How to Survive French Colonialism in Việt Nam —Fall 2024

Skills:
Costume Design
Makeup Design
Prop Design
Storytelling
Drag

Alongside the Stanford Drag Troupe, I performed a drag king set as Earl of the Orient, a comedic and radical portrayal of anti-imperialist masculinity. In a three part act, a Vietnamese aristocratic man negotiates his manhood under French colonial rule. I posit that drag and reimagined relationships with gender are revolutionary forms of praxis and resistance.

Other performers: Gene Attel Warts and Noir

Makeup and Costume Design

A person with long hair applying makeup in front of a mirror surrounded by bright vanity lights, with other people nearby.
A group of people, some with unique face paint and costumes, are gathered in a dressing room with a mirror and various makeup and hair tools.
A woman with short, curly hair and a septum piercing is applying makeup to a young girl with dark, curly hair who is wearing traditional clothing with gold patterns.

Act I: I am a Vietnamese man! I am a French man!

A person with dark hair and wearing a white and gold patterned traditional robe kneeling on stage while reading a book titled 'Surviving French Colonialism in Vietnam for Dummies' with cartoon illustrations on the cover.
A person sitting on a black box on a stage, wearing a beige and gold embroidered costume, white sneakers, and a fake mustache, with a book beside them, against a black background.
Performer in white costume dancing on stage with audience members seated and smiling.
Person with dark curly hair wearing a colorful, patterned jacket and scarf, posing with a flexed arm against a dark background, under a blue stage light.
Person with short dark hair smiling, dressed in an ornate, embroidered light pink traditional Asian garment, against a dark background.
Person with dark, curly hair wearing a light-colored, ornate embroidered robe, sitting against a black background.

Act II: Emasculation, Humiliation, Domination

Person dressed in an ornate white and gold costume, sitting against a black background, with short dark hair, making a playful gesture near their face.
A performer in traditional Asian attire is on stage, with one knee on the ground and arms raised, expressing surprise or excitement, while an audience of diverse people is watching and smiling.
A group of people sitting on a stage, laughing and watching a performance. Two individuals in the foreground are dressed funnily, one wearing a chicken hat, with the person behind them engaged in the comedic act.
The image shows a group of performers on stage during a theatrical play, with one person dressed in a clown costume, another in a woman’s dress, and others in costumes including a horse mask. The scene appears lively and expressive, with a dark background and stage lighting highlighting the performers.
Stage scene with performers, including one lying on the floor with legs raised, and others standing or seated, under purple stage lights, with books and props on stage.
Person with blonde hair wearing a black beret and a pink jacket on stage, smiling with one arm raised, pink and purple stage lighting
Actors on stage performing a theatrical scene with expressive gestures; one actor with sunglasses lying on the floor, another with pink hair and purple jacket sitting on a box, a third with a horse mask in the background.

Act III: Chiến tranh Đông Dương (The Anti-French Resistance War)

Performer on stage dressed in vintage theatrical costume, wearing a beret, holding a prop sword, with dark background.
Person with shoulder-length dark hair, dressed in a long beige coat, holding a large sword. Another person with blonde hair, wearing a black hat and dark red jacket, is on the right side, appearing to perform or speak. They are on a stage with a black background.
A person smiling and pointing with their right hand, wearing traditional clothing, on a dimly lit stage with a black background.
Performer in traditional costume with a sword on stage, audience watching, in a dark theater with stage lights.
Two performers on stage, one in the foreground with a joyful expression, holding a stick and wearing striped pants and a beret, the other in the background with an excited expression, holding a prop, both dressed in theatrical costumes.
Performer in traditional Asian outfit holding a lighted prop on stage.
The image depicts a theatrical performance on stage, with three main women in costumes in the foreground. The woman on the left is dressed in a white traditional Asian outfit, holding a sword and smiling. The woman in the middle is dressed in a red blazer with a white shirt underneath, holding a sword up and laughing. The third woman, on the right, is seated with others, dressed casually, and appears to be reacting humorously to the scene. The stage has black curtains in the background, with red stage lights overhead illuminating the scene.
A person with curly hair wearing a pink jacket with intricate gold embroidery and a high collar, smiling with closed eyes against a black background.
Group of people sitting on a stage, some clapping and some smiling, with a performer in costume standing at the front holding a sword in a theatrical setting.
Performer standing on stage with arms spread wide, holding two swords, wearing a long white costume, surrounded by other performers seated or standing, with black curtains behind and stage lights above.