Vietnamese graphic design in journalism from 1865 to 1945

Abstract

This article looks into the formation, development and artistic characteristics of Vietnamese graphic design in journalism from 1865 to 1945 (The French colonial period is the period when Vietnam became a colony of the French, from 1858 to 1945. The study limits the starting time for the French colonial press to be 1865, when the first newspaper appeared in Viet Nam). Using a qualitative method alongside an interdisciplinary approach involving Fine Art, Design, History and Journalism, based on theories of acculturation and exchange in culture and art, the article puts the subject matter in a counterbalanced relationship, with the boundary between Vietnamese culture and other cultures on one side and reception and adaptation on the other. A deep investigation into a field formed during such a turbulent period of history for the nation and one that has had major impact on social media could have important implications in the teaching theories and operational practices of graphic design in journalism in Vietnam today.