talented writers have emerged, admitted to the Vietnam Writers Association, contributing to the development of the main creative force of the country's literature.

Towards works with contemporary style

Dr. Doan Thanh No, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations, said that in 50 years of accompanying the country's literature and arts, the team of artists from Da Nang has left their mark through many outstanding works, with profound content, ideology, art and aesthetic values. These works not only reflect vivid reality but also enrich the national cultural and artistic treasure, contributing to affirming the position of Vietnamese literature and arts in the international arena.

Literary and artistic works of the city's artists and writers reflect relatively comprehensively the cause of innovation and development of the city and the country, affirming new factors, new examples, fighting and criticizing the bad and evil, arousing and promoting the historical values, good traditions of the homeland, country and people of Da Nang. Specifically, there are works, works, authors that have won typical titles in the past 50 years such as: Ho Chi Minh Prize, State Prize for Literature and Arts; Mekong River Literature Prize...

However, in reality, most Da Nang writers write as a part-time job. Most of them are attached to stable jobs that can support themselves and their families, such as journalists, doctors, teachers, businesses, etc. Only when they retire, do writers leave their jobs to devote themselves to living and writing as writers, becoming full-time, professional writers. Therefore, in order for writers to become professional writers, the city needs to have short-term and long-term programs and plans to invest, build, and train professional writers. When there are professional writers, there is hope for the appearance of great works with the stature of the times, carrying the breath of modern life to leave for the future.

“To have a great work, each writer must not only devote himself to pursuing a clear, correct, and new literary artistic ideal, expressing it strongly and consistently in each page of his writing, but also must have time to invest effort in his work professionally,” writer Nguyen Kim Huy shared.

Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW of the Politburo (12th tenure) on building and developing Da Nang city to 2030, with a vision to 2045, identifies building and developing Da Nang city as one of the country's cultural and sports centers; a center for organizing regional and international events. To successfully implement the goals set out in Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW, the role and responsibility of the Union of Literature and Arts Associations and the city's artists and writers are important.

In addition to promoting creative activities and promoting works rich in humanity, deeply educating national traditions, historical traditions and revolution, the team of writers needs to have works that truly reflect social life, practically serving the cause of building culture and people of Da Nang. Only then, the literary creation movement will have new developments with works bearing the stature of the times, reflecting the remarkable development of the city.

DOAN HAO LUONG

Source: https://baodanang.vn/channel/5414/202503/van-hoc-da-nang-truoc-thoi-dai-moi-4002837/