Music and Painting as Forms of Social Consciousness

At the seminar, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Thai Viet said that besides the basic questions of Aesthetics such as: What is beauty, what is sublime? Where does beauty lie, the object or the subject? We can ask other equally important questions such as: how do we enjoy a work of art, why do we feel that way... All of those familiar questions turn out to bring us back to the issue of the relationship between social existence and social consciousness. This relationship itself consists of two characteristics: (1) The decisive nature of social existence over social consciousness; (2) The relative independence of social consciousness, expressed in the fact that forms of social consciousness interact with each other and create their own impulses.
Applying both of these characteristics, the talk by Associate Professor Dr. Pham Thai Viet showed that the history of music is the history of aesthetics and trends throughout the centuries. Music follows in the footsteps of other arts such as literature, painting, architecture and is often the result of changes in society, stemming from the changing ideas of philosophers, politicians, churches and other leading factors in society. Overall, the talk provides a look at different periods in the history of music and aesthetics, helping listeners understand what makes each period unique, what is important in the performance of music by artists and in the enjoyment of paintings by famous painters.
With the above approach to music and painting, the talk not only attracted great attention from lecturers and students of the Faculty of Philosophy, Faculty of Literature, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, but also brought excitement to lecturers and students from other universities such as: University of Culture, University of Industrial Fine Arts, Academy of Journalism and Propaganda... The discussion at the seminar received many opinions shared and scientific exchanges from the lecturers and students attending. Lecturer Nghiep Thi Hai (University of Culture) discussed how to enjoy a work of art. Associate Professor, Dr. Dang Thi Lan (Faculty of Philosophy, University of Social Sciences and Humanities) raised the question of why many works of art only become famous after the author's death? Dr. Nguyen Thi Hoai (Faculty of Philosophy, University of Social Sciences and Humanities) wondered whether the perception of creative energy in works of art or music has decreased in the context of technology and digitalization? Dr. Tran Minh Hieu (Faculty of Philosophy, University of Social Sciences and Humanities) expressed concern that the emerging market trend in the public's aesthetic taste will overwhelm the ability to enjoy works of art? The seminar was lively until the last minute, because it touched the emotions and aesthetic thinking inherent in each participant, both in person and online.   The scientific seminar “Music and Painting as forms of social consciousness” is one of the research and academic exchange activities regularly organized by the Faculty of Philosophy, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU, attracting the participation of researchers, lecturers and students inside and outside the school.