Comments for Hoa Pham

Comment on if you are in Berlin reading this… by Rosey

Rosey — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:39:14 +0000

Dear Hoa, I trust the peace walks were well attended an publicised. May everyone’s efforts bring great benefits for all those suffering in Vietnam and their broader community.

Enjoying your blog and the diverse experiences in Berlin.

Best wishes,
R

Comment on more history lessons by Liz Kemp

Liz Kemp — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:55:39 +0000

Hi Hoa

I always wanted to get to Berlin – doubtless a few of my ancestors lurk in the cemeteries there…. looks like you’vebeen seeing some terrific stuff in the museums, lucky thing. Here people have queued round the clock to see the last day of the dali exhibition. Grand Final over, race time begins – hey ho, it’s October in Melbourne! Cheers x Liz

Comment on Congratulations Tom Cho by Kalyan Ky

Kalyan Ky — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 01:09:55 +0000

I agree with your comments here. There is this view that people need to stick to telling Chinese identity stories to success. Kudos to Tom for breaking out of that shell.

Comment on Musings by Hoa

Hoa — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:37:26 +0000

Greg my comment would be “Not yet”. Asian-Australian writers have yet to be regarded as a part of mainstream Australian literary culture in the singular. Maybe another way of thinking about this is Australia has literary identities in the plural and is heterogenous. If you look at the example of Christos Tsiolkas he is an author who is not seen as Greek-Australian and his work is considered part of the Australian literary culture. Asian-Australian writing is still viewed as hyphenated and hybrid and subject to scrutiny in a way that writers like Winton. Malouf and Carey are not (ie questions of representation and authenticity).

Comment on Musings by Greg

Greg — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:17:27 +0000

Reading both your musings Hoa, and also scp’s reply, I would interpret this as you thinking that a distinct and separate identity exists for Asian-Australian writers at this time. At what stage does the contribution from Asian-Australian writers become considered just part of the mix of what defines Australian literary culture, in other words the identity of Australian literature transforms in response to those contributions? This is a question that I am pondering as part of an undergraduate paper that I am writing. I’d be interested to hear anyone’s thoughts on this.

Comment on Musings by scp

scp — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 01:50:42 +0000

I was reading TTMH earlier this month when trying to find references for something I’m writing for my MA on the same issue. I think the question will keep recurring as long as there are so few texts out there by people who have been labelled “Asian-Australian”. My background is quite possibly very different from yours, but because our ancestors shared a continent we are now the same.
I think the more people who identify as/are labelled Asian write, the less burden there will be…I think it’s a big step that “Asians” have been separated from the bigger “Multicultural” genre…..
There is such a focus on representation on you because you were one of the first Asian-Australian novelists. I remember an Asian friend of mine (not Vietnamese) – who doesn’t usually read – told me about your book. They saw it in the shops and bought it because you are Asian.
Then of course there’s Ishiguro who doesn’t write about Asian people, but what he has to say in interviews about “ethnic communities” is really interesting and the fact he doesn’t teach his daughter Japanese. Having said that being “international” was his step into the world of literature.
I’ve just spent the past couple of weeks thinking about this and at the end of it think that the more the merrier. A bit like Jewish-Americans. They don’t avoid talking about Jewish identity, even in popular fiction such as “The Devil Wears Prada” but there’s no burden.
Also, Anglophone-Indian writers (diasporic or otherwise) have less of a burden now because there are so many books out there and the groundwork has been laid. I also considered the idea of audience.
Working through these issues freed me up a bit to write whatever I felt like writing – and Trinh T Minh-ha was a useful starting point for me too (though I am not Vietnamese).
Also what you wrote about writing in the dominant tongue (or what Kafka said) is an interesting point. Have you ever wondered how different (if at all) your writing would be if you wrote in Vietnamese?

I follow your blog with interest

scp .

Comment on writing itself by Shows » Dateline Sunday

Shows » Dateline Sunday — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:21:36 +0000

[...] writing itself… writer and how his collection of which only two draw on his Vietnamese background explodes expectations and the possibilities. I see his success as a great gate opener for the rest of us- and shows Vietnamese writers can do anything! [...]

Comment on writing itself by Shows » writing itself

Shows » writing itself — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 07:16:55 +0000

Comment on writing itself by Arts » writing itself

Arts » writing itself — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:02:59 +0000

[...] writing itselfHe also talked abouit the perils of being boxed in as an ethnic writer and how his collection of which only two draw on his Vietnamese background explodes expectations and the possibilities. I see his success as a great gate opener for … [...]

Comment on identifying as asian-australian by On ethnic literature… « Lactating Bookworm

On ethnic literature… « Lactating Bookworm — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 03:58:33 +0000

[...] asian-australian, Chinese, diaspora, hoa pham, The Devil Wears Prada, vietnamese I found this entry in Hoa Pham’s blog about Asian-Australian artists and how she’s discussed with her [...]