Diverse Comuunity of Vietnam and Those in the Diaspora

Soo Lee

A002

Week 7

In the essay, “Creating Identity Defining Culture, and Making History from an Art Exhibit: ‘Unfinished History: A Tribute to My Mothers,’” Valverde investigates the complexity of Vietnamese American diaspora through analyzing art project of Hyunh Chau, a Vietnamese art student in UCD, and the political phenomena that it consequently brought. One of the important factors that Valverde delve into in order to come to the understanding of complicated relationship of Vietnamese Americans with people in Vietnam are, sociopolitical understanding of people in Vietnam regarding the issue of (anti-) Communism. In doing so, the media portrayal of Vietnam and Communism, the struggle of Vietnamese Americans expressing their political view, the disconnection of the history of Vietnam around Viet Nam War, and more are closely looked at by Valverde. The U.S. media continues to portray hostility towards Vietnamese government, and such nationalist tone has been negatively influencing the diverse political view and struggles of people in Vietnam as well as those in the diaspora. Recognizing the importance of understanding diverse Vietnamese community, she emphasizes the political agency through art, protest, and media.    

Question: It is slightly an off topic question that I would like to learn more about. How and in what way does the global market influence Vietnam and those in the diaspora since the last decade?