In recent days, Son Tung M-TP's MV "Come My Way" has become the focus of attention on social networks. Besides the quality of music and impressive views, this product also caused controversy because of the image of the male singer appearing on a Lac bird model.
On social networks, many viewers believe that the image of Son Tung standing on the model of Lac bird is not appropriate, and even some opinions believe that this is an act of insulting culture.
The debate stems from the fact that Lac birds have long been associated with the image on Dong Son bronze drums and are often mentioned as a symbol of historical and cultural value of the Vietnamese people.
Talking to Lao Dong about this controversy, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hoai Son - Specialized Member of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Society said that public reaction is understandable.
Because, Lac bird is a symbol of rich meaning in Vietnamese cultural life.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hoai Son shared: "I think the public should approach this story with a calm, open and dialogue attitude.
Lac Bird is a meaningful symbol in Vietnamese culture, associated with Dong Son bronze drums, with the memory of origins and the aspiration to fly up of the nation.
Therefore, the public's sensitivity to the use of this symbol is understandable.
However, we should not rush to attribute all new ways of expression to being offensive or offensive. Art has its own language, often using symbolic images to create visual sensations, depicting the spirit of rising, integration, and conquering new spaces.
The important thing is to consider the overall work, creative intention, context of expression and cultural effects that the product creates, instead of just separating a frame to judge".
According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hoai Son, bringing traditional cultural symbols into art products is an encouraging trend, because it helps heritage and traditional culture enter contemporary life and reach young audiences.
He believes that artists have the full right to innovate, break the mold and create new interpretations of traditional values.
However, creativity needs to be placed on the foundation of understanding and respecting the core values of the symbol.
For images associated with history, beliefs or national cultural identity, artists need to carefully consider the context of use, staging, costumes, expressive movements as well as the message that the work wants to convey.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hoai Son said that a suitable creation is when it helps the symbol become more vivid, loved by the public and learned more about.
Conversely, unconsidered use can cause the symbol to be trivialized, distorted, or degrade its inherent cultural values.
From the story of "Come My Way", Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hoai Son believes that artists and production crews need to invest more in research when exploiting traditional cultural materials.
Besides aesthetics, technique or music, creators are also working with community memories and emotions, so it is necessary to consult with experts in culture, history, fine arts and heritage.
It is necessary to ask the question: does this image help the public understand, love and be more proud of Vietnamese culture? If the answer is yes, that creation is very encouraging. If there is still a risk of misunderstanding, it should be adjusted before publication.
He emphasized: "I still see this story in a positive direction. The debates surrounding the MV show that the public is interested in national cultural symbols, and young artists are also consciously bringing Vietnamese culture into the flow of modern music.
The necessary thing is not to make artists afraid of heritage, but to help them come to heritage with knowledge, respect and creative bravery.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hoai Son said that instead of seeing the debate as a confrontation, this could be an opportunity for the public, artists and researchers to exchange views on how to treat heritage and culture in contemporary art life.
