Date of Award
6-26-2026
Date Published
August 2026
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Fine Arts (MFA)
Department
Illustration
Advisor(s)
Ginnie Hsu
Second Advisor
Junko Takeda
Keywords
Cultural identity;Cultural negotiation;Immigrant;Migration history;Vietnamese;Vietnamese American
Abstract
Acculturation is a fundamental aspect of the migration experience that enables individuals to adapt to new environments while maintaining meaningful connections within both familial and social spheres. Depending on class, economic conditions, and sociopolitical context, experiences of acculturation differ across generations. This thesis argues that, through the ongoing process of cultural negotiation, Vietnamese immigrants create unique cultural identities that balance adaptation to the host country with the preservation of Vietnamese cultural values, beliefs, and practices. It also explores how migration history, intergenerational differences, and cultural memory influence varied experiences of acculturation and belonging among Vietnamese immigrants in the United States. The thesis examines the intersections of cultural traditions, inherited memory, and adopted influences in shaping personal and cultural identities. This inquiry informs the creation of an epistolary short story that interprets memory and lived experience through the everyday realities of cultural negotiation. Drawing upon Acculturation Theory and Bicultural Identity Integration Theory, this thesis investigates how social, historical, and interpersonal factors shape both individual and community experiences of acculturation. It also examines memoirs by Vietnamese American authors who immigrated to and grew up in the United States, highlighting the nuanced and diverse lived experiences across migration generations. Finally, personal experiences and autoethnographic reflection are incorporated to explore how memory, identity, and intergenerational history inform the art-making process and the development of the work’s visual language.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Pham, Duyen Thu, "Neither Here Nor There: Cultural Identity Among Vietnamese Immigrants" (2026). Theses - ALL. 1057.
https://surface.syr.edu/thesis/1057
