Join us for a reading group that discusses An Vi, the philosophy at the heart of the works of Catholic priest and philosophy professor Kim Định. According to his writing, An Vi is where the East not only meets the West but also resists it, and where Việt Nam finds its unique roots and footing between the impositions China, France, and the US.
Perusing passages of Kim Định's works and sources available through An Việt Archives, we will explore together what An Vi means, what this philosophy interacts with, and how it has come to shape a sense of identity across Vietnamese diasporic communities.
We are running one session in July and one in August. The first one will be more of an introduction, while in the second we will dive deeper into a selected passage.
Reading extract and guide translation will be provided beforehand; extra copies will be available on the day. Special knowledge is not required as we're all exploring together.
Pay What You Can (as small as £1) to support An Việt Archives running with volunteers. Snacks will be provided.
Facilitators
Thảo Tô is a writer and historian interested in diasporic communities within and beyond East and Southeast Asia. Her short stories and book reviews have been published in Wasafiri, diaCRITICS, Asian Review of Books, and Sine Theta Magazine.
Phương Anh (PA) is a translator and writer from Hà Nội. They translate contemporary literature from Vietnam and its francophone diaspora. They work part-time as a Publishing Executive at Tilted Axis Press and as an Income Inclusion Officer at ESEA Community Centre. Phương Anh is part of the An Việt Archives' Steering Panel Committee.
Organisation | Venue
An Việt Archives is an ongoing exploration of archives, alternatives, memory work, and community history. We believe that an archive is not just a collection of documents, photos, or materials; rather, these mediums are forms of meaning, memory, and knowledge-making. @anvietarchives | anvietarchives.org
ESEA Community Centre is a charity dedicated to serving the ESEA community by providing a physical space that acts as a local hub for support with essential services, as well as access to social, wellbeing, and community activities. We advocate for collective action to address shared concerns affecting the ESEA community and strive to make a positive impact through our programme of activities and services. @eseacommunitycentre | eseacommunitycentre.org.uk