A RUSH AGAINST TIME: Next Generation
of Cambodian Americans Reclaim their
Cultural Narrative
of Cambodian Americans Reclaim their
Cultural Narrative
The Cambodian Diaspora understands that culture plays a huge role
in the everyday lives of many folks. Because of this, the next generation
of Cambodian Americans are taking action to preserve and celebrate
their cultural history. Not only are they looking to cultivate and archive
this history, but they are also using their unique perspectives to revitalize
forgotten art forms that could be potentially lost or forgotten in time
through assimilation, acculturation, colonization, war, and genocide.
in the everyday lives of many folks. Because of this, the next generation
of Cambodian Americans are taking action to preserve and celebrate
their cultural history. Not only are they looking to cultivate and archive
this history, but they are also using their unique perspectives to revitalize
forgotten art forms that could be potentially lost or forgotten in time
through assimilation, acculturation, colonization, war, and genocide.
Much of the literature and art from Cambodia’s past were destroyed when
the Khmer Rouge came into power and attempted to erase and rewrite its
history. What has been salvaged over the years after their reign has come
from the rote memory of those who survived the tragedy. They hold the
key to keeping the rich culture of Cambodia alive. None of them could ever
imagine how valuable their memories of what life was like before the war
would be to the generations of Khmer that would come after.
the Khmer Rouge came into power and attempted to erase and rewrite its
history. What has been salvaged over the years after their reign has come
from the rote memory of those who survived the tragedy. They hold the
key to keeping the rich culture of Cambodia alive. None of them could ever
imagine how valuable their memories of what life was like before the war
would be to the generations of Khmer that would come after.
Peter Veth and Chummeng Soun are looking to unravel those hidden mysteries and bring to light some of Cambodia’s seemingly intangible art history. With some help from the Cambodian American Literary Arts Association, Middlesex Community College, Kanika Mam, and Penh Yom they are “Reclaiming Reamker”. The Reamker is the Khmer version of the South Asian Epic, Ramayana. The characters and components of the Reamker have been used as a foundation for training traditional painters in Cambodia for generations.
Soun had the privilege of learning the traditional Reamker dance by master teacher Penh Yom, who has imprinted every move to memory. She also provided Veth with a cassette tape containing the original musical track for the performance. Soun immediately recognized the value and importance of breathing new life back into an age-old story and enlisted Veth’s help in making the vision to reclaim Reamker a reality.
Veth and Soun not only want to reclaim this piece of their cultural heritage, but they also want to reinvent it and make it relatable and accessible to the younger generations. They plan to translate the narrative into English, add some contemporary dance aspects to the performance and retell the story from what some might consider a controversial perspective. In Veth and Soun’s adaptation of Reamker, the story will focus on Krom Ream, the yeak (ogre giant) and villain of the Ramayana.
SUPPORT OUR CREATIVE PRODUCTION
Your contribution will help support dance creation, production,
presentation, education, and preservation, and help us harness
the community-building power of dance at a time when we need
it most. Support from our friends, family and donors is the reason
that we can offer opportunities for local Cambodian American
practicing artists to learn, create, and accomplish their goals.
presentation, education, and preservation, and help us harness
the community-building power of dance at a time when we need
it most. Support from our friends, family and donors is the reason
that we can offer opportunities for local Cambodian American
practicing artists to learn, create, and accomplish their goals.
