In this episode, host Francine Barchett teams up with co-host Lijun Zhang, a Cornell PhD student in history, for a riveting conversation with Dr. Martina Nguyen, Associate Professor of History at Baruch College, City University of New York. Dr. Nguyen shares the story of a provocative newspaper column penned by prominent Vietnamese intellectual Nguyễn Văn Vĩnh, under a female pseudonym! She explores how the column stirred debates around masculinity, femininity, and national identity in early modern Vietnam. Plus, listeners get a sneak peek at an upcoming museum exhibition she’s co-curating on the iconic ao dài (Vietnamese national garment) during the Vietnam War, which will open at the Cantor Art Gallery in Worcester in fall 2025.

 

Lightning round: 4:10 

Research and Lecture Summary: 13:14

Advice for researchers and recommendations: 55:23 

Dr. Nguyen’s top recommendations:

• Songs by Trịnh Công Sơn and Quang Lê

• Đất Khổ (Land of Sorrows) by Hà Thúc Cần

• White Lotus by Mike White

 

The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino-style Rondalla group established at Cornell University. Check them out here. 

 

Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu