From the Archive – On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous: Ocean Vuong On Beauty, Grief & The Language That Saves Us

Dua Lipa interviews Ocean Vuong, delving into his debut novel, *On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous*. Vuong elucidates his radical approach to writing, blending poetry techniques with the novel form, and his intent to mirror the multifaceted nature of an album. They explore the immigrant experience depicted in the book, particularly the paradox of language creating both connection and distance between Little Dog and his illiterate mother. Vuong connects the character of Lan to his own grandmother's history of resilience and self-definition through renaming. The conversation also addresses the character Trevor, viewing his struggles not as inherent to queerness but as a consequence of American societal pressures and the opioid epidemic. They further discuss the recent banning of Vuong's book in some US districts and its implications.