Preserving the epics of the Central Highlands in Vietnam

Abstract

This article is based on the ideas of a presentation at the scientific seminar "The epics of the Central Highlands - Preservation and promotion solutions" planned by the Institute of Social Sciences in the Central Highlands of the Vietnamese Academy of Social Sciences. It was then postponed in late 2017 and has yet to be implemented. In keeping with the theme of the workshop, the purpose of this article is to present a perspective on the preservation of the epics through performance in the community. This point of view derives from viewing Central Highlands epics as a performing art, a form of cultural practice that still exists. These are living epics, not published epics. Based on the results of ethnographic fieldwork combined with the method of analyzing the art of singing-speech, we discuss the stated prospects for preservation, point out the shortcomings of applying the methods of preservation of Central Highlands epics in practice, and then give our opinion. The Central Highlands epic should be preserved as it existed in its traditional context. It should be heard more often in the community through the lyrics of the artist.