Globalization and the Public Cartographies of Vietnam Idol

Melissa Chow
ASA 004 –A04
4^th May 2017

           

                    This week’s reading, “Globalization and the Public Cartographies of Vietnam Idol” reminded me a lot of the themes we discussed in the last lecture, mainly neoliberalism. During the Vietnam War, the United States imposed itself on Vietnam so it could not grow and thrive on its own. Now Vietnam is in a fragile state where it needs to spread its own cultural wings, but through the arrival of Vietnam Idol, “ideals” are still being imposed on the people. Throughout the reading, it seems the author, Long Bui, is very critical of Vietnam Idol, and well, actually anyone can see why. The Idol series was created by a Western society, the UK, and then popularized by the American Idol, but producers are trying to use Vietnam Idol as a way to control Vietnamese Youth ideals. One of the examples Bui points out is that more than 4/5’s of the country is able to access internet, SMS messaging, etc. to even be able to vote for their favorite idol. The producers are trying to manipulate the audience to fit to the show’s standards rather than actually making a show that fits the Vietnamese culture and audience. Another example of this is that the show likes to advertise itself as a way for youth to be able to dream, perform, and thus become famous through the show. Doesn’t this sound familiar? Oh yes, it’s the American dream! Yet, the auditions are only in four major cities, so most of the population, no matter how undiscovered and talented they are, cannot actually make it onto the show. Vietnam Idol is a prime example of neoliberalist ideas being used upon the Vietnamese in the modern page, and it’s likely to continue.