Episode 130: Martina Thucnhi Nguyen, Department of History, Baruch College

In this episode, host Francine Barchett teams up with co-host Lijun Zhang, a Cornell PhD student in history, for a riveting conversation with Dr. Martina Nguyen, Associate Professor of History at Baruch College, City University of New York. Dr. Nguyen shares the story of a provocative newspaper column penned by prominent Vietnamese intellectual Nguyễn Văn Vĩnh, under a female pseudonym! She explores how the column stirred debates around masculinity, femininity, and national identity in early modern Vietnam. Plus, listeners get a sneak peek at an upcoming museum exhibition she's co-curating on the iconic ao dài (Vietnamese national garment) during the Vietnam War, which will open at the Cantor Art Gallery in Worcester in fall 2025.   Lightning round: 4:10  Research and Lecture Summary: 13:14 Advice for researchers and recommendations: 55:23  Dr. Nguyen's top recommendations: Songs by Trịnh Công Sơn and Quang Lê Đất Khổ (Land of Sorrows) by Hà Thúc Cần White Lotus by Mike White   The music on the podcast is from "14 Strings!", a Filipino-style Rondalla group established at Cornell University. Check them out here.    Produced by Adam Farihin and Cecilia Liu