Humanities 1100
Final Project
I chose to do my project about Quang because I have actually been with him on many
occasions when someone asks him what he is. I found this intriguing and thought it would
make for a great project on identity. I also chose him because he is very different than anyone
Ive ever met. He truly breaks every stereotype and assumption people could make about what he
looks like. In fact, he once told me that when Vietnamese people see him, they are blown away
that he is also Vietnamese because he is so different than the average Vietnamese person.
The major theme of this project was identity. I wanted to show that Quang is a lot more
than just Vietnamese, Black, or White. His identity isnt limited to a one-word, racial category.
His identity consists of so many different things that come together to make him- Quang
Nguyen.
There are a few symbolic elements in my photo series that I wanted to explain:
The first is that in each photo, he is walking. This is to show how he has progressed and evolved
throughout his life. I also chose to do this because I wanted to display a sense of movement,
especially the idea of moving forward. When he was younger, Quang got bothered when people
would ask what he was, but now, he doesnt mind it because he understands he is more than that.
This is also to show the transition between feeling unsure to confident in himself.
The second element I chose to put in this photo series was the white shirt hes wearing. I had him
wear a plain white t-shirt because I didnt want anything that could create bias or stereotype. The
plain white shirt is like a blank canvas. There cant be any prejudgments, assumptions, or
preconceptions. I also wanted the shirt to represent potential. A work of art, before it is a work of
art, is a blank canvas. Every famous piece we know started just like this white t-shirt. So, in
relation to Quang and his life, he has the potential to do and be anything he desires. He isnt
Each location and item he holds is a part of his life and what makes him who he is.
Music: Quang plays the guitar, the ukulele, and a little bit of piano. Music has been a big
influence in his life. He loves to sing (hes very talented at that, too) and loves to have jam
sessions with friends where they just go with the flow and sing around for fun. Music really is a
large part of who he is; its very rare you catch Quang not listening to music or signing.
Religion: Recently, Quang has been learning more about the LDS faith. He thinks that religion is
something his life could benefit from. His search for happiness has led him to ask the big
Basketball: Asians sometimes get the stereotype that they are nerdy or really good at math, and
not great at sports. Breaking that stereotype, Quang loves basketball and has become quite good
at it. He spent a lot of time as a kid shooting hoops and learning moves to get where he is today.
Education: Although the smart Asians stereotype isnt correct, Quang excelled in his
education. He committed himself to succeed in gaining a quality education for a better future.
With great grades and citizenship in school, he now has a job that is beneficial for his future.
Work: This photo seems kind of funny because hes holding a Rubiks cube in front of his work
office, but it makes sense after I explain. Quang is one of hardest workers I have ever met. In
every job he has had, he works to be successful and make a difference. He makes it a point to
become good at what he does. One day he picked up a Rubiks cube and decided he was going to
learn how to solve one. He spent a long time learning and getting quick at it. Whether its a real
job, or a Rubiks cube for fun, Quang dedicates himself to excellence. He believes if you are
Home and Family: Quang has an incredible story about his family and the struggles he has
overcome concerning that aspect of his life. As hard as some of his experiences were, he decided
to let them make him a better person. A lot of his identity comes from this kind of growth.
Smoothie / His Name: Quang was born right here in America, although he has all kinds of race
inside of his genes. One of the major things that have shaped him is his name. Its pronounced
/kw--ng/ (with a short A sound), but after years of people not being able to say that correctly,
he now goes by /kw-o-ng/ (with a short O sound). When he orders food, the cashiers never- and I
mean never- get his name right. It used to drive him crazy, but now he doesnt care. Juan, John,
Reflection
Prompt 1: What did you learn by creating the signature assignment? Be specific with respect to
your work on the assignment and the topics/skills/concepts you learned in the course. Talk about
the aims and strategies that led to the completion of your assignment. How did your thinking
about it evolve over time (point to specific experiences while working on the assignment)?
By creating this assignment, I learned a lot about Quang and his life. It was particularly
cool to learn more about his Vietnamese family. It opened my eyes to a new perspective and a
whole range of cultural differences. I learned a lot about identity being so much more than just
looks or even genes. I loved exploring the ways that Quang created himself, regardless of his
circumstances. I learned a powerful lesson about the power within each of us to rise about
hardship and adversity. Even though photos dont require information, I wanted to put things into
them that represented him, so I took a lot of time talking to him to get to know him better. Even
though people may not understand the full meaning of the photos because they dont know
Quang personally, I think its cool that as the artist, I know what it all means. The most difficult
part of this project was finding time to run around all over the place to take the photos. All the
places we went are his actual favorite places- I didnt want to take shortcuts and go to convenient
locations- so that added a lot of meaning, but also more traveling. Over time, I learned to
appreciate Quang and people like him- which is everyone. I found that everyone has a story to
Sources
Q. Nguyen, personal interview, October 10, 2017
(We talked about his family and past, growing up as a kid.)
Q. Nguyen, personal interview, October 24, 2017
(Discussed religion primarily.)
Q. Nguyen, personal interview, November 14, 2017
(Talked about a range of topics regarding his Vietnamese heritage and what that is like.)