HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies Volume 37 Number 1 Article 26 June 2017 Review of The Dragon's Voice: How Modern Media Found Bhutan by Bunty Avieson Michael Givel Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya Recommended Citation Givel, Michael. 2017. Review of The Dragon's Voice: How Modern Media Found Bhutan by Bunty Avieson. HIMALAYA 37(1). Available at: https://digitalcommons.macalester.edu/himalaya/vol37/iss1/26 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This Review is brought to you for free and open access by the DigitalCommons@Macalester College at DigitalCommons@Macalester College. It has been accepted for inclusion in HIMALAYA, the Journal of the Association for Nepal and Himalayan Studies by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Macalester College. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Dazzling photos of the Himalayas can be seen almost anywhere, unlike the gripping, quotidian detail that Bubriski provides. Jim Fisher on Nepal: 1975-2011 framed world” (p. 299). And finally, important role of Bhutanese media and with a light sense of irony, he reporting since 2008 on why Bhutan notes that new technology today is not equivalent to a modern-day has shrunk the longstanding chasm Shangri-La. That said, the story between photographer and subject, of Shangri-La strikingly parallels as “cameras that make phone calls Bhutan’s past historic isolation, are found throughout the country. impetus to seek collective happiness Nepalis have countless photos of and well-being based on Mahayana events large and small documenting Buddhist tenets, and influence or their individual lives, and thousands guidance by Buddhist religious of Nepalis have very active social figures. Nevertheless, Bhutanese media pages. The foreign visitor now media has documented in a more meets village youth with cameras realistic fashion, versus the ideal of of their own. Nepalis are shooting Shangri-La, that Bhutan has problems back, taking back, sharing images The Dragon’s Voice: How Modern like the rest of the world, such as among each other, and sending Media Found Bhutan. poverty, health issues, corruption, photographs to friends and relations and domestic violence. This book in Kathmandu, Delhi, Dubai, or Bunty Avieson. St. Lucia, Queensland, analyzes, describes, and incorporates Jackson Heights” (ibid.). Australia: University of Queensland in crisp and clear fashion these Press, 2015. 240 pages. ISBN differing narratives of Bhutan as Jim Fisher served in the first Peace 9780702253577. Shangri-La or as a society with Corps group to Nepal in 1962, and later the same types of problems found conducted research in Dolpo (Trans- Reviewed by Michael Givel around the rest of the planet. As the Himalayan Traders), Solu-Khumbu book aptly points out and describes (Sherpas) and a person-centered In a number of recent news stories in a series of interesting examples, ethnography on Tanka Prasad Acharya by foreign media and promotions both narratives carry grains of (Living Martyrs). He is presently by tourist agencies, Bhutan is truth, but both overreach. This can finishing a ‘44 Years Later’ book (Trans- commonly framed in the social result in non-nuanced or skewed Himalayan Traders Transformed), an construct narrative as a modern- understandings of actual trends updated edition of Living Martyrs, and day far away and happy Shangri-La. influencing and shaping modern is beginning a large-scale collaborative The actual Shangri-La is a mystical Bhutan. project on Sherpas with Pasang Yangjee place that was first described in 1933 Sherpa. in the fictional novel Lost Horizon The era of modern journalistic by James Hilton (James Hilton. Lost reporting began on July 18, 2008 Horizon. Pleasantville, NY: Reader’s when a newly written Constitution Digest, 1933). Shangri-La in the novel of Bhutan was approved, creating is an earthly paradise governed a Constitutional Monarchy that by benevolent Buddhist lamas provided democratic elections and blissfully isolated from the rest of freedom of expression and the press. the world. Bunty Avieson’s 2015 With the adoption of the first written book, The Dragon’s Voice: How Modern Bhutanese Constitution (Constitution Media Found Bhutan, documents the 152 | HIMALAYA Spring 2017 This book analyzes, describes, and incorporates in crisp and clear fashion these differing narratives of Bhutan as Shangri-La or as a society with the same types of problems found around the rest of the planet. Michael Givel on The Dragon’s Voice: How Modern Media Found Bhutan of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2008), Politicians in any nation with an research and teaching specialization “[a] Bhutanese citizen shall have the independent press are often not includes: comparative public policy, right to freedom of speech, opinion pleased when some of their actions Himalayan area studies, policy theory, and expression” (Article 7, Section and maneuverings are exposed for complexity theory, social movements, and 1 related to Fundamental Rights) public perusal and review. All of health policy. and,“[t]here shall be freedom of this is an indication that Bhutan the press, radio and television in is democratizing. Adding to this media outlets in Bhutan reporting is the fact that several Bhutanese on numerous topics” (Article 7, newspapers now exist with differing Section 5). Freedom of the press has perspectives on current affairs. included robust reporting of such Interestingly though, most Bhutanese topics as scandals, culture, religion, still do not read newspapers. Only human interest, social problems like a number of the educated class alcoholism, and politics. Only three regularly or even occasionally read topics are not currently covered news stories. Bhutan is still very in Bhutanese news accounts: the much an oral society. So, the role of Nepalese refugee issue, the royal media reporting is evolving slowly, family, and border discussions with but operates in tandem with long China. held cultural trends in Bhutan. Signing and Belonging in Nepal. Prior to the adoption of the written All of these complex and nuanced constitution in 2008, Bhutan from trends are documented in this Erika Hoffmann-Dilloway. 1907 to 2008 was a hereditary fascinating book that successfully Washington DC: Gallaudet University monarchy. In relation to the modern opens a window for a general Press, 2016. 135 pages. ISBN trend since 2008 of independent audience as well as Bhutanese, Asian, 9781563686641. and vibrant media coverage and and Himalayan studies scholars on due to long-lived cultural traditions the development of modern trends in Reviewed by Theresia Hofer of respect for hierarchy, some Bhutan. The reports by the Bhutanese This book offers the first full-length Bhutanese are uncomfortable with media, as author Bunty Avieson ethnography of Deaf people and their reporters questioning authority clearly and carefully shows in this varied communication practices in as reporters now routinely do. timely book, is one important source Nepal. Erika Hoffmann-Dilloway has Nevertheless, as the book documents to comprehend how modern Bhutan, engaged with Deaf people and studied in a thorough manner, traditions of with issues like all other nations in Nepali Sign Language (NSL) since social hierarchy are slowly breaking the world, continues to develop and 1997, when she came to the country down. And, not surprisingly, those in democratize. through a study abroad program. power are not always happy with this Michael Givel is Professor of Political Based on long-established friendships new dynamic of the press reporting Science at The University of Oklahoma. and work with members of the on their actions and dealings. For He was the first US Fulbright in Bhutan in National Federation of the Deaf Nepal readers in nations where this has 2009, and is the curator for the University (NFDN), she tells a fascinating story been happening on a long-term of Oklahoma Bhutanese digital rare of how Deaf activists countered their basis, this should sound familiar. and historical document collection. His plight of being seen as karmically HIMALAYA Volume 37, Number 1 | 153.