For my culture project, I will take a look at the contemporary culture of Afghanistan. While Afghanistan is often portrayed as an archaic nation in the media, there is strong undercurrent of modernization--arguably, westernization--in the country. To further my topic, I will focus on "Afghan Star," essentially the Afghan version of the popular singing contest "American Idol." In recent decades, given the Taliban's influence in Afghanistan, many would not have predicted the success of a show such as "Afghan Star." A simple singing contest has revitalized popular culture in the nation, and is one of Afghanistan's largest moves towards Western-like television.
Some of my learning goals for this project include:
- Providing a brief history of Afghanistan's cultural development
- The influence of "Afghan Star" in Afghanistan
- The Taliban's reaction to "Afghan Star," and the show's ability to defy the militant group
- The role a show such as "Afghan Star" will play in Afghanistan's future development
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