TTLV: The issue of identity in the writings of Vietnamese immigrant authors (through some novels recently published in the country)

MASTER'S THESIS INFORMATION

1. Student's full name:Do Thuy Anh                                               

2. Gender: Female

3. Date of birth: September 20, 1991

4. Place of birth: Hai Phong

5. Decision on recognition of students No. 2998/2013/QD-XHNV-SDH dated December 30, 2013 of the President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi

6. Changes in training process: No

7. Thesis topic name:The issue of identity in the writings of Vietnamese immigrant authors (through some novels recently published in the country)

8. Major: Vietnamese Literature Code: 60.22.01.21

9. Scientific instructor:Dr. Pham Xuan Thach– Faculty of Literature – University of Social Sciences and Humanities – Vietnam National University, Hanoi

10. Summary of thesis results:

Besides the Vietnamese literature created and published in the country, there is still a group of authors of Vietnamese origin who have emigrated abroad. They live in a different country and culture but still write in Vietnamese. Up to now, some of their works have been published in the country and are highly appreciated by experts. Looking at these authors and works in the general flow of contemporary literature will show a unique appearance of the Vietnamese literature abroad, compared to the literature in the country.

From a sociological approach, we have shown that there is a hybrid cultural identity between Vietnamese cultural identity and Western cultural identity (in the country where the authors migrated and lived). These two cultural identities intertwine, blend and transform each other in the process of the author adapting to the new living environment, expressed through the Vietnamese ideological perspective on other cultural behaviors.

A common and recurring character type in the works of Vietnamese literature abroad is the rootless character type. These characters have Vietnamese origins and backgrounds but soon leave their families, homelands, and countries. They search for the true meaning of life, to answer the questions: Who am I? Where do I come from? Where do I belong? In their journey to find their identity, they are always haunted by nostalgia for their homeland. This is considered a spiritual support for people living abroad to rely on in their state of being homeless.

Authors living and writing abroad, having the opportunity to be exposed to contemporary literary life in the world, have learned and absorbed modern writing techniques (personalization of narrative point of view, multi-layered structure, connection of literature with journalism, etc.), on the basis of the Vietnamese language - a long-lasting and durable mark of national identity, creating unique artistic characteristics in their works, compared to domestic literary works.

11. Practical application:

12. Further research directions:

The issue of national identity/nationalism in contemporary Vietnamese literature

13. Published works related to the thesis:

INFORMATION ON MASTER'S THESIS

1. Full name: Do Thuy Anh 2. Sex: Female

3. Date of birth: September 20, 1991 4. Place of birth: Hai Phong City

5. Admission decision number: 2998/2013/QD-XHNV-SDH,Dated December 30, 2013 by Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi    

6. Changes in academic process:

7. Official thesis title: Identity in works by Vietnamese immigrant authors (through novels published in Vietnam recently)

8. Major: Vietnamese literature Code: 60.22.01.21

9. Supervisors: Dr. Pham Xuan Thach

10. Summary of the findings of the thesis:

- Aside from literature work written and published domestically, there exists a section of which authors are Vietnamese immigrants living in a foreign country. They live in a different country with different culture, and yet still write in Vietnamese. Up to present time, some of their works have been published in Vietnam and have received good criticism. Studying these authors will offer new perspectives of a section of the Vietnamese literature abroad in contrast to that in Vietnam.

- From a social stand point, we have pointed out a fusion of cultural identities, between the Vietnamese identity and that of Western culture (from where the authors currently reside.) These two identities fuse, merge and intergrate with one another during the process in which the authors adapt to their new living environment, evident through the Vietnamese ideology in comparison with other ideologies.

- One type of character predominant in these works is one with no root. These characters have Vietnamese roots, but leave their family and country from an early age. They search for a sense of purpose, a sense of belonging, answers to these questions: Who am I? Where am I from? Where do I belong? On that self-searching journey, they all possess to a certain extent an obsession of nostalgia. That is viewed as a spiritual anchor for one that belongs to nowhere.

- Authors who live and write abroad have the opportunity to come into direct contact with the world's contemporary literature works, and to take away from such works contemporary writing techniques, combining with the Vietnamese language as a foundation – a long and lasting sign of the national identity, to create individuality and uniqueness in their own work, as compared to that of other Vietnamese authors.

11. Practical applicability, if any:

12. Further research directions, if any:

National Identity/Nationalism in contemporary Vietnamese literature

13. Thesis-related publications: