Blog #8: Neoliberalism and Vietnam Idol

The film about neoliberalism clarified my understanding of the term, given its economical context. Neoliberalism can be split and defined as "neo" meaning new and liberal, a connotation of freedom. Freedom is synonymous with good and therefore neoliberalism has an implication of being beneficial and better than the current stance and governmental positions we have now. Although the idea of having less governmental involvement and interference is an abstract theory, it does result in physical affects to the markets and other companies/producers. Less regulation of markets allows for the privatization of industries, preventing other smaller businesses from having equal opportunities. This inequality in access to resources is further perpetuated through lack of oversight and policies that prevent this.

The article Globalization and the Public Cartographies of  Vietnam Idol is a critic of the authenticity and purpose of this television show and its effects on the Vietnamese community. "The importation of Idol to Vietnam arrives with the promise of participatory cultural politics cohered around a sense of nation building based on youth and novelty" (Bui 2012). I think a sense of community and nationalism is important given the historical contexts of the country. Vietnam was split and there were high tensions as a result of the Vietnam War. The conflict resulting from disagreements between the two dominant political parties lead to catastrophic devastation for the country.

Having an outlet such as Vietnam Idol offers individuals a sense of unification. I see the introduction of this show not as a  mock off of what is present in Western cultures, rather it serves as an opportunity to represent Vietnam, the nation. Parallel to the Olympics, I think events that are structured to have winners can give a sense of pride and patriotism to their country. This reminded me of Hoang Xuan Vinh, a Vietnamese Olympian who was the first to win a gold medal in the air pistol competition. His victory was significant in that he was the first from his country to win a gold medal in the last 60 years. His talent was representative of the country he came from and therefore, these unifying events, although may have originated from Western cultures, do also have positive benefits for developing countries as well.