The Seed Field

How do we make art in times of oppression? Do artists have a responsibility to explore questions of democracy, censorship, and human rights? In this conversation, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Viet Thanh Nguyen talks with poet and Antioch faculty member Cathy Linh Che about their experiences of democracy as Vietnamese American immigrant writers whose work engages vistas of American democracy amidst the legacy and representations of the Vietnam War. Listen to this edited version of their live conversation in the Antioch Works for Democracy speaker series to hear their ideas about immigrant identities, the after-effects of war, and the role of artists and writers inside of our societies.

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To learn more about this event and the larger Antioch Works for Democracy initiative, visit the Antioch Works for Democracy libguide. You can also watch a full-length video recording of the event on our Youtube channel.

Visit Antioch’s website to learn more about the MFA in Creative Writing program that Cathy Linh Che teaches in.

To hear more voices from the Antioch MFA, you can listen to our roundup episode, Big Idea: How Creative Writers Work, and our interview with MFA Chair Lisa Locascio Nighthawk, S5 E9: Creative Writing Offers a Chance to Take Yourself Seriously.

We invite you to read the books mentioned in this episode, including An Asian American A to Z: A Children's Guide to Our History and Split by Cathy Linh and The Sympathizer: A Novel and A Man of Two Faces: A Memoir, a History, a Memorial by Viet Thanh Nguyen.

This conversation between Viet Thanh Nguyen and Cathy Linh Che was recorded as part of the Antioch Works for Democracy speaker series on September 5, 2024 via Zoom. It was released on October 9, 2024.

The Seed Field Podcast is produced by Antioch University

Host: Jasper Nighthawk

Editor: Nastasia Green

Web Content Coordinator: Jen Mont

Work-Study Interns: Stefanie Paredes, Lauren Arienzale, Grace Kurfman, Dani LaPointe, Liza Wisner, Taiwana Shambley, Natalie Obando, and Diana Dinerman.

Additional Production Help: Karen Hamilton, Amelia Bryan, Adrienne Applegate, Jamila Gaskin, Harold Hale, Margaret Morgan, Laurien Alexandre, and Melinda Garland.

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To access a full transcript and find more information about this and other episodes, visit theseedfield.org. To get updates and be notified about future episodes, follow Antioch University on Facebook.