Arn Chorn-Pond Reflection

After listening to Arn Chorn-Pond and being absolutely amazed by his visit, there were many things that I resonated with from Arn’s work. What I believe resonates most with Arn’s work is how he uses traditional art to heal and rebuild personal identities. I love his initiative to preserve Cambodian arts even after the brutality the Khmer Rouge caused against Cambodia, as his way to preserve these arts is a powerful form of reviving cultures, and restoring a heritage that was basically destroyed during the genocide. Another thing that resonates with me is how Arn’s organization, Cambodian Living Arts, preserves ancient music but also helps the younger generations reconnect with their history and culture. His story doesn’t just highlight the power of arts for individuals, but for entire communities who need to reclaim their history after what was lost in the genocide.                     

          Hearing the stories of genocide survivors or refugee’s like Arn is so valuable as it brings human depth to historical atrocities that can be overwhelming. When hearing Arn’s ability of turning his traumatic past into a source of healing through music, and using comedy to explain his past, it exemplifies the resilience of how strong Arn is, and these other genocide survivors and their stories. These stories provide more than just historical context, as they can enable people to grasp the emotional and psychological aftermaths of these types of events. Through stories like Arn’s, we learn not only about his survival but also the long term impacts of the loss and trauma that these people go through, and the process of recovery. I was so amazed being able to hear Arn’s story, and seeing how strong and passionate he was to talk about his trauma, and so happy as he was able to talk about these kinds of things with a smile on his face, laughing with his colleagues that have helped him along the way to restore the culture and history to Cambodia.