Episode 31: Southeast Asia – Vietnam

Foundations of Eastern Civilization

Dr Craig Benjamin (2013)

Film Review

In this lecture, Benjamin explores the history of Vietnam and its troubled relationship with China. Genetic and archeological evidence indicates the Nam Viet (People of the South) were ethnically distinct from the Chinese. Intermarrying with people of Khmer and Thai ethnicity, they preferred to live in nuclear families, rather than extended families like the Chinese. Owing to the absence of Confucian influence, Vietnamese women had a much stronger presence in public life.

For many centuries Vietnam controlled the Red River Valley, presently part of southern China. Despite periodic raids in which Chinese armies took control of isolated Vietnam villages, China met strong resistance in its efforts to colonize the country. Yet the close contact increased China-Vietnam trade and adoption of Chinese inventions by Vietnamese elites. The Nam Viet traded ivory, tortoise shell and aromatic…

“Was macht die Kunst?”

Of course, in German, ‘die Kunst’ means ‘the Arts’.

Going back to the 1950s, among the people I knew then, “Was macht die Kunst?” was a standard greeting even among people that weren’t into the Arts themselves.

I never thought about it much, that anything to do with arts, was actually no part of their lives. I musy say, sadly, I did not know any people who’s lives circled around art. Come to think of it, I still don’t know people like that, except for a bit ‘on-line’ here and there.

I find now, without art, life is bound to become dreary. Luckily, I married someone who was always very interested in art. He did write a lot too in later years, but he never tried to get published. When I say, I never knew anyone who’s life circled around art, I mean…