Awarding prizes to 20 works of literary and artistic theory and criticism published in 2021

Comrade Nguyen Trong Nghia, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Central Propaganda Department, presented the A-level prize to the group of authors with the work "Public space in the context of transformation". Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA

The awarding of prizes for works of literary and artistic theory and criticism in 2021 is the encouragement and support of the Central Party Secretariat for works such as books, articles, radio and television programs, works of literary and artistic theory and criticism with high ideological and artistic value, meeting the requirements of improving the quality of creation and the leadership orientation of the Party and State in the field of literature and art.

Party Central Committee Secretary, Head of the Party Central Committee's Propaganda Department Nguyen Trong Nghia, on behalf of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat, attended and directly directed the ceremony.

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen The Ky, Chairman of the Central Council for Theory and Criticism of Literature and Arts, speaks. Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the award ceremony, Chairman of the Central Council for Theory and Criticism of Literature and Art Nguyen The Ky emphasized that literature and art are extremely important and necessary forms of artistic creation for the cultural and spiritual life of people. Resolution 23-NQ/TW of the Politburo (10th tenure) "On continuing to build and develop literature and art in the new period" clearly stated: "Continue to research, innovate, and develop literature and art, improve scientificity and persuasiveness, contribute to guiding and adjusting literary and artistic criticism".

Deeply aware of and appreciating the position, role and great effects of literary and artistic theory and criticism, for many years now, the Central Party Secretariat has had a policy of annually awarding authors with high-quality works in both content and academics through propaganda, encouragement, appraisal, selection and nomination activities of the Central Council for Literature and Art Theory and Criticism, which have a positive effect on encouraging, supporting and promoting the development of literature and art in particular and social life in general.

Following the 6 awards presented in previous years, this year, the Central Council for Theory and Criticism of Literature and Art continues to present to the Secretariat and the Head of the Central Propaganda Department a list of 20 nominated works in three groups: General theory and criticism of literature and art; Theory and criticism of literature and art forms; and Theory and criticism of art forms with 15 books and 5 scientific articles. Among the 20 books and articles, 1 work was awarded level A, 9 works were awarded level B, 8 works were awarded level C and 2 works were awarded the Encouragement level.

Awarding prizes to agencies and units that publish many works and contribute to the development of the field of literary and artistic theory and criticism in 2021. Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA

These are works that have been carefully and seriously researched with high scientific and practical values, addressing and contributing to explaining urgent issues in literary and artistic life, and having the effect of orienting theoretical work, creation, reception, and fighting against erroneous and distorted viewpoints in literary and artistic life.

The authors and groups of authors whose books and articles were awarded this time were carefully and seriously selected and reviewed from 95 works, including 39 books and 5 scientific articles sent to the Council by central and local specialized literary and artistic associations, research institutes, universities, publishing houses and press agencies. Due to the academic nature of the works, they must undergo the natural assessment of researchers and readers nationwide, so the works that were considered for voting and awarding have a 1-year delay from the time of publication. The Steering Committee and the Final Council for the Award acknowledge and highly appreciate the works of theory and criticism of literature and art, such as the works "Public space in the context of transition" (awarded level A); "A brief history of Vietnamese literature"; "Southern literature 1945-1954"; the book "Post-theory is still theory"; The book "Finding the face of La Hau"... There are 12 press and publishing units that received awards from the Secretariat for their outstanding achievements in propaganda and promotion of theoretical activities and literary and artistic criticism.

Comrade Nguyen Trong Nghia, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Central Propaganda Department, speaks. Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA

Speaking at the award ceremony, on behalf of the Secretariat, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Head of the Central Propaganda Department Nguyen Trong Nghia congratulated the authors and groups of authors whose works were awarded. Head of the Central Propaganda Department Nguyen Trong Nghia assessed that literary and artistic theory has identified more scientifically and deeply the characteristics, nature and fundamental relationships of literature and art, contributing to the innovation of creative thinking, criticism and reception. The traditional literary and artistic ideology of our ancestors has been focused on research. Many foreign literary and artistic theoretical works have been translated, introduced and applied in practice, achieving initial encouraging results. Literary and artistic criticism has made great efforts in discovering the new, the good and the beautiful in the content and form of artistic works; orienting values ​​and reception tastes; creating a bridge between artists and the public; encourage exploration, innovation, creativity and strengthen the belief of creators. However, the Head of the Central Propaganda Department noted that reality has been posing greater demands on literary and art theorists, critics, artists, as well as cultural, literary and art leadership and management agencies, in order to revive, build and develop a national, democratic, humanistic and scientific theory and criticism of literature and art.

Awarding prizes to authors with level C works. Photo: Thanh Tung/VNA

The Head of the Central Propaganda Department acknowledged that the annual awards organized by the Central Council for Theory and Criticism of Literature and Art have contributed to discovering, affirming and encouraging works of theory and criticism of literature and art of good quality, with positive effects, contributing to improving the quality of creation, promotion and reception of literature and art. In the coming time, the Head of the Central Propaganda Department hopes that the team of artists, theorists and critics of literature and art in our country will continue to integrate into the country's reality, creative practice, to fulfill the noble and glorious mission for the nation, create many works of high ideological and artistic value, meeting the aesthetic enjoyment needs of the people; contributing to bringing the national value system, cultural value system, family value system and standards of Vietnamese people in the new period into the reality of life./.

Vietnamese German