VietNamNet Bridge – Vo Trong Nam, Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that the department has suggested many detailed solutions for the draft decree on performing arts, which will be submitted to the government in September.

 

Mr. Vo Trong Nam.


What do you think about the “trend” of many artists who appear on the stage with controversial costumes and styles?

 

I’m worried when many more singers appear on the stage in scanty clothes and odd styles. Their talent has not ripened, so they have to make scandals by wearing odd and sensitive clothes…This is not simply the taste of artists but it shows their attitude and responsibility to the public.

 

Some artists have been fined for this mistake, but why has the situation not improved?

 

We have seriously kept track of and punished violations in performing activities in general and artists’ mistakes in appearance in particular. All cases reported by the media were fined heavily, for example the cases of singer Ho Quynh Huong, models Bebe Pham and Ha Anh (they wore costumes that over-exposed sensitive parts of body).

 

But HCM City is a big city, with many stages. Fashion and music shows in HCM City account for 60-80 percent of the total shows in Vietnam. Shows are also organized at hotels, restaurants and even coffee shops, so it is very hard to manage performing activities.

 

Vietnam does not have detailed regulations on the appearance of artists on the stage. The current rules are general. We cannot take rulers with us to measure the length of clothes of artists.

 

Do you think that the current administrative fines are too low?

 

I don’t think so. The current fines - VND10, 15, 20 million - are appropriate. Any artist cannot afford it if they are fined constantly. I think the problem is not from the fine but accompanied sanctions. If they (artists) violate the rules 1-2 times, they must be banned from performance for a certain time (3-6 months) after the third time of violation.

 

What will your agency do to deal with this situation?

 

Singer Thu Minh.


It is necessary to consider management activities, to focus on examining shows. We are trying to have more specific regulations on performing activities.

 

It is crucial that artists must be aware of their responsibility to the public, while the public should condemn and boycott artists who wear scanty clothes. The observing role of the media is also important.

 

What do you expect from the draft decree on performing arts which will be submitted to the government in September 2011?

 

We have made detailed suggestions to the draft decree. I hope that legal documents issued in the future will be more detailed and clear.

 

However, besides law, state management officers should realize that clothes that are considered to be unsuitable or suitable rely on personal senses so they should sympathize with artists. Sometimes they suffer from occupational accidents.

 

The culture ministry has asked Quang Binh provincial authorities to inquire into and impose due fines on singers and models who wore scanty clothes during a charity music show in the province on August 14.

 

Singer Minh Hang and the controversial costume.


Vuong Duy Bien, head of the Department of Performing Arts department said that though the show aimed to raise money for the poor, participating artists were not aware of its beautiful meaning and picked up the wrong costumes.

 

At the “Night of Beauties” show, top local singers including Hoang Thuy Linh, Thu Minh, Yen Trang, especially Minh Hang, have received critical comments from the public for donning skimpy costumes.

 

“Even the local culture managers did not care much about this. An outfit can look gorgeous at a show but it cannot be suitable in all other places”, Bien added.

 

The “Night of Beauties” collected over VND500 million. The money was given to 19 orphan students at Quang Binh University, 4 dialysis patients and the remaining was handed out to Quang Binh provincial Fatherland Front Committee to be delivered to the poor.

 

VNE/Tuoi Tre