Dagon Tara - letters, washing machine, harp strings and velvet scrolls

As I collected critical articles, other pseudonyms emerged that I had to use, as circumstances dictated. The style and tone were different, but my basic ideas remained the same.

Dear literature lovers, let us experience the highs and lows of a literary critic's critical voice over the course of more than 20 years.

Dagon Tara

(1) Art and Literature Concept

1. The meaning of literature, art, and culture

“There are words we use now. Literature, art, culture, right? Isn’t that literature also part of art? What about culture? We always talk about literature, right? That’s why I ask. I’m interested in feudal literature, capitalist culture, socialist art, and so on,” my friend asked.

"So, what is the meaning of the words literature, art, and culture? Do you want to know the meaning of those words? Or do you want to know the concept of the literature, art, and culture that you are talking about?"

“Hey...you're asking again. You're asking, and I'm starting to have to explain myself a little bit. Don't smile. What I want to know is the meaning. But it's not just about the words. Wait, is there still a concept in this literature and art?”

“Why not? There is. You think that only politics has concepts. There are political concepts and there are literary concepts. Vocabulary is also very important. There is even a whole field called vocabulary. But I will talk a little about vocabulary, just use it. Only after the precise use of vocabulary can we continue to talk about concepts. That is all you need to understand about vocabulary.”

"Yes. I'm not interested in vocabulary or anything like that."

“Yes, I don’t understand terminology or anything. I just want to clarify my understanding with you about literature. Actually, that’s what you asked. Literature is also one of the arts. Art is a general term. The field of art includes literature, music, painting, sculpture, dance, etc. However, in terms of usage, they often use the terms literature and art separately. This is similar to the intention of expressing the role of literature. We see the same distinction in other countries. When we use art, it can even mean painting.”

"I wonder if I've ever seen literature and art used together as literature and art?"

“Yes, there is such a use of the term literary art. This is the use of the term literary art to refer to the skill of composition and composition in writing literature. The meaning is to refer to the skill. It means the way words are chosen, the way sounds flow, the way rhymes, the way sentences are arranged, etc. It is used as a literary art in the same way as music, painting, dance, etc. These are the terms used.”

"Yes, what about culture?"

“This is a general term, a widely used term. In addition to literature and art, culture also includes customs, manners, speech patterns, and behavior. When talking specifically about literature and art, the word culture is not often used. For example, if we use it in terms of culture, how many people can read? How many elementary schools are there? How many movie theaters are there? And so on. It is used broadly.”

"The meaning of culture"

“The original meaning of the word is to cultivate. Civilization is the process of transforming the wild into the wild. Cultivation is the process of transforming the wild into the wild, making it tame and gentle. Let’s leave the meaning of the word for a moment. If you and I understand the usage, we can continue to discuss the meaning and concept.”

(Shu Daung Journal 1-2-71)

2. Is there a concept of literature?

“I have started to understand the different terms used in literature, art, and culture. But as you said, I want to know the concept of literature. Especially literature. Besides, I don’t want to know about art. I want to know. But literature is the most interesting thing because I always have to touch it and read it. Is there a philosophy behind the words?” my friend asked.

"Is there a philosophy behind the words?" is a good question."

"I just asked after hearing what others said. Don't think it's a big deal."

“I don’t remember. When we talk about concepts, we often come up with related vocabulary and words. Language is a means of communication between people to understand each other. Isn’t it because words come from within to express what is in their hearts? That’s why we’re talking about human life. So after words, we have to come up with Abhidhamma. Abhidhamma is something that comes out of human life.”

"So life and literature continue, right?"

“That’s a long story. How can we separate it? Isn’t writing made up of words? As I said earlier, words are created for the purpose of communicating with each other. So words are related to all social relations. In other words, words are the use of language, and writing can even be said to be a social activity.”

"So, is this why the concept of literature came into being?"

"If a science is to exist, it must have its own organized system. Literature and art are not small sciences, but sciences that have been with us since the beginning of human civilization. They must exist with their own principles."

"Can we say that it is just a literary concept?"

“As I said earlier, since speech and writing are social activities, I think they are included in the concept of society. For example, if there is a tree with branches and a trunk, the branches cannot be separated from the trunk. I think we need to see literature, art, etc. in terms of the trunk and its branches.”

"Which one is the main one and which one is the branch one? I'm getting a little confused."

“It’s confusing now, isn’t it? To clear up the confusion, the concepts of philosophy and philosophy of religion have emerged. The main basis is economics, which is the livelihood of people. The branches are literature and art. These branches also include these extraneous things. There are also law, philosophy, religion, politics, ethics, etc. Let’s leave those aside. We won’t discuss them. We will only talk about the concepts of literature and art, especially the concepts of literature, okay?”

"That's it. The concept of the trunk, the main base, and the branches that radiate out from it has been clarified. If you're confused, you'll have to ask again."

( Shu Daung Journal 1-2-71)

3. The economy is based on the foundation of the foundation.

“I have heard about the concept of the main principle and the branches that branch out from it. I don’t want to say that I understand it yet. Because the main principle is economics, and the branches that branch out from it are politics, philosophy, and science. Among them are literature and art. I just remember it like that. Just saying these words doesn’t mean I understand it yet. Right? So I still want to know how the main principle branches out. Don’t think I’m crazy,” my friend asked.

“I don’t think it’s a trick. The way you ask and investigate is natural. Reciting the words in the theory books is not real knowledge. It’s just memorization, rote learning, and intuition. Only knowing by actually practicing and experiencing it can be called knowledge. So it’s good that you want to understand. The concept that branches and branches grow from that main root..”

"Hey, those branches and branches include Abhidhamma and politics, right? And politics is among them..."

"Wait, don't ask me about politics. I don't want to talk much."

"So, is literature a dead end, a literary concept without politics?"

“Hey, don’t be so harsh. I don’t want to talk about politics. Don’t ask me if it’s just literature or a literary concept without politics. But I have to explain the meaning of politics. It’s not about politics. The meaning of the word “politics”. Politics means a mass movement that demands economic and social demands from the masses.”

"So, does that mean there is no politics without mass movements?"

"Now...if you don't want to talk about politics, leave it at that. We're going to discuss the basics, right?"

"Yes. If he knows about the main stem, he will understand about the spreading branches, right?"

"Yes. Your thinking is natural. The main topic is economics. Let me add a word for economics. Economics as a science is called economics. There is a social science called political economy."

"You're getting political again. I didn't say that just now, haha."

"I'm just using it as a term. I'm going to talk about the concept, so I'll leave it at that. Be patient. So, if we're talking about the economy, I'd like to include a little bit of the political economy concept I just mentioned. The economy is the livelihood of people."

"So that's clear"

"Clearly. People have to make a living. This can be called economic life. In other words, economy can also be said to be the fulfillment of human desires. To eat, to wear, and to live are human desires. They are material desires."

“Ha.. the words ‘objective desire’, ‘object’, ‘what is the meaning’, ‘Abhidhamma’ are back again.”

"If you talk about ideology, you will have to be a little patient. In political economy terms, that is called material production."

"Ha... what about manufacturing?"

"This is a term that has been used since the Red Dragon era before the war. It didn't just emerge recently. When we talk about the economy, we talk about production."

(Shu Daung Journal 1-3-71)

4. Manufacturing and Art

"Please try. I want to know about literature, art, culture, letters, medicine, harp strings, and velvet carpets."

Now, what you are talking about is not far from production and political economy. I am not saying that literature and politics are unrelated. I am not talking about just literature or just art. I would like to accept that literature is a reflection of politics in general. But in reality, I do not know much about literature, art, and culture, so when I talk about production and what I just said, I even say that it is material production. I am afraid that it will be a little far from art, and it will lead to disaster,” my friend said.

“I’m telling you, the branches are the root and the trunk, and if you understand the trunk, it’s not difficult to understand the branches, right? That’s why we’re discussing the basics. Don’t be too hasty, sir. When we train to mature our thinking, we don’t want to touch the basics. I think the basics are the most important. Only when the basics are strong and mastered can we truly understand, right? Isn’t it bad if we follow the roots?”

"So what does production have to do with literature?"

“Earlier, we said that the basic economic system was the basic economy. We said that subsistence is the economy. Production is the production of goods for subsistence. In political economy, it is called material production, or in short, production. We produce for material needs. To eat, to wear, and to live are material needs. Food, clothes, and housing. Is there anything in the world that is free from these?”

"Wait, you're talking about material desires and material goods. What about the production of material goods? Wait. If there is material desires, is there also a desire for the soul?"

“I really like the way you asked. I wanted to talk about mental desires, so I started talking about physical desires and material things. When you asked,