I adore Ocean Vuong, as do many Vietnamese. We claim him because he carries a last name we can pronounce—one that Americans cannot. But our pride has a limit, one that renders his past invisible.
Cathy Park Hong’s essay Minor Feelings has some great thoughts on how (many) readers have failed to take seriously both Voung’s queerness and his class experiences in favor of “multicultural” (read capitalist) reading
Ocean is incredibly moving. All of his works need you to engage with such openess and reflection. It's beyond being deep or just wanting to look like you read widely. He really challenges me to sit with it.
Thank you for writing & sharing this post! I loved his book (in english) and really appreciate more historical and cultural context. The Vietnamese cover is gorgeous, by the way 🤤😍
Well. Thanks for sharing. I didn't know this guy existed. But, I am glad the poets of the day, are alive and kicking. In whatever form, may humanity always have those who knows it's current form..
Also, how do I pronounce your name.. Minhaa or ...
first of all, thank you very much for this post - it's beautiful and i really enjoyed it. it also made me find your blog, which i hope to read from now on! i've been fortunate enough to travel from south to north vietnam, and the people i met educated me on the power dynamics between the north and the south, with them having a complex relationship. but, if that's ok with you, could you elaborate on the accents bit? i didn't fully get it
Hey, there! ✨ I write messy, honest essays about pop culture, identity, and the chaos of not-so-young adulthood. From LA, with love. English, español, whatever fits the mood. Come through.
been meaning to get into his work after he was a speaker at my college not long before i started going there & this essay gave me that final push. to another commenter's point, i read Minor Feelings for a class i took my first semester of college and really enjoyed it and the thought processes it pushed me to!
Cathy Park Hong’s essay Minor Feelings has some great thoughts on how (many) readers have failed to take seriously both Voung’s queerness and his class experiences in favor of “multicultural” (read capitalist) reading
This is such a great suggestion! I will certainly look into it! Thank you!
Ocean is incredibly moving. All of his works need you to engage with such openess and reflection. It's beyond being deep or just wanting to look like you read widely. He really challenges me to sit with it.
totally agree. I was so moved and impressed. the interview has stayed with/ me for days. thx for your review
Thank you for writing this. I’m not Vietnamese but I am a journalist that reports on Asian American diasporas and this is interesting context.
I appreciate your work to highlight the cultural contexts that are often hidden in popular media.
My knowledge of modern Vietnam, which is inadequate to form an opinion, has been given a better understanding, and some questions to read further on.
fascinating & well-written, thanks!
Thank you for writing & sharing this post! I loved his book (in english) and really appreciate more historical and cultural context. The Vietnamese cover is gorgeous, by the way 🤤😍
I read and read this piece and was wholly unprepared for it to end when it did. If you have more on this subject, I’d love to read it!
Well. Thanks for sharing. I didn't know this guy existed. But, I am glad the poets of the day, are alive and kicking. In whatever form, may humanity always have those who knows it's current form..
Also, how do I pronounce your name.. Minhaa or ...
first of all, thank you very much for this post - it's beautiful and i really enjoyed it. it also made me find your blog, which i hope to read from now on! i've been fortunate enough to travel from south to north vietnam, and the people i met educated me on the power dynamics between the north and the south, with them having a complex relationship. but, if that's ok with you, could you elaborate on the accents bit? i didn't fully get it
Hey, there! ✨ I write messy, honest essays about pop culture, identity, and the chaos of not-so-young adulthood. From LA, with love. English, español, whatever fits the mood. Come through.
https://lilipod.substack.com ~ Lilipod ❤️
not viatnamese and this context has made me appreciate his work more and inspired me to 'read' deeper. thank u for writing this!
been meaning to get into his work after he was a speaker at my college not long before i started going there & this essay gave me that final push. to another commenter's point, i read Minor Feelings for a class i took my first semester of college and really enjoyed it and the thought processes it pushed me to!
By ingenuity do you mean disingenuousness? Trying to understand that section.
Incredibly written.
Thank you for writing this. I didn't know about Ocean Vuong's history but just knew him as a popular writer. I now stand informed.