There is always something about your immigrant mother that you never understood while growing up. It is through having a “Joy Luck Mom Club moment” - an epiphanous moment when you realize something about yourself because of something you learned about your mother that was previously kept secret. Inspired by the film The Joy Luck Club (1993), directed by Wayne Wang and adapted from Amy Tan’s novel, this participatory video workshop attempts to contribute to the untold/unheard/silenced and forgotten narratives of women’s migration. Participants are invited to bring an object, photo, or memory to create a one-minute video letter or dedication to their mother (or to another relative of importance). 

Participants will learn how to apply basic video production techniques from storyboarding, shooting, and sound to editing. Completed videos will be screened at the end of the workshop. Participants are not expected to have any formal media production experience and all levels are encouraged and welcome. 

Mobile phones or other cameras are welcome.

This program is free with the cost of admission (Admission to the museum is $15 and can be paid upon arrival at our Visitor Services Desk. More information about our admission rates can be found here)

RSVP recommended

More about the speaker:

Vivian Wenli Lin /林雯莉

The workshop will be facilitated by Dr. Vivian Wenli Lin, an Assistant Professor at Occidental College’s Media Arts and Culture department and media artist/scholar with a background in psychology, documentary film, video art, and interactive installation. Her research focuses on issues of representation, gender, migration,and the Asian diaspora. She founded Voices of Women Media in 2007, an organization that utilizes visual participatory methods to facilitate communities of migrant women and allies in media literacy and authoring their own narratives. Vivian has been conducting participatory media workshops since 2004, with extensive global experience throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, and America. 

If you find yourself in need of any special assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to, Cristina Hernandez-Guerrero, at ch45852@usc.edu. Your needs are important to us, and we are here to assist you in any way we can.