MOONLIGHT OVER THE LOTUS POND FROM CULTURAL PRESPECTIVE

Abstract

The paper studies the prose piece Moonlight over the Lotus Pond (excerpt) by the author Chu Tu Thanh (under the section “Expanding Genre Reading” in the Literature Textbook for Grade 11, Volume 1, The Horizon of Creativity series, Vietnam Education Publishing House, 2023) from a cultural perspective, focusing on two aspects: aesthetic symbolism and visual signals. Regarding aesthetic symbols, the article chooses to examine the moon/moonlight symbol (associated with the lotus pond scene), this symbol is reflected in a network of visual signals, creating a harmonious picture, both static and dynamic, both real and blurred. Based on the interdisciplinary approach, cultural studies methodology, cultural semiotics, and textual analysis, the article aims to elucidate the hidden cultural imprints beneath the linguistic surface of the work, thereby decoding its value while enhancing students’ aesthetic appreciation and cultural understanding. Through this approach, readers can “begin to grasp cultural codes” (Nguyen Linh Chi, 2017) in their own unique way.