International Comm & Culture 2009

A very good Australian film 'Mao's Last Dancer'. The main character(real one) is now living in Melbourne as a stockbroker. I think the film successfully highlights the contradiction between Communist China and America. Should go and see it.

have you seen it Blaze? Anna said it was brilliant.

Personally, i appreciate this movie so much. Mao's Last Dancer was opened on the same day in Melbourne as another movie called The Founding of A Republic. That was an obvious ideological confrontation. Though the two movies are telling story in the same country. Compared with the Singapore Girl TV Commercial, which was made by Asian for showing oriental spirit to the western in a western way, Mao's Last Dancer was made by Australia for showing their understanding of the age of ideological confrontation. I think for many western audience, there are a lot of languages and ideology during that special years could not be understood forever. But i appreciate the director and adaptor so much. Because sometimes we need others to help us grow.

The elites and their control again...

A study in the US. Death of conventional journalist methods?

A televised debate for UK's elections look more promising as the main news channels have agreed on how the debate will take place.

Now I had my first Vegemite just last week at a friends.. Mmmm Yummy. I probably am glad I didnt try the new Vegemite though.. Cos a lot of my friends didnt like it.

Could it be a subtle marketing gimmick? Just a thought.

it's a marketing strategy no doubt about it. perhaps they would like to reconfigure their brand?

I did my critical case study on Facebook and the significance of the groups created on Facebook. I found this piece of news interesting because it is amazing how a social networking website can carry so much meaning and significance to some users/ individuals.

I just thought of sharing this piece of news since half of the journals in our course readers involves food and how it does (or doesn't?) represent a culture or country. Singapore just like Malaysia is interesting and different because of its multiracial and multicultural citizens.

The parade, in best old school communist tradition, is quite an interesting national display of power at this time. While it is predominantly aimed at the Chinese public (though not all, as access to the event was strictly controlled and limited) broadcast by national TV throughout the "Reich der Mitte" it is reinforcing the identity of a military super power, solid leadership and military state institutions, it also serves in a sense as a means of justification and proof for successful ideology to the ruling elite. And of course the display is aimed at the rest of the world, showing that China is a power to be reckoned with, not just economically but also in regards to it's military - just in case anyone has had any doubt. But is that a message the west needs to be reminded of? With the cold war over, and globalization making a path for cooperation and convergence of east and west in both in the economic and political arena, maybe the display is aimed at old friends eg. Russia and possible future "problems" (from a chinese point of view) such as Iran or N.Korea, who are working towards a stronger military recognition and/or are in strong competition with the market powers China has been able to built up eg: India, Japan.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, will host the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee announced Friday.

Inter racial harmony in Malaysia