On 4/28/21, AYLUS-Syosset members Greene Xue, John Thach, and Jasmine Chen taught a presentation focused on various aspects of Vietnamese artistic culture. The presentation was broken into three sections, each covering a specific domain of art and cultural expression.
The first portion of the presentation focused on physical artworks. Several styles of Vietnamese art were introduced, including lacquer painting, silk painting, and lantern making, among others. The history and development of each of these styles was focused on, as well as the impact and significance these styles had on Vietnam and the world. To supplement the information, videos were presented which showed the process of making the different kinds of art. Along with this, various artists were introduced, such as Nguyen Phan Chan, Phi Phi Oanh, and Nguyen Gia Tri. At the end of this portion, the audience was encouraged to complete a quiz in order to test their ability to recall the information that was taught.
The second portion of the presentation covered the musical instruments and traditions of Vietnam. Various instruments were covered, from plucked ones like the dan bau and dan tranh, to bowed ones like the dan nhi and dan gao, to wind instruments like sao truc and ken bau. Information about each instrument was provided, covering the history, importance, usage, and other interesting facts about the instrument. Videos were shown after each display so the audience would have a chance to hear what the instrument sounded like. After the instrument portion, a select few musical styles were discussed, along with their developments, histories, and significance. Some of the styles taught include cai luong (a type of opera) and nha nhac (court music.)
The last portion taught was Vietnamese cultural fashion. This section focused on historical factors and how they affected fashion trends throughout Vietnam’s history. Particularly stressed was how Chinese interaction came to dominate Vietnamese fashion for thousands of years. Several Vietnamese dynasties were covered and clothing from different social and economic classes were introduced. Different styles of clothing discussed included the ao giao linh and ao nhat binh. The focus on historical changes allowed for a unique insight on how traditional dress had evolved over time. At the end of this section, a video was shown which talked about the history and development of the ao dai, the most common traditional dress in Vietnamese culture.
This event was designed in response to the recent increase in hate crimes which were targeted towards those in the AAPI community. These crimes are a horrific display of ignorance and hatred, and as such, this presentation on Vietnamese art culture was created in oder to nullify some of those issues. This presentation seeks to promote appreciation for Vietnamese culture and to bring people together in understanding the history and traditions of Asian countries, like Vietnam.
Participants included: Greene Xue (2 hours), John Thach (2 hours), Jasmine Chen (2 hours).
