Vietnam Idol Journal 5/4 - Leigh Bagood

One quote that stuck out to me in this reading was: “In "The Local and Global," Stuart Hall claims globalization is able "to recognize and absorb those differences within the larger, overarching framework of what is essentially an American conception of the world." Hall suggests we are witnessing a globalization driven by Americanization, a process decidedly "American" but not restricted to the United States.” As Americans, we tend not to think about what globalization looks like from the perspective of other countries. I never thought about how we tend to consider things more globalized when they move towards Western characterizations. Especially when we’re talking about pop culture consumption, American media seems to be the most recognized industry throughout the world. When you think about globalization in terms of media, you can’t help but think of it as less developed countries sort of imitating American practices or adding their own spins to already existing media practices in the U.S. Even when talking about the Philippines, we use the word “Americanization” a lot, and associate it with the growing demand for American products and ideas as well as technological advances. Additionally, we relates these associations to class as well. So it’s interesting how becoming “Americanized” can also have a lot to do with this perception of higher class. This idea is important to Bui’s discussion of Vietnam Idol as a contradiction, painted to be an opposition to Western culture in its supposed inclusivity and cultural authenticity, when in reality it is a shift towards “Americanized” commercialism and globalization that ignores the majority population of poorer individuals in rural areas.