ABOUT – Vodcast – TRAILER 2
Why Story VI? How was the idea formed?
When I went to study for a master’s degree in literature at a fairly radical school in Shanghai, having access to many theories, including gender theory, I realized the problem that, the same is the East, but in Vietnam. I am very open-minded, even a little “easy” in receiving foreign theoretical foundations, but then I often encounter conflicting opinions, creating divisions that “which side” also… extreme. After observing for a while, I realized that, well, many people have overlooked a core issue, which is culture.
Gender, to me, is the movement of the world on the basis of differences of each gender to arrive at the new value of individual freedom and liberation. But we cannot ignore the cultural factor, people cannot be separated from the cultural context, and culture is the guideline for us to solve the doubts arising in the era of the flat world. This.
I come from a background as an art journalist, before I publish a literary work, I have many years of experience interviewing characters. We know that everyone has a story to tell. And we also know that grand narratives are no longer believable. However, I am a person who still believes in universal values. Therefore, I choose to listen to each individual’s story based on their own cultural background.
What makes you want to return to the profession of “questioning”? Writing is not enough for you to “proclaim your word”?
I do podcasts also because I want to… stop “spreading my word” for a while. I hope the guests of “Story VI” talk more, and I just do the lead. It is hoped that the program can invite prestigious guests in their field and in turn bring out diverse perspectives on gender from their own professional experiences. Because in my opinion, in this day and age, no field can go beyond gender.
“But don’t you feel sad about an old woman …”, that’s a line from her story. What about you, with this re-export, after 7 years of “staying away”?
In Marquez’s novel Love in the Time of Cholera, he introduced the concept of “gerontophobia”, which means the fear of old age. Not only Marquez, Kawabata once wrote a novel called Sleeping Beauty that deals with the sadness of old age. There are also many movies made on this subject.
Old age is sad, especially for us women, there are many things on the body that can shed besides tears. Another sad thing is that it was only later that I realized, the biological age and cognitive age of a woman are very different. Being pregnant at twenty-eight is medically classified as an elderly woman, but a woman in her thirties is not yet ripe.
It seems that my work in all fields from literature, film to journalism is not very dependent on my biological age.
In the midst of the “homemade podcast” era, what makes you believe that you won’t be mixed in with the choir?
I don’t mean to make a difference. I’m fun-loving, very thoroughly grasping the spirit of my grandparents’ teaching, “trade with friends, sell with wards”. However, I am also aware that, returning to the journalistic environment this time, after 7 years, the readers/audience/audience are now much different. There are too many distinct characteristics to be clarified: Gen Z, Gen Y, Gen Alpha… with their foreign language proficiency and keen access to the world, your background knowledge may be even broader than that of journalists.. .
Therefore, I should also be prepared that the value you seek for about an hour spent on a journalistic product will no longer be the same. They’re not interested in hearing a star’s behind-the-scenes stories, are they? I like Einstein’s 10,000 hours idea, to become an expert at something, you have to spend at least 10,000 hours practicing. When you’re spending 10,000 hours in your field, turn on the podcast “Story VI”, you can listen to a story that takes 10,000 hours to become a human story. other.
Once sure as a nail that: “Gender is always confined, not only women but also men”, so do you think this podcast is meant to contribute to “untie”, or at least “widen the wall” bag”?
That is one of my motivations.
Gender is both an “everlasting” topic and constantly changing concepts and concepts. Story VI What approach should I choose so that gender issues are not “I know, it’s hard…”?
What worries me the most is that when it comes to gender, people only think about gender and sexual orientation, these are just superficial things. There are many issues behind the story of what gender a person is/is identified with and what sexual orientation is, leading to a big picture of the structure of our society. With gender diversity, people are only at the level of recognition, not necessarily acceptance. There are still patterns and distinctions that prevent the genders from harmonizing and supporting each other. There comes a time when we have to see the difference in each individual, not in the gender category, then go back to fully accept the difference in gender.
I plan to draw a “gender map” of Story VI with what theme streaks, if possible to reveal some?
If I were to imagine the ideal world map of this era, I think it’s like a polka dot work by female artist Yayoi Kusama. Small polka dots next to each other create a colorful, chaotic, unique and infinite world. But you know, behind those works, Kusama used to say that creating repetitive patterns was a way for her to free herself from anxiety. She is also a symbol of feminism.
Before there was a famous story name Bad women have no gifts. Who do you think deserves a “gift”?
Bad, of course, there are no gifts. Who gives gifts to bad people? But who proves that I am bad, other than myself? Thi No is ugly in Nam Cao’s eyes, still beautiful in Chi Pheo’s eyes. French writer Simone de Beauvoir famously said that “you are not born a woman, you become a woman”. It’s good or bad. Aesthetic standards based on five senses and golden measurements do not determine whether you are beautiful or ugly. Miss pageants, to me, are a place to showcase products. And the beauty of a woman lies in their spirit, and this spirit is the process of “becoming”, it takes time to experience.
And it’s time for women to stop taking flowers and gifts to prove their worth! Flowers can be a moment of joy, but it doesn’t say anything. You will always have gifts, if you believe you are beautiful.
At the other extreme of “Bad women have no gifts” is “She is beautiful, she has rights”. It seems that gender inequality sometimes occurs within the female gender itself, at a time when people are too important to “look” (not except yourself)?
This is not inequality, this is fairness. The interface consists of the visible and the invisible. The other invisible thing is education, wisdom, compassion and so on, and you can totally work for it. And if someone insists on yanking a gift away from you or shoving power into you just for the sake of tangible things like eyes, nose, mouth, breasts or legs… well, not worth talking about!
Instinctively, do you like to be relied on, on a certain shoulder, both in two aspects: mentally and physically? Is relying on you a “bad character” as people often attribute it?
Is this question here because I’m a woman? Then I don’t mind telling the truth, I like it, and I think a lot of people out there do too, including men. Who doesn’t have to rely on someone from time to time. As for the conclusion “depending on” is bad or good, we have to return to the concept of fairness I mentioned above. Besides, you also have to see who your partner is, and how you two compromise for this relationship.
For example, the “share culture” at the bar, are you usually comfortable with this “rule of the game”, or on the one hand, do you always feel that you deserve to be pampered by men?
I believe that whatever makes me decide to step into a relationship is the same thing that makes me walk out of the relationship. Paying for a date isn’t part of my “pampering” criteria.
She believes that “gender stereotypes or gender stereotypes are harmful to both men and women”. Have you been a “victim” or “perpetrator” of that “toxic” thing?
Both. In this society, women are very easily manipulated. When I didn’t know who I was and what I wanted, I was often psychologically manipulated. Male or female, young or old, people make me doubt myself. Because there has to be some pattern for us to be, otherwise it’s definitely wrong.
But if you think about it, the people who are manipulating you are actually also victims of stereotypes and prejudices. Like when I was in my twenties, my family told me that I should get married and have children, every woman doesn’t. Ten years later, seeing me go through breakdowns and losses, my family told me not to get married, not to have children, just earn money and save, travel a lot, eat a lot of food. tasty. I guess my family said that because they love me, but not sure they understand what feminism is. So what about the years I had to live up to other people’s expectations? I will be harsh on my other relationships. Because when we don’t understand our own vision, we will put the wrong view on others.
Do you find yourself getting stronger or weaker, when you’re not in love with anyone?
I haven’t been lucky enough to have a relationship that makes me feel strong. But in a relationship, if you don’t feel like you’re being supported to rise, it means you’re weakening. So now I can only focus on my relationship with myself. Learn to love yourself first.
What role do men play in your life?
Men, to me, are like big beautiful diamonds. I looked at the store and they still existed. But all these years of life, without diamonds I can still live.
When do you feel the most gender-power in you?
It’s when I don’t think about gender, but I just think of myself as a human being, behaving freely without infringing on the freedom of others.
What is the “most formidable” behind her small figure?
I think I’m pretty funny.
