Events

The International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) and the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV) will jointly host a hybrid guest lecture exploring how personal memories, oral histories, and everyday objects can help recover cultural and historical narratives often overlooked in official archives.

Led by Dr. Nadia Kamies, a researcher affiliated with the University of Pretoria (South Africa) and LUCA School of Arts (Brussels, Belgium), the lecture will trace her research into the notion of “colouredness” in South Africa, examining questions of identity, representation, and the enduring legacies of colonialism, slavery, and apartheid.

Responding to gaps and silences in official historical records, Dr. Kamies has drawn on family photographs, oral history interviews, and ordinary household objects to recover overlooked memories and experiences. This approach eventually developed into “An Archive of the Ordinary,” a living repository of stories that uses material objects, personal memories, and creative projects to explore and preserve cultural heritage.

Through community workshops, the project approaches storytelling as an act of resistance and healing, highlighting the importance of intangible cultural heritage in preserving collective memory, recovering marginalized voices, and connecting generations.

The lecture will trace the development of Dr. Kamies's research, from her doctoral work to the establishment of An Archive of the Ordinary, with particular emphasis on recovering stories through alternative archives.

Dr. Nadia Kamies received her PhD in History from the University of Pretoria in 2019. Her research focuses on slavery, apartheid, racism, and their continuing influence on contemporary society. She is the author of Off-Centre and Out of Focus: Growing up ‘coloured’ in South Africa (2023).

The Q&A session will be moderated by Sulakshana de Mel, a researcher affiliated with KITLV and the Leiden University Institute of History.

Event Details

• Date & Time: Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 7:00–8:30 PM (Vietnam Time), equivalent to 1:00–2:30 PM (Netherlands Time, CET).
• Speaker: Dr. Nadia Kamies (University of Pretoria; LUCA School of Arts, Brussels).
• Q&A Moderator: Sulakshana de Mel (KITLV / Leiden University Institute of History).
• Organizers: International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS) and Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV).
• Format: Hybrid — in person at IIAS in Leiden, the Netherlands, or online via Zoom.
• Topics: Alternative archives, oral history, collective memory, intangible cultural heritage, cultural identity, and storytelling as a historical research method.
• Registration: Required for both in-person and online participation.

Join Online via Zoom: https://universiteitleiden.zoom.us/j/64430839742?pwd=MRTaU8NsakGWac9uXnCboGKajFGx12.1

Meeting ID: 644 3083 9742
Passcode: wn*?X7nh

This lecture will be particularly relevant to researchers, students, archivists, and cultural practitioners interested in oral history, intangible cultural heritage, anthropology, postcolonial studies, digital humanities, and the ways personal memories and everyday narratives can contribute to recovering underrepresented histories.

The online webinar “Exploring Handscrolls: Tradition and Transmission” will examine the historical and contemporary significance of handscrolls in East Asian art and culture, exploring their role in preserving and transmitting artistic, religious, and cultural traditions across generations.

Led by Melanie King, the session will consider the handscroll not only as a distinctive and dynamic form of artistic expression but also as an important medium for transmitting cultural knowledge, religious beliefs, and traditions.

Through an exploration of this unique artistic format, the webinar will highlight how handscrolls have shaped artistic practices throughout East Asian history and continue to influence contemporary art and art historical production.

Webinar Details

• Date & Time: Wednesday, November 11, 2026, 7:00–8:00 PM (US Eastern Time), equivalent to 7:00–8:00 AM on Thursday, November 12, 2026 (Vietnam Time).
• Speaker: Melanie King.
• Format: Online via Zoom.
• Topics: East Asian art history, traditional handscrolls, cultural transmission, and contemporary artistic practices.

Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/Lsdm-DfIQy602UW7crLHMw#/registration

This webinar will be particularly relevant to researchers, students, and anyone interested in East Asian art history, cultural heritage, traditional artistic practices, and the ways in which art preserves and transmits cultural knowledge across generations.

The New York Southeast Asia Network (NYSEAN) will host a hybrid lecture exploring the often-overlooked role of Southeast Asia in the emergence of Shenzhen as China's first and most successful Special Economic Zone (SEZ).

Led by Professor Taomo Zhou, Associate Professor and Dean's Chair in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the National University of Singapore, the lecture will challenge conventional narratives of Shenzhen's transformation, which typically emphasize decisions made by China's political leadership during the reform and opening-up period of the late 1970s.

Drawing on historical research into China's Cold War engagements with Southeast Asia, Professor Zhou will examine how migration, maritime infrastructure, and intelligence networks connecting China and Southeast Asia contributed to Shenzhen's early economic development.

The lecture will explore three interconnected stories: how thousands of ethnic Chinese displaced by wars and nationalist policies in Southeast Asia became workers in Shenzhen's agricultural and consumer electronics industries; how ships originally acquired to repatriate overseas Chinese were repurposed for commercial activities, including one converted into a hotel and entertainment complex; and how a Chinese intelligence operative with extensive experience in Indonesia became a key local reformer who helped establish China's first industrial zone open to foreign investment.

Together, these stories reveal a Southeast Asian dimension of China's economic transformation, demonstrating how cross-border migration, regional conflicts, and transnational connections helped shape Shenzhen's integration into the global economy.

Professor Taomo Zhou is the author of the award-winning book Migration in the Time of Revolution: China, Indonesia and the Cold War. She is currently completing her second book, Shenzhen on the Move: Migrants, Money and Markets in China's First Special Economic Zone.

Event Details

• Date & Time: 12:00–1:30 AM, Tuesday, November 17, 2026 (Vietnam Time), equivalent to 12:00–1:30 PM, Monday, November 16 (New York Time, EST).
• Speaker: Professor Taomo Zhou (National University of Singapore).
• Organizer: New York Southeast Asia Network (NYSEAN).
• Format: Hybrid — in person in New York or online.
• Venue: NYU Wagner, Lafayette Conference Room, 2nd Floor, 105 East 17th Street, New York, NY 10003, United States.
• Topics: Southeast Asian history, Chinese migration, Cold War history, overseas Chinese communities, Shenzhen's economic development, and transnational networks.

This lecture will be particularly relevant to researchers, students, and anyone interested in Southeast Asian Studies, Chinese Studies, migration history, Cold War history, economic development, and transnational connections between China and Southeast Asia. It offers a valuable perspective on how Southeast Asian histories and migrant communities contributed to one of China's most significant economic transformations.

The International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Leiden University, will host a hybrid guest lecture exploring how artist residency programmes can create lasting cultural, social, and community impact beyond the temporary period of artistic production.

Led by Hsiao-Chi Chu, researcher at the Taiwan Art Space Alliance and doctoral researcher at Taipei National University of the Arts, the lecture will examine Artist-in-Residence (AiR) programmes as forms of “(trans-)infrastructure”—networks that connect artists, communities, knowledge, and resources across geographical and cultural boundaries.

Drawing on research and experiences from Taiwan, Asia, and Europe, the discussion will introduce the concept of “Sheltering as Sustainability,” exploring how artist residencies and cultural institutions can provide not only physical spaces but also enduring networks of trust, care, and mutual support. Particular attention will be given to cultural mobility, community resilience, and the role of cultural organisations in preparing for and responding to social, political, and environmental crises.

The session will also feature a participatory workshop and collective discussion, inviting participants to reflect on how cultural spaces can foster sustainable relationships, reciprocity, and resilience across borders.

Hsiao-Chi Chu previously served as a Research Fellow at IIAS (2025–2026) and has more than eight years of experience in humanitarian and international-development initiatives. She is also the co-founder of Refugee Path and Refugee Week Taiwan and the author of Forgotten Heritage in Palestine (2023).

Event Details

• Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2026, 20:00-21:30 (Vietnam time)
• Speaker: Hsiao-Chi Chu (Taiwan Art Space Alliance; Taipei National University of the Arts).
• Host: International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), Leiden University.
• Format: Hybrid — in person at IIAS or online via Zoom.
• Topics: Artist residencies, cultural mobility, transnational networks, cultural sustainability, community resilience, and infrastructures of care.
• Registration: Required for both in-person and online participation.

Join Online via Zoom: https://universiteitleiden.zoom.us/j/67899295323?pwd=qR5rX9V4HPLfABnyQCFeYSCrbLKmCr.1

Meeting ID: 678 9929 5323
Passcode: @SWc0=j!

This lecture will be particularly relevant to researchers, artists, curators, cultural practitioners, and students interested in contemporary Asian art, artist residency programmes, cultural heritage, transnational collaboration, and the role of cultural institutions in fostering sustainable and resilient communities.

How do fan communities shape the development of Thailand’s Boys’ Love (BL) entertainment industry?

The Thai Studies Network Germany (TSNG) invites you to an online lecture exploring the rise of Thai Boys’ Love (BL) culture and the dynamic relationships between fans, media producers, and performers.

Originating in Japan, BL has developed into a thriving transnational cultural phenomenon, with Thailand emerging as a major center of production and global fandom. This lecture examines how digital platforms, fan meetings, and interactions between audiences and BL stars have shaped the industry's growth, highlighting the social and political dimensions of contemporary Thai popular culture.

🎙️ Speaker: Prof. Natthanai Prasannam, Kasetsart University, Thailand

📅 Date: Tuesday, 17 November 2026

🕒 Time: 5:15–7:00 PM CET | 11:15 PM–1:00 AM Vietnam time (17–18 November)

💻 Format: Online via Zoom

🔗 Join the lecture: https://eu02web.zoom-x.de/j/65882838736

Organized by the Thai Studies Network Germany, with institutional affiliations including Heidelberg University's Institute of Anthropology.

Digitizing Việt Nam is pleased to share this free online session on Cao Đài in Vietnam, part of the Religion and Thought in East Asia series from Asia for Educators, Columbia University.

Facilitated by Janet Hoskins (Professor Emerita of Anthropology, USC), the session opens with a 30-minute overview, followed by 30 minutes of discussion on approaches to teaching the topic. It’s designed for educators, and open to anyone interested in Vietnamese religion and culture.

📺 Recommended viewing beforehand: The Left Eye of God: Caodaism Travels from Vietnam to California (USC).

🗓 Wed, Nov 18, 2026 · 8:00–9:00 PM ET (Thu, Nov 19 · 08:00–09:00 Vietnam time)
💻 Online via Zoom · Free
🔗 Register: https://columbiauniversity.zoom.us/meeting/register/o0yla9GTRUiRj52bbHzZJg

The Asia-Pacific Research Forum for Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Safeguarding will host the third session of its 2026 Online Seminar Series on ICH and Ecology, exploring the connections between natural and cultural heritage.

Led by Professor Masahito Yoshida, Professor Emeritus at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, the seminar will examine how tangible and intangible heritage values can be integrated into heritage assessment, conservation, and management.

Drawing on UNESCO's World Heritage Convention and emerging approaches to nature–culture interlinkages, the discussion will highlight the importance of recognizing ecological, cultural, and community-based values as interconnected dimensions of heritage safeguarding.

Professor Yoshida has extensive experience in biodiversity conservation and heritage studies and previously chaired the UNESCO Chair on Nature–Culture Linkages in Heritage Conservation (2016–2019).

• Friday, 20 November 2026
• 14:00–15:30 (Vietnam) · 16:00–17:30 (Japan)
• Online via Zoom · English
• Free and open to the public
• Registration deadline: 19 November 2026 (JST)
• Register for the seminar

This seminar will be particularly relevant to researchers, students, and practitioners interested in intangible cultural heritage, biodiversity conservation, traditional ecological knowledge, and the relationship between communities and their natural environments.

The Asia Research Institute (ARI), National University of Singapore (NUS), will host a two-day international workshop exploring how contemporary migration increasingly involves multiple destinations, circular movements, return journeys, and interconnected transnational networks, rather than straightforward movements from one country to another.

Bringing together researchers from universities and institutions across Asia, Europe, and beyond, the workshop will examine multidirectional migration as a framework for understanding how people navigate mobility, citizenship, belonging, family relationships, and economic opportunities across national borders.

The discussions will challenge conventional distinctions between countries of origin, transit, and destination, highlighting how a single country can simultaneously serve all three roles. Particular attention will be given to migration governance, diaspora networks, shifting identities, transnational households, and the influence of political and economic changes on migration trajectories.

The workshop will feature five thematic panels, addressing migration hubs, borderland and maritime crossings, temporary migration regimes, the moral economies of mobility, and strategic navigation across multiple countries. It will also include a participatory art activity exploring migration routes, geographical connections, and the relationships between places and communities.

Featured Presentation Involving Vietnam

A particularly relevant presentation is “Multidirectionality, Entrepreneurial Experimentation, and Affective Infrastructures: Mobility of a Chinese Family across China, Vietnam, and Belarus”, presented by Peter Guangpei Ran (American University of Paris) and Elena Barabantseva (University of Manchester).

The paper follows the migration journey of a Chinese family whose entrepreneurial activities connect southwestern China, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and Minsk, Belarus.

Drawing on the family's noodle business and other small-scale ventures, the study explores how ordinary entrepreneurs respond to changing geopolitical conditions, economic pressures, and opportunities across national borders.

Rather than portraying migration as a linear journey from one country to another, the research examines how families move between countries, adapt their businesses, and maintain transnational relationships in response to changing circumstances. It highlights the importance of kinship networks, emotional support, mutual assistance, and gendered divisions of labour in sustaining flexible migration and entrepreneurial strategies.

The presentation also considers how small-scale entrepreneurs navigate broader geopolitical developments, including changing visa regimes, economic opportunities, and China's expanding international connections, while pursuing their own aspirations and livelihood strategies.

Featured Presentation Schedule

• Date: Friday, November 27, 2026.
• Time: 2:15–2:35 PM (Vietnam Time), equivalent to 3:15–3:35 PM (Singapore Time).
• Session: Panel 5 — Multidirectionality as Strategic Navigation.
• Presenters: Peter Guangpei Ran (American University of Paris) and Elena Barabantseva (University of Manchester).
• Panel Time: 1:15–3:15 PM (Vietnam Time), equivalent to 2:15–4:15 PM (Singapore Time).

Event Details

• Dates: Thursday–Friday, November 26–27, 2026.
• Day 1: 9:30 AM–4:15 PM, November 26 (Vietnam Time), equivalent to 10:30 AM–5:15 PM (Singapore Time).
• Day 2: 9:00 AM–3:30 PM, November 27 (Vietnam Time), equivalent to 10:00 AM–4:30 PM (Singapore Time).
• Organizer: Asia Research Institute (ARI), National University of Singapore.
• Workshop Convenors: Professor Elaine Lynn-Ee Ho (National University of Singapore), Professor Elena Barabantseva (University of Manchester), and Dr. Jin L. Li (National University of Singapore).
• Format: Hybrid — in person and online via Zoom.
• Venue: AS8, Room 04-04, National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent, Singapore 119260.
• Topics: International migration, diaspora studies, citizenship, transnational families, labour mobility, border governance, cultural belonging, and migration across Asia.

Registration Form: https://ari.nus.edu.sg/events/multidirectional-migration/#form

Event Information and Programme: https://ari.nus.edu.sg/events/multidirectional-migration/

This workshop will be particularly relevant to researchers, students, and practitioners interested in migration studies, anthropology, sociology, Asian studies, transnational mobility, diaspora communities, and the changing relationships between migration, identity, and economic opportunity. The presentation involving Vietnam offers a particularly valuable perspective on how everyday entrepreneurial activities and family networks connect Vietnam with wider patterns of mobility across Asia and beyond.

The DARIAH-CH Training Series 2026–2027: Building Digital Skills for the Arts and Humanities will host an online workshop exploring how Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) can help researchers access, retrieve, and reuse digital collections and scholarly editions.

Led by Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Switzerland, the session will introduce the role of APIs in Digital Humanities research, demonstrating how they enable access to digital resources and the retrieval of structured data in formats such as JSON and XML.

The workshop will explore how researchers can use APIs to connect different digital collections, integrate external resources into research workflows, and facilitate the reuse of scholarly data across digital platforms. These approaches offer valuable opportunities for working with digitized manuscripts, historical texts, archival collections, and other cultural heritage materials.

As part of the broader DARIAH-CH training programme, the session aims to make digital research methods more accessible to humanities scholars. The series combines conceptual introductions with practical examples and is designed for participants with different levels of technical experience, including those new to Digital Humanities.

Event Details

• Date & Time: Friday, November 27, 2026, 7:30–9:00 PM (Vietnam Time), equivalent to 1:30–3:00 PM (Swiss Time, CET).
• Session: Using APIs for Digital Editions.
• Session Provider: Università della Svizzera italiana (USI), Switzerland.
• Organizer: DARIAH-CH and its national partners.
• Format: Online via Zoom.
• Topics: Digital Humanities, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), digital scholarly editions, JSON, XML, research data integration, and digital collections.
• Audience: Researchers, doctoral candidates, master's students, and anyone interested in developing digital research skills.
• Prerequisites: No prior technical knowledge required.

Registration: https://www.dariah.ch/event-details-registration/dariah-ch-training-series-session-5

Full Training Series: https://www.dariah.ch/post/dariah-ch-training-series-2026-2027-building-digital-skills-for-the-arts-and-humanities

The Zoom link stays the same for all sessions:

https://uzh.zoom.us/j/65895913719?pwd=JgYzMznbyjGseYYOxrBn0rioHfPtBX.1
Meeting ID: 658 9591 3719
Passcode: 514899

This workshop will be particularly relevant to researchers, students, librarians, archivists, and cultural heritage practitioners interested in digital editions, historical collections, data interoperability, and the use of computational methods to make humanities research resources more accessible, connected, and reusable.

The University of Birmingham (United Kingdom) will host a public lecture exploring how stalagmites from Vietnamese caves can reveal tens of thousands of years of climate history, offering valuable insights into the evolution of the Asian monsoon, past environmental changes, and the interactions between climate, vegetation, and geological processes.

Delivered by Dr. Chloe Riviera, a cave scientist, explorer, and palaeoclimatologist, the lecture will examine how stalagmites serve as natural archives of past environmental conditions. Through geochemical analysis and uranium-thorium dating, these cave formations can preserve evidence of rainfall, temperature, and vegetation changes spanning thousands of years.

Focusing on Soong Cave in central Vietnam, the presentation will investigate how the Northeast and Southwest Monsoons, together with the Trường Sơn mountain range, have shaped regional climate patterns. The research also highlights an important scientific challenge: understanding how water movement, cave atmosphere, and other underground processes can alter the climate signals preserved in stalagmites.

The lecture will present findings from six years of monitoring cave atmosphere and drip water, demonstrating how environmental conditions influence the formation and interpretation of these natural climate records.

Building on this research, Dr. Riviera will explore a stalagmite record spanning approximately 34,000 to 10,000 years ago, covering the last deglaciation. By combining oxygen and carbon isotope analysis with emerging techniques for reconstructing past temperatures and vegetation, the study provides new perspectives on how Vietnam's climate and monsoon systems responded to major global climatic changes.

Dr. Chloe Riviera completed her PhD in Earth and Environmental Sciences at Northumbria University, where her research focused on reconstructing historical variations in the Asian monsoon using Vietnamese stalagmites. Her work combines long-term cave monitoring, field exploration, and geochemical analysis to better understand past climate dynamics.

Event Details

• Date & Time: Monday, November 9, 2026, 12:30–1:30 AM on Tuesday, November 10 (Vietnam Time), equivalent to 5:30–6:30 PM on November 9 (UK Time, GMT).
• Speaker: Dr. Chloe Riviera (Cave Scientist and Palaeoclimatologist).
• Organizer: University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.
• Format: Hybrid — in person at the University of Birmingham or online via Zoom.
• Venue: WG12, Aston Webb Dome & Semi-Circle, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, United Kingdom.
• Topics: Palaeoclimatology, Vietnamese cave systems, stalagmite geochemistry, Asian monsoon variability, climate reconstruction, and environmental history.
• Admission: Free and open to the public.

Register for the Lecture: https://bham-ac-uk.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aG6Qdl9iSS-g-EpuGqKwLw

This lecture will be particularly relevant to researchers, students, and anyone interested in climate science, environmental history, geology, biodiversity, Southeast Asian environments, and the use of natural archives to reconstruct long-term climate change in Vietnam.

How can generative AI support research in the arts and humanities? What opportunities, risks, and ethical considerations should researchers keep in mind?

Join the upcoming online session “Large Language Models & Image Generation”, part of the Introduction to AI for the Arts and Humanities training programme organized by DARIAH-CH.

The session will explore how generative AI models work, their applications in humanities research, and good practices for responsible, critical, and ethical academic use.

📅 Date: Friday, November 6, 2026

🕢 Time: 7:30 PM (Vietnam time) | 1:30 PM (Zurich time, CET)

💻 Format: Online via Zoom

https://uzh.zoom.us/j/65895913719?pwd=JgYzMznbyjGseYYOxrBn0rioHfPtBX.1
Meeting ID: 658 9591 3719
Passcode: 514899

🎓 Series: DARIAH-CH Training Series 2026–2027

Digitizing Việt Nam is pleased to share the Digital Humanities Salon: “Experiments in Digital Humanities and AI,” hosted by the Center for Digital Scholarship, Brown University Library.

The team is testing how well AI can (or can’t) transcribe handwriting across a diverse, multilingual set of materials. These range from 17th-century Florence to 20th- and 21st-century Egypt and the Caribbean, and from modern English handwriting to manuscripts in Tuscan Italian, Latin, German, French and Spanish. This in-progress talk will share early findings from the collaborative project.

Thu, Nov 5, 2026 · 12:00–1:00 PM EST (Fri, Nov 6 · 00:00–01:00 Vietnam time)
Speakers: Anya Lewis-Meeks and Haley Price
Join on Zoom: https://brown.zoom.us/j/96620916977

To mark World Digital Preservation Day 2026, Digitizing Việt Nam is pleased to share this free online event from the Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford.

The web is part of our daily lives, but the digital world so many of us depend on is far more fragile than it seems. Join a panel discussion on the current risks to our digital heritage and what is being done to preserve our collective cultural memory.

🎙 Chair: Prof. David De Roure (Oxford)
🎙 Speakers: Dr Andrea Kocsis, Andrea Mills (Internet Archive Canada) and Prof. Sir Nigel Shadbolt (AI@Oxford Research, Open Data Institute)

🗓 Thu, 5 Nov 2026 · 15:00–16:30 UK (22:00–23:30 Vietnam time)
💻 Online · Free · Registration required by Tue 3 Nov, 17:00 UK
🔗 Register: https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/oxford/online-registration-world-digital-preservation-day-cache-it-if-

Tourism has become a major economic sector in Southeast Asia, creating significant opportunities for development while also presenting social and environmental challenges for local communities.

As part of the 2026 Fall LuceSEA Webinar Series, the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa will host an online webinar titled “Tourism in Southeast Asia: Social and Environmental Challenges.”

The webinar will explore the socioeconomic and environmental impacts of tourism, how local communities are responding to these challenges, and potential approaches to mitigating negative consequences in the future.

Speakers:

Ayu Larassanti – Entrepreneur, Indonesia
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phạm Hồng Long – University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam
Prof. Jerry Agrusa – Tang Wee Loke Endowed Professor Emeritus, School of Travel Industry Management, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Moderator: Wiwik Dharmiasih – PhD Candidate, Department of Geography and Environment, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa

Date and Time:

Wednesday, November 4, 2026 | 8:00–9:00 PM (U.S. Eastern Time)
Thursday, November 5, 2026 | 8:00–9:00 AM (Vietnam Time)

Format: Online | Free and open to the public

🔗 Registration: https://go.hawaii.edu/RQw

The webinar is organized by the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, with support from the Henry Luce Foundation.

How have Vietnamese writers and intellectuals engaged with the classical traditions of ancient Greece and Rome? And how might these traditions, historically intertwined with colonialism and empire, be reimagined through Vietnamese experiences of displacement, memory, and resistance?
On November 2, 2026, Duke University will host Dr. Kelly Nguyen (UCLA) for a book talk and poetry reading centered on her new publication, Critical Classicality in Vietnam and the Diaspora (Oxford University Press, 2026).

In this fascinating interdisciplinary work, Nguyen examines how Vietnamese writers and thinkers have engaged with Greco-Roman antiquity, introducing the concept of “critical classicality” to explore how communities historically marginalized by the Western classical tradition might reclaim and transform it for their own purposes.

Moving between historical scholarship and creative expression, Nguyen will also share poetry inspired by her research. Reimagining Homer's Odyssey through the experiences of Vietnamese refugees, including her own family, these poems confront the violence, silences, and trauma embedded in historical archives while opening new possibilities for storytelling and remembrance.
The event offers an opportunity to rethink Vietnamese literary and intellectual history beyond conventional geographical and disciplinary boundaries, bringing Vietnamese Studies into conversation with Classics, diaspora studies, and postcolonial scholarship.

 Speaker: Dr. Kelly Nguyen, UCLA Classics

 Date: Monday, November 2, 2026

Time: 5:00–7:00 PM (Eastern Time, USA)

Venue: Rubenstein Library, Holsti-Anderson Family Assembly Room 153, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina

Organizer: Department of Classical Studies, Duke University

Co-sponsor: Asian American & Diaspora Studies Program

The talk will conclude with a conversation involving graduate students in Comparative Literature and Classics, followed by a reception.