Renewing classical literature with pictures
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In an effort to draw young readers back to the classics, Phan Thi Comic Company is turning the likes of Vu Trong Phung’s Giong to (The Storms) to picture books.
Vu Trong Phung’s satire is Phan Thi’s third attempt after Nam Cao’s Chi Pheo and Ngo Tat To’s Tat den (Lights Off).
The Thao & Van Hoa talked to Phan Thi My Hanh, Phan Thi’s Director about its mission.
Why did Phan Thi choose this direction and where will it end?
Turning literature into comics is not a new idea. Many world classics have been adapted to comics such as Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s The Little Prince, whose copyright in Vietnam is held by Nha Nam Books.
The Bible is another example, as illustrations and pictures make it easier for young readers to understand.
There are many definitive and fine works in Vietnamese literature but the numerous kinds of entertainment that flourish these days are drawing young people away from books and reading.
It would be something to regret if the younger generations in Vietnam wouldn’t know Vietnamese literary heritage any more. So we are doing this to help bring them back to classical literature.
Works by contemporary writers like Nguyen Nhat Anh or Bui Chi Vinh have also been adapted. Which one is more difficult, adapting classic works or contemporary literature?
The easy thing about adapting the classics is that everybody has already known and liked the story. On the other hand, readers will be more critical when they approach an adapted work.
The easy thing about adapting the classics is that everybody has already known and liked the story. On the other hand, readers will be more critical when they approach an adapted work.
So we have to be careful to stay true to the original but at the same time, we have to research about the historical period when the works were written in order to create historically accurate pictures (of clothes or furniture for instance). This is difficult because we don’t have a lot of materials to research.
This problem doesn’t exist with contemporary works, because we are living in the same era with the writers.
You said readers will scrutinize an adapted work more. How do you address this problem?
People who love literature can always find what they love in its original version. Literature published as picture books has its own mission and it is to serve readers who are not interested in “written” but illustrated literature.
This is a totally different market sector and we are to help readers approach literature in a different way.
Nowadays when many young people turn their back on Vietnamese literature, renewing it in the form of picture books to win readers back is necessary. It’s better than doing nothing.
How do you see the development of Vietnamese picture books in the future? And for Phan Thi’s collection of illustrated books adapted from classical literature, do you think it can be sold abroad?
Our company’s ultimate mission is to serve Vietnamese readers, as our younger generations are being “invaded” and influenced by foreign cultures and values.
However, if we have an opportunity to promote Vietnamese pictures to the world, we certainly won’t miss it.
