Vietnam // Current TV

August 4, 1978 - The Stock Market, But Different. | Newstalgia

Another day in history.

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As The Cookie Crumbles (8/3): War Story

WWH) The difference between a war story and a fairy tale? Fairy-tales begin... more

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As The Cookie Crumbles: Hippies

On the FB pages linked with this blog–and I gather also here, though not... more

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Capitalism in a Modern Communist Society: Hip Hop In Vietnam

In its brief history, it's easy to see why Hip Hop has quickly become the cultural paradigm that it is. With its visceral yet fragmented sonic aesthetics and verbally self-aggrandizing, masculinized freedom of expression, it correlated and accentuated precisely a new American perspective growing up and being groomed in a Reaganomics-MTV-Tech Age on the cusp of hitting next gear.

And we haven't looked back since. I mean, we have, but only to commodify and fetishize nostalgia. But that's for another time. Bad pun. Anyway, our way of life sped up and Hypercapitalism and Hip Hop were both the harbinger and beneficiaries of this culture shift. But times change and musical styles evolve self-reflexively.

Obviously, in America, we're relearning a little humility these days. And though the bravado is still there, because we are after all American, the best Hip Hop artist today (if you still even want to asininely categorize into genres) counter the next line with a self-effacing yearning. Kanye or Drake, for example. There's a wave of younger dudes doing it with an R&B tinge a la Frank Ocean and The Weeknd , and that softening points to a much welcome reactive tempering to the overt masculinization cultivated over the last 25 years.

But as Hip Hop has traveled the sea and trickled onto different shores, the influences have not necessarily varied. Rather, I suppose, like any other paradigm that has peaked and transcended boundaries, its reductive elements penetrate first.

Not avoiding anthropologically speculative generalization, there's distinctive qualities in which Hip Hop has reached and influenced different Asian regions. To note, it's fascinating in itself the susceptibility that Asian cultures as a whole are drawn to the Hip Hop bravado. But, perhaps, there is something enmeshed in each individual culture that draws out a different idiosyncratic manifestation. For the Japanese, is it similar to their sexuality, a means of outward expression in a traditionally repressed culture? In some way, most likely. And why is the love of basketball so closely intertwined with Hip Hop in Japan? (There is the obvious answer there. For that, simply watch ESPN's 30 for 30 on the Fab 5).

Juxtaposed with that is Vietnam. A country just unshackling some of its inhibitions. In their case, more ideological and economical. It's a little newer to the world game. The stringency of the older generations' (or at least those that subscribed the communism) are seeing their wall of economical status quo being 808'd by the sheer attractive force of Capitalism and, more importantly, its weaponization of Freedom of Expression.

So Hip Hop in an older form has taken center stage amongst Vietnamese youth today. And B-boy culture instead of Hoops is the intermediary. ... it's true, intrinsically, the Vietnamese just have more flava than most Asian cultures.

I don't have any conclusive argument here. I also apologize for how poorly written this is. A Saturday morning blurb. But, I do wonder about Freedom Of Expression moving forward. I wonder, with fingers crossed, as our society is moving away from Hypercapitalism to a yet-to-be defined sustainable model, if Freedom Of Expression in a world that has all the information at its distracted fingertips can find something sincere and extricate itself from all the saturated, unfiltered talk that hypercapitalism has allowed to infiltrate our train of thought.

I also hope that the many that are seen wearing Spike Lee a la Mars Blackmon tees go watch Spike Lee flicks. HollatchaboiiiiIn its brief history, it's easy to see why Hip Hop has quickly become the... more

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10 months ago
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Weekly Hippie Trivia

A new Trivia Question will be posted every Friday at 8:00 pm (EST). You can post... more

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10 months ago
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July 1, 1973 - New Month - Old Mayhem. | Newstalgia

A week where bombs were dropping just about everywhere.

Gordonskene
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11 months ago
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Public Housing Boys in Vietnam

http://www.publichousingstories.com/ The Vietnam War divides a public housing family.... more

publichousingstories
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11 months ago
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Newstalgia Reference Room - Dean Rusk - 1967 | Newstalgia

Shoring up the cracks in a shaky position on Vietnam from Secretary of State Dean Rusk... more

Gordonskene
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12 months ago
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June 3, 1967 - Pick A Crisis - Any Crisis. | Newstalgia

Life on Planet Earth for June 3, 1967 - War, Mayhem, Riots and land grabs. Ain't... more

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12 months ago
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May 11, 1975 Was The End Of A Testy Week | Newstalgia

And then we had Cambodia to look forward to.

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May 9, 1970 - Vietnam Moratorium Day (Of Many). | Newstalgia

Another May 9th in history that might have slipped your mind.

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Boston Marathon's Oldest Runner: After Cancer and Two Wars, a Race Is Nothing

Eighty-one-year-0ld Clarence Hartley is the oldest runner in today's Boston... more

letsliveinpeace
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1 year ago
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Newstalgia Reference Room - A vice-President Lyndon Johnson Press Conference - 1961 | Newstalgia

Before everything got complicated - vice-President Johnson reporting back on a... more

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March 31, 1971 - The Lt. Calley Verdict. | Newstalgia

Sentencing of Lt. Calley - Jimmy Hoffa denied parole and 69% of American people think... more

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1 year ago
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2011 Vietnamese International Film Festival - Where is Outstanding Asian-American Cinema?

Coverage from the 2011 ViFF Kick-Off Party celebrating the festival's 5th year... more

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1 year ago
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March 18, 1971 - The Nixon Years | Newstalgia

Killing the SST, debating No-Fault Car Insurance, Vietnam, the Lt.Calley Trial. Not a... more

Gordonskene
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1 year ago
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Documents About Vietnam War May Be Declassified

The recent WikiLeaks scandal is widely considered the biggest national security leak... more

Radical_Centrist
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1 year ago
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Newstalgia Reference Room - Tip O'Neil And The Golden (Extinct) Age Of Civility - 1975.

An interview from The Washington Straight Talk series of April 28, 1975 with House... more

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1 year ago
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Unfinished Business: Suffering and sickness in the endless wake of Agent Orange

Vietnam and the United States have a common enemy. Its name is Agent Orange.

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1 year ago
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Weekend Talkshows Past - Meet The New Senators - 1967 | Newstalgia

Meet the Press from January 15, 1967 - the Freshman class of Senators from 1967.

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1 year ago
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