Asia Current Events
In Vietnam the economy is expected to increase about 4% this year, but there are many nationwide economic problems. More and more people are becoming unemployed and are having difficulties finding jobs, about 20% of small businesses have gone out of business, and even foreign affairs have decreased. “Many more people are trying to express themselves than before, criticizing the government,” said Truong Huy San. Citizens of Vietnam are blaming the Communist government for the poor economy and are beginning to speak out. Promises of better years have yet to be delivered or believed, and if the economy doesn't change soon a fight for power will begin.
“The state is being manipulated by people within the state to make money,” said Jonathan Pincus, the dean of the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program in Vietnam. This is similar to the British rule in India. The British, rather than experienced Indian citizens, controlled the government. This gave them the power to take money for their own wealth and gain, and leave the remaining nation in poverty. Vietnam is ranked among some of the world’s most corrupt countries by Transparency International, a global corruption monitor. According to the people of Vietnam the government does not allow criticizing of the government, enforces strict rules, and does not encourage the power of the people. “It’s a crisis of trust,” Mr. Doanh said. “Better times have been promised every year, but people don’t see it.” The lack of trust in the government has lead to a political storm that will only get worse if nothing changes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/24/world/asia/vietnam-clings-to-single-party-rule-as-dissent-rises-sharply.html?ref=vietnam&_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/business/global/23iht-vietnam23.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
“The state is being manipulated by people within the state to make money,” said Jonathan Pincus, the dean of the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program in Vietnam. This is similar to the British rule in India. The British, rather than experienced Indian citizens, controlled the government. This gave them the power to take money for their own wealth and gain, and leave the remaining nation in poverty. Vietnam is ranked among some of the world’s most corrupt countries by Transparency International, a global corruption monitor. According to the people of Vietnam the government does not allow criticizing of the government, enforces strict rules, and does not encourage the power of the people. “It’s a crisis of trust,” Mr. Doanh said. “Better times have been promised every year, but people don’t see it.” The lack of trust in the government has lead to a political storm that will only get worse if nothing changes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/24/world/asia/vietnam-clings-to-single-party-rule-as-dissent-rises-sharply.html?ref=vietnam&_r=0
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/business/global/23iht-vietnam23.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
Crossing The Pop Culture Universe
China Celebrity Splash is a popular reality television program in China. It was first broadcasted on April 6, 2013. Famous divers, Tian Liang and Zhou Jihong, judge competing celebrities’ dive on live television. America’s version of this show is Splash. Splash airs on ABC and first premiered on March 19, 2013. Steve Floey and David Boudiaare judge the contestants and Greg Louganis mentors and teaches the celebrities. Both shows teach competitors the art of diving, back flips, somersaults and more in order to win the highest score by the judges and audience.
Photoblog
Web Archeology
The Tale of Genji was written by Murasaki Shikibu, a court woman, in the 11th century in the Heian period. In the English translation it has 54 chapters and over 1,000 pages. It is considered to be the first novel written in the world. Over a century after it was written it became several visual paintings. The Tale of Genji Painting Scroll is one of the oldest representations of the novel. Very few illustrations have been found, and many are extremely damaged and not viewable However they are all valuable in discovering information about this time period in Japan.
I would use this primary source to further examine the Japanese culture and how they viewed Japanese literature in that era. Cultural characteristics like court life, rituals, and fashion can be discovered by looking at the costumes, furnishings, and natural aspects of the painting. The painting shows how the readers interpreted and visualized the novel in that time period. You could also observe the differences and similarities of how it was interpreted and viewed then and now. Literature was probably much more rare and valuable in that era compared to now, but the only way to find out would be to study it. The Tale of Genji and all of its representations are classic works of Japanese literature, and through this primary source there are many things you can learn about Japan and our world today.
http://chnm.gmu.edu/wwh/p/222.html#
I would use this primary source to further examine the Japanese culture and how they viewed Japanese literature in that era. Cultural characteristics like court life, rituals, and fashion can be discovered by looking at the costumes, furnishings, and natural aspects of the painting. The painting shows how the readers interpreted and visualized the novel in that time period. You could also observe the differences and similarities of how it was interpreted and viewed then and now. Literature was probably much more rare and valuable in that era compared to now, but the only way to find out would be to study it. The Tale of Genji and all of its representations are classic works of Japanese literature, and through this primary source there are many things you can learn about Japan and our world today.
http://chnm.gmu.edu/wwh/p/222.html#