Every artist is a soldier on the cultural and ideological front.

With the mission of soldiers on the cultural and ideological front, the team of artists through the ages have always made constant efforts and strived, using their talent and personality to create quality works, leaving a strong impression in the hearts of readers, accompanying the development of the homeland and country.

Thanh Hoa Literature and Arts Association fosters literary creation in mountainous areas. Photo: HT

In every field and profession, there are patriotic people. They are like flowers that contribute to the blooming flower garden. In 1943, the "Outline of Vietnamese Culture" drafted by General Secretary Truong Chinh was widely promulgated to the people. At this time, the responsibility of artists and writers is to do what is worthy to achieve the goal and fulfill their mission of "culture illuminating the way for the nation". Each work of literature and art is not like an arrow, a sword, a spear... or like a gun, cannon, grenade, tank, blockbuster..., but sometimes has immeasurable destructive power. Patriotism, spirit, revolutionary will are "displayed" in literary and art works in different ways.

Since 1942, poet Song Hong (pen name of General Secretary Truong Chinh) composed the long poem "Being a poet". In it, the author affirmed the role and mission of artists in the new era as having to aim for a noble task: "Being a poet means following the new wind/ Finding poetic ideas on the waves of Bach Dang/ Letting the soul overflow with Chi Lang/ Immortalizing the heroic battle of Dong Da/ Pouring out all one's enthusiasm/ Watering the hearts of fellow human beings at the end of winter"...

When the country gained independence (1945), the Ho Chi Minh era opened, artists and writers further promoted the spirit and determination to live and write as soldiers on the cultural and ideological front. With the article "Receiving the Way" written by writer Nguyen Dinh Thi in 1948, Nguyen Dinh Thi clearly stated his views on the role of literature and art in the new era: "Literature and art serve the resistance, but it is the resistance that gives literature and art a new vitality. The iron and fire of the front are forging our new literature and art"...

From the reality of the two long resistance wars against the French and the Americans of the nation together with the active participation of artists and writers, great names were created in the literary world, a series of works were born, creating the stature of the era. And the works that have had a lasting vitality in schools, from then until now, no other work can replace them, such as the short stories: "The Village" by Kim Lan, "The Eyes" by Nam Cao; the poems: "Comrade" by Chinh Huu, "Tay Tien" by Quang Dung; "Pha Duong", "Bam Oi", "Luom" by To Huu...

The 9-year resistance war against French colonialism also left many strong impressions in the hearts of the public. Great names such as Nam Cao, Nguyen Tuan, Nguyen Cong Hoan, Nguyen Huy Tuong, To Hoai, Xuan Dieu, Che Lan Vien, Huy Can, Ngo Tat To, Nguyen Van Bong, Nong Quoc Chan, Huu Loan, Tran Mai Ninh, Hoang Cam... During the period of the nation's resistance war against the US, a powerful creative team, worthy of supplementing and continuing the country's literature, was more significant than ever. In prose, there are great names such as Nguyen Minh Chau, Anh Duc, Bui Hien, Nguyen Ngoc, Nguyen Quang Sang, Nguyen Thanh Long, Nguyen Khai, Ma Van Khang, Ho Phuong, Do Chu, Le Luu, Le Van Thao, Xuan Thieu, Huu Mai, Nguyen Thi, Vo Huy Tam, Dao Vu, Son Nam, Phan Tu, Tran Dinh Van... In poetry, there are authors: Hoang Trung Thong, Le Anh Xuan, Nguyen Khoa Diem, Pham Tien Duat, Vu Quan Phuong, Thu Bon, Thanh Thao, Bang Viet, Xuan Quynh, Luu Quang Vu, Huu Thinh, Y Phuong, Tran Manh Hao, Nguyen Duy, Phan Thi Thanh Nhan, Nguyen Duc Mau, Tran Dang Khoa... The authors listed above may still have many shortcomings, but with just these many representative names and the massive treasure trove of works they have brought is enough to show a literary stature that has carried the value of the times. And if in this day and age there is no fierce commitment, dedication, innovation and creativity to find a new direction, it will be difficult to overcome that lush, green shadow.

On June 16, 2008, the Politburo (10th tenure) issued Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW on continuing to build and develop literature and arts in the new period. The Resolution identified the achievements that Vietnamese literature has achieved since 1975, such as the increasingly large number of creative forces; works reflecting social life becoming more and more vivid and rich; the dissemination of works has expanded, not only domestically but also translated and published in many countries around the world. The Resolution affirmed: Literature and arts are an important and particularly delicate part of culture, directly affecting the views, perceptions, thoughts, feelings and aesthetics of the majority of people, and are one of the great resources that directly contribute to building an advanced culture imbued with national identity.

Literature in every era must be imbued with the national soul, because the nation is the source, the source of inspiration for literature and art. Whether your work is as massive as a thousand-page novel or as thin as a few verses or parallel sentences, it must contain the colors of the land where you live and be proud of the source that nourishes you. The Fatherland is the place where we breathe pure, clear air; water our souls with soft folk songs; awaken in us the spirit and pride of thousands of years of our ancestors building and defending the country. Surely our soul, from the navel to the voice, actions, thoughts, all carry the style and character of the Vietnamese people. Literary works must deeply and firmly reflect this issue in order to have worthy works...

Our country has different moments, with light and dark shades. But the nation is determined to be just one entity and operates according to the progressive trend of mankind. The Vietnamese nation is a nation of thousands of years of poetry. That is the spiritual source flowing in the hearts of the people from time immemorial. So, the mission of artists is that even blades of grass and leaves must be imbued with the chlorophyll of the homeland. Insects and small creatures can also drink the sweet milk of the beloved motherland. Each artist should live to the fullest and devote all their efforts to "exploring unexplored sources" and "creating what has not yet existed", knowing how to devote themselves to creating the stature of a national literature, accompanying the development of the homeland and the country.

Pham Van Dung (Contributor)

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/moi-van-nghe-si-la-mot-chien-si-tren-mat-tran-van-hoa-tu-tuong-221175.htm