The obstacle to literature is the writer.

On the morning of September 16, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers Association Nguyen Quang Thieu mentioned the obstacles of Vietnamese literature over the past 50 years, including the role of writers.

Outstanding works mentioned in the workshop include Mau Thuong Ngan, Crossroads and Lampposts, Woman on the Express Train, Endless Field - Photo archive

Mr. Thieu's speech opened the conference summarizing Vietnamese literature after 1975: Basic achievements, appearance, trends and genres.

The writer must answer who he is?

Besides the achievements, Mr. Thieu emphasized the need to determine what has been hindering Vietnamese literature over the past 50 years and making it unsuitable for what we desire.

Mr. Thieu believes that the reality of life in our country is very diverse, rich, and full of changes, such as the situation of the country after 1975, the renovation process, the anti-corruption issue... there are many materials to help writers create.

However, according to Mr. Thieu, the most prominent, cumbersome, and complicated obstacle is the writers themselves. He asks whether writers are brave enough to embark on the creative process?

Mr. Nguyen Quang Thieu speaks at the conference - Photo: L.DOAN

"I feel that for a long time now, many writers have built for themselves an unreasonable safety zone, not daring to engage in artistic creation, in discovery, and in setting topics" - Mr. Thieu pondered.

And Mr. Thieu stated the point of view that writers need to go through the beaten path, break the rules, and break the iron chains in their heads to have breakthrough literary works.

Agreeing with Mr. Thieu, writer Hoang Quy shared that writers themselves must answer: Writer, who are you? If you cannot answer, you will be like what is already available.

"There are writers who have answered who they are, demonstrating through their works that they have made useful contributions to literature and art over the past 50 years. However, there are writers who cannot know what they are lacking, which I think is a lack of courage.

We keep talking in circles, trying to satisfy everyone, but in fact, many writers are both greedy for fame and seductive, which is sad. When you are brave enough to answer who you are, your works will be better" - Mr. Quy emphasized.

Besides the "barriers" from writers, Mr. Thieu also mentioned the shortcomings in the management of literature and art, the ability of readers to receive literary works...

Outstanding achievements from the renovation process

Many delegates gave their views and objective assessments of what we have achieved in literature over the past 50 years, especially after the 1986 renovation period. The State's policies have brought about changes in many aspects and fields of the country, including literature and art.

Poet Phan Hoang acknowledged that this period saw major, positive, and more open changes in thinking. Many trends previously considered "problematic" were re-evaluated and their value re-examined. Literary trends thus developed more diversely.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thanh Thi's research shows that there is a shift in writing from epic thinking to novel thinking. He gives clear examples from three famous writers and poets whose works left a strong impression before 1975 and after 1975.

They are Tran Dan with People, People, Layers (1954) and the excellent work Crossroads and Lampposts (published in 2011); Nguyen Minh Chau with River Mouth, Last Moon in the Forest, Soldier's Footprints ... before 1975 and The Boat Out in the Distance, Woman on the Express Train (after 1975); Nguyen Xuan Khanh with Deep Forest (before 1975) and after 1975 a series of works such as Ho Quy Ly, Mother of the Upper Realm, Carrying Rice to the Pagoda...

Dr. Tran Le Hoa Tranh raises the issue of cultural exchange and assimilation of Vietnamese literature in the new era. Currently, the translation and publication of good foreign books in Vietnam is quite fast, right after these books win international awards.

Vietnamese works are also translated internationally, but there are still shortcomings. In today's global era, reaching out to the world to introduce Vietnamese culture through literary works is very important. We need to research and take systematic steps to gradually affirm Vietnam's position on the world literary map.

After the workshop in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Writers Association will continue to organize workshops in Da Nang and Hanoi to have an overview, correctly evaluate the achievements, current situation and effective solutions for Vietnamese literature.

During the conference, many opinions were concerned about the role of critical theory in the development of Vietnamese literature. Some people said that it has been a long time since there have been any interesting debates about poetry and literature.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Thai said that critics must at least know how to "read the words" to understand the profound meanings, from there evaluate and comment accurately because praising and criticizing correctly is not easy and convincing for those in the profession.

LINH DOAN - LAN HUONG

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vat-can-cua-van-hoc-chinh-la-nha-van-20250917104522912.htm