Sasges' lecture part of ongoing series
By Josh Work, Copy Editor
November 2, 2007 | 6 a.m.
Sasges, an assistant professor who joined the faculty this quarter, presented his dissertation, “The Politics of Drink: Resistance, Collaboration, and the Alcohol Monopoly of Colonial Vietnam,” on Vietnamese natives’ disobedience of French colonial restrictions on alcohol.
He described how, despite the ban placed on homemade alcohol, the Vietnamese continued to brew their own for the sake of profit and ceremony. When the French government would attempt to subdue the contraband brewers, entire communities would resist the authority.
“Whole villages rose up,” Sasges said. “Men, women and children would beat the crap out of the whole French retinue.”
Sasges suggested that this “resistance” was not so much a rebellion as an attempt at stable economic practice. Because the only sources coming out of the colony were from the French officials, however, the perspective of the locals was not present. As a researcher, he wanted to learn the villagers’ view.
“We have to look really closely at what’s going on at the local level,” Sasges said, “before we say, ‘This is resistance.’”
In his research, Sasges found this history relevant to modern life in the United States. He pointed to laws such as those concerning jaywalking and underage drinking, which are nearly unenforceable in an absolute sense because of the degree to which they are committed.
“These acts are not a sign of resistance to an oppressive state,” he said. “People are setting limits on the power of the state to determine their behavior.”
Sasges’ interest in Vietnam was sparked by a varied educational history. After graduating from high school Sasges went to college, uncertain of what he wanted to do in life.
After a brief stint at law school, he decided to go to the University of California, Berkeley, for a doctorate in French history. He later changed his major to Vietnamese history because he wanted to learn about a culture with which he was unfamiliar.
“I wanted a challenge,” Sasges said of his choice. “I wanted something that was different and difficult. It was.”
Sasges traveled to Vietnam for the first time in 2000, not knowing the language or what he might find there. He recalled the intense heat of the Vietnamese summer, coupled with the humidity of the atmosphere. Three days after his arrival, he found himself standing on the roof of his hotel in Hanoi during a monsoon, marveling at the sights and smells around him.
“The monsoon had hit,” he recalled. “There was the din of the rain as it poured down, and the thunder and the lightning. I could smell the rain and the closeness of the humidity. I saw the city, with its bright colors, and I could hear the city noises and the motorbikes. It was an overwhelming sensory experience, and I thought to myself: This is cool. I love this city.”
Sasges remained in Vietnam until 2007, spending the last five years as the director of OU’s study abroad program in Vietnam. In this position, he found himself in a number of roles, as he administered a staff of seven local teachers, taught a class on Vietnamese society, led field trips and looked after the students.
“I was part teacher, part tour guide and part big brother,” Sasges said.
His position at OU is his first chance to work in a department, and Sasges is looking forward to connecting with the students and faculty. He observed the range of interests among his colleagues and pointed to the flexibility of history that allowed him to study his particular interests.
“History gives perspective and allows you to see things in a certain way,” he said. “It’s everything. You can really follow your own interests.”
Sasges’ lecture was part of a weekly series hosted by the International Studies Forum, a division of the Center for International Studies. The event, which takes place at 3:10 p.m. every Friday in 140 Bentley Hall, is open to the public. It features a wide variety of speakers, from staff members to prominent outside speakers with a particular specialization.
“It’s an integral part of our program of study,” said Drew McDaniel, interim director of International Studies. “There is a full gamut of topics, interests and activities represented.”
The series, which was once only open to International Studies students, has continued in some form over the years, McDaniel said. It allows new faculty members, such as Sasges, to introduce themselves to the program and the campus, and gives professors a platform to speak about their interests.
Upcoming lectures from the International Studies Forum:
Friday, October 26 (held in 135 Walter Hall)
Yongjun Chen, Professor of Business Economics, China Renmin University, Beijing
“China’s Speedy Urbanization: Problems and Solutions”
Friday, November 2
Celia Lowe, Professor of Anthropology, University of Washington
“Problematizing Biosecurity in Indonesia: A Study of Avian Influenza”
Friday, November 9
Elisabeth Haywood, Assistant Professor of History, Allegheny College
"Martín Gil y Garcés: Revolutionary, Politician, and Ecclesiastic Extraordinaire" (The Catholic Church and Mexican Independence)
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For more information concerning the forum and the Center for International Studies, visit its Web site.