Chapter 7 of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s book, Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and Memory of War, discusses the role of Vietnamese writers in American literary work. Nguyen argues that victims and refugees who carry photographs and memories are constantly being haunted by loved ones and other relatives (195). Photographs and literary writing are extremely powerful, because it serves as a tribute to those who sacrificed and lost their lives during the Vietnam War. These physical items can be passed down to multiple generations and it ensures the memories and narratives of older relatives live on.
It is crucial to preserve the narratives of soldiers, refugees, and victims because it allows for future generations, especially the SEA community, to understand the different perspectives of the Vietnam War. Moreover, it will prevent any possibility for communities to view the war from one sided perspective. Thus, we must continue to preserve evidence of Vietnam war to guarantee that loved ones, victims, soldiers, and relatives are not forgotten, silenced, or invisible.
Question: How were Vietnamese American writers able to publish and share their literary work in America despite the tensions between groups after the war?
Source for image:
Citations:
Nguyen, Viet Thanh. Nothing Ever Dies: Vietnam and the Memory of War. Harvard University Press, 2016.
No comments:
Post a Comment