UC San Diego, The Loft Screen New Wave Documentary on 1980s Vietnamese Subculture

The documentary "New Wave," screened at UC San Diego to honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, explores the Vietnamese New Wave subculture of 1980s Orange County through personal stories that address identity and generational trauma. The film's director, Elizabeth Ai, shares her own complex relationship with her Vietnamese heritage, highlighting the tensions of cultural expectations and personal identity within the community. In the realm of music, conductor Dalia Stasevska is praised for her dynamic and magnetic presence as she leads performances of Ginastera's Malambo, Dvořák's "New World" Symphony, and Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue," featuring pianist Hayato Sumino. Spanish artist Christina Rosenvinge presents "Los Versos Sáficos," a musical project connecting poetry and song, emphasizing female creativity and literary adaptation, showcased at the Bloomsday Festival. Additionally, the Mercury sound, known for its natural orchestral recording style pioneered in the 1950s and '60s by Bob Fine and Wilma Cozart Fine, has been reissued, celebrating conductor Antal Doráti's vivid recordings with the London Symphony Orchestra. Finally, Marina Fleming's album "Groupies in the Age of Consent" offers a blend of indie rock and folk influences with melodic tunes that mask deeper themes.