Proposing Scientific Theories for Folk and Ethnic Art Education in Hồ Chí Minh City

The study examines the preservation and promotion of folk and ethnic arts in Hồ Chí Minh City within the context of rapid socio-economic growth and significant cultural transformation.Although the city has long been recognized as a major cultural center enriched by diverse communities and a wide range of traditional performing arts-such as Hò, lý, hát bội, đờn ca tài tử, and cải lươngmany of these art forms are now facing serious challenges.Advances in digital technology, the expansion of modern entertainment markets, and changing patterns of cultural consumption among young audiences, particularly students, have led to declining participation in traditional arts and the erosion of direct performer-audience interaction, a core feature of these genres.To address this issue, the study proposes applying two theoretical frameworks to arts education in schools: Sigmund Freud's theory of the structure of the human mind and Pierre Bourdieu's cultural capital theory.Freud's model-comprising the unconscious, preconscious, conscious, id, ego, and superego-provides insight into how aesthetic preferences and art-appreciation behaviors develop.The authors argue that coordinated arts education in families, schools, and cultural institutions can shape students' long-term memories, ideals, and motivations, fostering intrinsic interest in folk arts.Bourdieu's concept of cultural capital further explains how habits, exposure, and social environments determine individuals' artistic preferences.Schools, as formal educational settings, are identified as the most effective environment for cultivating artistic cultural capital.However, existing programs in the city remain limited by insufficient funding, lack of trained personnel, and inadequate facilities.In conclusion, the study emphasizes the urgent need for scientifically grounded, well-resourced educational strategies to cultivate young audiences and ensure the sustainable preservation and development of Hồ Chí Minh City's rich folk-ethnic artistic heritage.