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April 08, 2005

Books at the local librium

Kinokuniya Bookstore, Bangkok

I've recently had some interesting conversations on the subject of contemporary arts information in Vietnam . Last evening during an informal discussion about an upcoming photography project with an artist friend in HCMC, the issue of complaints about the lack of arts information came up. On one hand, it is true that there is less contemporary arts and design information in Vietnam when compared to what can be found in Thailand or Cambodia. A visit to any bookstore in Vietnam, Vietnamese-language arts books largely stop at the modern period. A short supply of foreign language arts books and magazines can be had in English, French and German, but at a ridiculous cost, often 400% list price. The outrageous price tags, in part, stems from the import taxes stores must pay. Thus good books remain out of reach to most people. Yet when information is available, often the very same artists will ignore the opportunity. They refuse to attend artist talks, and have not desire to participate in projects designed to improve the level of discourse. As it goes, ignorance is bliss.

Although I now have my personal arts library with me, it came at a terrible price. It was a lesson that I care never to repeat, despite a personal dream for a contemporary arts resource center here in HCMC, such as the Hong Kong-based Asian Art Archives.

It's been months now since my Contemporary Video Arts course was cancelled in progress at the HCMC Fine Arts University. Teaching, I've realized is a tool that keeps one sharp. The process of organization information for public delivery keeps one agile and fresh. Teaching elsewhere has been considered. I miss my students.

Meanwhile Vietnamese students have problems. Serious problems. They are not equipped with proper research skills and there is really no incentive to excel. And for those ambitious and curious students, there are insane obstacles to simply checking out a book. You can read about Vietnamese students avoid inconvenient libraries in today's Thanh Nien newspaper. Should gifted students in mathematics dream of settling for a nice accounting position (see this article on Mexican students in the New York Times)

Much can be incorporated from abroad towards the improvement of the arts and education situation here in Vietnam, such as the MAD program in Chiangmai, there are models Vietnam would be best to avoid, such as the Communication University in Beijing.

I believe there is a direct relationship between quality of bookstores and standard of living. Once the bookstores improve in Vietnam, so will the country, or the other way around.

* Librium: Brand name for Chlordiazepoxide, a tranquilizer. Chlordiazepoxide acts selectively on polysynaptic neuronal pathways and may inhibit or augment transmission.

Posted by rst at April 8, 2005 06:13 PM

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» Education Reform: Walking not Talking from diacritic | art and culture
Another story about the urgent need for educational reform in Vietnam rang out like a proclamation that the earth was in fact round. This type of story comes out in intervals, meanwhile little has changed. [Read More]

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Posted by: minhthy at May 21, 2005 06:48 AM

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