Ocean Vuong on War, Sexuality and Asian-American Identity | Amanpour and Company

Summary

Ocean Wang, a Vietnamese-American writer, discusses his debut novel *On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous* in a conversation about identity, trauma, and creative expression. Born in Vietnam and raised in Hartford, Connecticut, Wang reflects on the struggles of being an immigrant, the generational divide between refugees and their children, and the challenges of navigating queer identity. He touches on the complexities of his family's history, including the effects of war, and the transformative power of writing. Wang also shares his thoughts on beauty, identity, and the importance of visibility for marginalized communities.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ocean Wang is a Vietnamese American writer who debuted with the semi-autobiographical novel *On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous*, which spent six weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.
• 😀 Wang's novel is written as a letter from a young Vietnamese American to his illiterate mother, exploring themes of identity, trauma, and the immigrant experience.
• 😀 Ocean Wang was born in Ho Chi Minh City, and his family immigrated to the United States when he was 2 years old, settling in Hartford, Connecticut.
• 😀 He reflects on the paradox between the first-generation desire to remain invisible for protection and the second-generation yearning to be seen and recognized.
• 😀 Growing up in a black and Latino neighborhood in Hartford, Wang experienced the cultural vibrancy of the community, but also the harsh realities of violence and police brutality.
• 😀 Wang's mother and grandmother imparted an immigrant philosophy to him: stay invisible to survive, despite the internal conflict it created in Wang as he desired recognition.
• 😀 He shares a powerful memory of being overlooked in class as a child, which sparked his desire to be seen and known. This experience inspired his pursuit of writing as a form of self-expression.
• 😀 Wang's family background, including their illiteracy and struggles with poverty, initially hindered his pursuit of writing, but he began writing in secret by listening to speeches like Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream'.
• 😀 In his book, Wang explores the intersection of race, identity, and societal expectations, especially the limited stereotypes often imposed on Asian Americans.
• 😀 Despite facing hardship, Wang emphasizes that writing allowed him to take control of his life and transform trauma into a narrative of empowerment and change.
• 😀 His relationship with his mother, though complicated by their past, has evolved into one of care and understanding, focusing on the present and acceptance of their shared history.
• 😀 Wang's work challenges stereotypes around both Asian American identity and queerness, offering a portrayal of more fluid and nuanced understandings of sexuality, contrasting with the rigid American masculine identity.

Q & A

How did Ocean Wang's background influence his writing?

Ocean Wang's Vietnamese-American background and his experiences as a refugee played a significant role in shaping his writing. His family’s migration to the U.S. and the difficulties they faced, such as language barriers and adjusting to a new culture, deeply impacted his creative perspective. His debut novel reflects themes of identity, belonging, and the immigrant experience, offering a voice to the marginalized.

Why did Ocean Wang describe his book as semi-autobiographical?

Ocean Wang described his debut novel, *On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous*, as semi-autobiographical because the protagonist's journey is similar to his own in many ways. However, he also emphasizes that the novel is not an exact replication of his life, but rather an exploration of shared experiences, especially as they relate to identity, family, and belonging.

What significance does Baldwin's *Go Tell It on the Mountain* hold for Ocean Wang?

Ocean Wang was inspired by Baldwin's *Go Tell It on the Mountain*, particularly the way Baldwin used his own coming-of-age story to affirm the dignity and power of his community. Wang draws parallels between Baldwin's depiction of Harlem and his own experiences as a Vietnamese-American growing up in Hartford, asserting that stories from marginalized communities deserve the same literary recognition as those from more mainstream backgrounds.

What did Ocean Wang learn from his elders in the Vietnamese community?

Ocean Wang learned from his elders that survival in a new country often meant remaining invisible to avoid drawing attention. His mother’s advice, telling him to ‘disappear,’ was meant to protect him in a world that could be hostile to immigrants, especially those from marginalized backgrounds. However, as a second-generation immigrant, Wang’s yearning for visibility and recognition began to conflict with this advice.

How does Wang describe his relationship with his mother and family?

Wang reflects on the complex relationship with his mother, particularly acknowledging the brutality and challenges within his family. However, he highlights that writing allowed him to understand his family's trauma and how it shaped their interactions. Over time, Wang learned that despite the pain, his family’s way of showing love and care was often through practical gestures, such as asking if he was hungry, rather than through words.

What was the significance of the incident when Wang was put in timeout as a child?

The timeout incident, where Wang was forgotten by his teacher and left in the corner, became a turning point for him. He realized how easy it was for him, as a small Asian child, to be invisible in the American educational system. This experience sparked his desire to be seen and heard, especially through his creative work, and motivated him to pursue a career as an artist to make his voice known.

How does Wang view the role of anger in creativity?

Wang acknowledges the energy that anger provides but emphasizes that it is not the driving force behind his creative work. He believes that while anger can be powerful, it is ultimately destructive if not channeled properly. Wang prefers to use compassion and understanding as his guiding energies, creating works that ask 'what can I do now?' rather than reacting out of rage.

What does Ocean Wang’s experience with shame and sexuality add to his narrative?

Wang addresses the theme of shame, particularly around queerness, in his book. He contrasts the shame felt by a white farm boy, Trevor, who struggles with his sexuality due to American masculinity norms, with the more fluid and accepting approach to sexuality in his own Vietnamese family. Wang suggests that his upbringing allowed him to be more comfortable with his identity, as opposed to the constricting shame imposed by Western ideals of masculinity.

Why did Ocean Wang choose the title *On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous*?

The title *On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous* carries a deep, symbolic meaning for Ocean Wang. He wanted to affirm the beauty of marginalized communities, particularly poor and immigrant groups, from the very first sentence of the book. Wang emphasizes that these communities, often overlooked and underrepresented, are beautiful, and this beauty should be celebrated, despite their struggles and fleeting presence in the world.

How does Ocean Wang navigate the complexities of his mixed-race heritage?

Wang grapples with the complexities of his mixed-race heritage, especially as a product of the Vietnam War. His relationship with his grandfather, a white American soldier, is marked by guilt and a history of war, and he reflects on the challenge of reconciling these two sides of his identity. The novel's spiral-like structure mirrors his ongoing exploration of this complicated history, where he returns to these questions and looks for ways to avoid repeating past mistakes.