Afghan Idol

[Stoneburg]

What will be the implications of an Afghan version of American Idol being produced and broadcast in Afghanistan?

[DigitalC]

Uh, Afghans will be exposed to shitty music and stupid tv personalities?

[Fear Itself]

Not to mention the performer with the fewest votes gets stoned to death.

[John Mace]

Does this mean we won, and can now leave?

[Bryan Ekers]

Idolatry in Afghanistan? Go for it.

[Stoneburg]

Not really answers to the question though.

[DigitalC]

I don't know what kind of answers you wanted. It's a TV show, they already have those there i imagine. Just because most of their film industry is dedicated to beardy guys in caves urging viewers to please explode everyone doesn't mean they don't have regular TV also.

[Fear Itself]

Is this idol speculation, or have I missed a news item?

[Fear Itself]

Inasmuch as Afghan Star (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Star_(TV_series)) has been on for five years, the implications are apparently increased violence and a resurgence of the Taliban.

[Stoneburg]

Inasmuch as Afghan Star (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Star_(TV_series)) has been on for five years, the implications are apparently increased violence and a resurgence of the Taliban.
And what are the implications of that?

I'm wondering if introducing secular entertainment that is practically viral may be an effective weapon against religious extremism. Just like TV-sets raised gender equality in India.

[Darryl Lict]

There's a documentary on Afghan Star called Afghan Star (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghan_Star_%28film%29) that won a couple of awards at Sundance in 2009. I missed it, but it's highly acclaimed. It's available on Netflix (http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/Afghan_Star/70113929?strackid=32fd04a4275de8b7_0_srl&strkid=674506804_0_0&trkid=438381).

[UDS]

And what are the implications of that?

I'm wondering if introducing secular entertainment that is practically viral may be an effective weapon against religious extremism. Just like TV-sets raised gender equality in India.
I think you miss Fear Itself's point.

Afghanistan already has western-style secular entertainment TV. It has had it for a number of years. Any effect that it can have, it presumably has had.