TTLV: Everyday landscapes and aesthetics in the two short story collections "Tropical Monsoon" and "The Flowing Wind" by Le Minh Khue

INFORMATION ABOUT THE MASTER'S THESIS

1. Student's full name: Nguyen Sao Mai 2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: January 22, 2000

4. Place of birth: Hung Yen

5. Decision No. 5626/QD-XHNV dated December 29, 2023, of the Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, recognizing the student.

6. Changes in the training process: None

7. Thesis Title: Landscape and Everyday Aesthetics in the Short Story Collections "Tropical Monsoon" and "The Flowing Wind" by Le Minh Khue

8. Major: Literature; Code: 8229030

9. Scientific supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Nhu Trang – Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

10. Summary of the thesis results:               

Since no extensive and specialized research has been conducted on this topic, this thesis has made a significant contribution to clarifying and enhancing the importance of landscape theory and everyday aesthetics. The research results have also helped to gain a deeper and more specific understanding of the humanist philosophy that the female writer Le Minh Khue conveys through her two collections of short stories.Tropical monsoonandThe wind is blowing through.

Regarding the role of landscape and everyday aesthetics, the thesis demonstrates that landscape is a comprehensive element (including nature, architecture, people, and culture). It is not merely a backdrop but also a vibrant mirror reflecting the movement of life and aesthetic categories. At the same time, Le Minh Khue successfully uses everyday aesthetics as a central focus, exploring the continuous opposition between pairs of categories: good - bad, clean - dirty, order - chaos, thereby authentically recreating the current state of contemporary society.

In terms of artistic value, the writer has used subtle artistic techniques to blend contrasting elements: using filth to illuminate purity; chaos within order, creating complexity and multidimensionality in the view of life. The study also clarifies that the flexible shift in perspective and the contrast between contexts (between wartime memories and urbanized reality) are powerful techniques that help the author achieve philosophical depth and express the erosion of spiritual values.

In terms of content value and philosophical message, the thesis analyzes the landscape of daily life and everyday aesthetic categories, along with the shift in aesthetic subjects, to derive profound philosophical messages. It affirms that ugliness is a condition for glorifying beauty. The very existence of ugliness highlights and acknowledges the value of character, compassion, and humanity. However, the work guides the reader towards a humane law of life: tolerance, generosity, letting go of the past and hatred, and not allowing materialism to dominate. Despite the many changes in a globalized society, the beauty of human compassion remains a pure spring, a healing remedy, and the most precious value, creating balance in life.

11. Published works related to the thesis: None

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Nguyen Sao Mai 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: January 22, 2000 4. Place of birth: Hung Yen

5. Admission decision number: 5626 /QD-XHNV Dated December 29, 2023

6. Changes in academic process: No

7. Official thesis title: Everyday Landscapes and Aesthetics in the Two Short Story Collections “The Tropical Monsoon” (The Wind That Flows Through) by Le Minh Khue.

8. Major: Literature 9. Code: 8229030

10. Supervisors:Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Nhu Trang – Scientific Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities.               

11. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

Since no comprehensive and specialized study has previously been conducted on this topic, this thesis makes a substantial contribution to clarifying and elevating the significance of landscape theory and everyday aesthetics. The findings further provide a more profound and concrete understanding of the humanistic philosophy conveyed by Le Minh Khue in her two short story collectionsThe Tropical MonsoonandThe Wind that Flows Through (The Wind That Flows Through).

With regard to the role of landscape and everyday aesthetics, the thesis demonstrates that landscape constitutes a composite construct (encompassing nature, architecture, human presence, and culture). It is not merely a background setting but a vivid reflective surface that reveals the dynamics of life and the transformations of aesthetic categories. Furthermore, Le Minh Khue successfully employs everyday aesthetics as a structural axis, from which she continuously explores oppositional aesthetic pairs - good versus evil, cleanliness versus filth, order versus disorder - thus offering an authentic depiction of contemporary social conditions.

In terms of artistic value, the writer adopts refined artistic techniques to blend contrasting elements: employing the impure to illuminate the pure, or exposing inherent disorder within order. These strategies create a nuanced and multidimensional perspective on life. The study also elucidates how the flexible shifts in narrative perspective and the contrast between different settings (wartime memories and the reality of urbanization) function as effective narrative devices that enable the author to attain philosophical depth and articulate the erosion of spiritual values.

Regarding thematic value and philosophical implications, the thesis examines the landscapes of everyday life, the categories of everyday aesthetics, and the shifting position of the aesthetic subject, thus drawing out profound philosophical messages. It affirms that the existence of ugliness is a necessary condition for the elevation of beauty; the presence of the ugly highlights and validates the significance of integrity, compassion, and humanity. Moreover, the works guide readers toward a deeply humanistic principle of life: practicing tolerance and generosity, releasing past grievances, and resisting material domination. Despite the profound transformations brought about by globalization, the beauty of human connection endures as a pure source - a healing force and the most precious value that restores balance to human life.

11. Thesis-related publications: None