OKLAHOMA CITY — On Friday, September 25, from 6 to 8:30 p.m., the Oklahoma History Center Museum, in partnership with the Vietnamese American Heritage Community of Oklahoma, will host a screening of the documentary titled “New Wave.”
The film explores the young subculture of displaced refugees searching for identity in Southern California, building a safe community space through 1980s Vietnamese American new wave music.
The subjects of the film experienced teenage rebellion, with mile-high hair, underground clubs and synthesized sounds, while coping with the bittersweet emotions of being far from home. In making “New Wave,” filmmaker Elizabeth Ai was on a mission to excavate an untold story of rebellious punks in the chaotic world of ’80s Vietnamese New Wave until she uncovers a hidden past.
After the screening, there will be a brief Q&A with Lynda Trang Đài, a Vietnamese performer and singer. She is featured in the documentary and will answer audience questions.
The screening is free to the public, but the museum galleries will be closed. No registration is required.
This film will be shown in conjunction with the “Our Journeys” traveling exhibit, presented by Vietnamese Boat People. This multimedia traveling exhibition will be on display at the Oklahoma History Center Museum through January 4, 2027.
The Oklahoma History Center Museum is located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City.
The Oklahoma History Center is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, National Archives and is an accredited member of the American Alliance of Museums. The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications, the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.