Topic > Post-memory and layered memories of Vietnamese Americans

IndexPost-memoryVietnamese Americans and layered memoriesContribution of post-memoryPost-memoryPost-memory refers to the generational transmission of memories about events. It involves a generation living to memorize the experiences of the past generation who witnessed the event and working to pass on the memories to the next generation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Vietnamese Americans and Layered Memories Vietnamese Americans have long experienced layered memories of the US-Vietnam War. Generations have learned about war and used what they learned to build memories about the events surrounding the conflict. Vietnamese Americans learn from their elders about the war and use the message to build memories of the conflict. For example, children are told about their relatives who died during the war to help them connect with the events of the war. Knowing that they have lost relatives during the war, children tend to develop a sense of the direct impact that the war has left on their families (Espiritu 89). Parents show children photos of relatives killed during the war to make them understand the reality of deaths that occurred during the war. For example, Espiritu provides an example of how she used an image to learn about her uncle who was killed during the war (121). The experiences of Vietnam War survivors are also used to construct generational memories acquired by Vietnamese Americans. Vietnamese Americans came to terms with the outcomes of the war by being conditioned by the suffering Vietnamese population defending the country from invasion. Contribution of Post-Memory The generational transfer of memories regarding the Vietnam War helps connect Vietnamese Americans to their country. Refugee studies uses these memories to show how refugees want to live in their country, but conflicts prevent them from going back. Refugee studies can use the case of Vietnamese Americans to provide suggestions on the need to return refugees to their country as they are tied to their culture and memories and will find it easy to resettle.