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AnonymousI really enjoyed these readings and the lectures that followed. This session was super relevant because my students are obsessed with the literature and K-Pop culture. I also found that understanding Korea's current entertainment and its motivations help me to create engaging lessons and fill my classroom library with up-to-date reading material.
AnonymousWatching the K-Pop Video in this session was extremely interesting. I've taught in students populations far removed from any sense of Asian diversity however the musical, visual and animated styles of Korean/Japanese culture permeate all age groups/ethnicities. I've noticed it has become so pronounced that it is making it's way into light night talk-show entertainment which was typically aimed toward adults. Take a look at Conan O'Brien and his exploration of Korea, he actually makes his own K-pop video (see below). This could be a springboard for a larger discussion on globalism in the internet age at the end of my U.S. History Course.
AnonymousHow pop culture has been integrated across the world is quite amazing. Using more pop culture from East Asia is a must for teachers in America to expose students to how there is unique awesome culture everywhere. Many of my students love manga and other parts of Japanese culture, and if more were exposed I know it woudl peak their interests.
AnonymousI knew Korean culture; specifically dramas were popular in Los Angeles. However, I was not aware of the popularity of these dramas outside of Los Angeles but have recently found out that my younger cousins in Mexico (a very remote community) are fans of these dramas. I constantly see theirs posts on Facebook about the Korean dramas that they are watching. I just find it amazing how popular these dramas are, I know that American shows are often times popular but never imagined that Korean dramas were popular too. It would be interesting to conduct a survey with my students to find out how much they have been exposed to Asian popular culture.
AnonymousSeemingly flawless groups are put together to perform and be made for the cameras. K-Pop has been able to flow around the globe and become increasingly popular as it goes through the internet and social media. Making music that appeals to the new generation goes deeper than using sounds and collaboration that are ‘in’ right now, but also uses appearance to attract with eccentric outfits and makeup. By also using American and European influences it gains attention from collaborations with pop culture icons to Euro pop influences. Many sounds are used to show the various styles of the group and move it across the genre range instead of staying on one. The way K-Pop groups are orchestrated in music videos in a Broadway like way, from costumes to sound and even the settings, which adds to the sound and overall look of the group. Korea is rapidly growing and changing to progress with the ever-changing world.
edited by jmartinez on 6/23/2017
AnonymousI agree that it is an interesting phenomenon and find that my students love Kdrama and Boys over Flowers story line. I hope to find a segue into classic literature by comparing the two types of literature.
AnonymousI don't know how I am going to use K-Pop in my history class. I did find a K-Pop drama Jumong (2006) that talked about Three Korean Kingdoms, but it is 83 episodes
Nonetheless, I think that K-Pop is a great way to talk about Korea's impact on World Culture. Moreover, the South Korean government's support of K-Pop, a sort of soft-power push, is a fascinating thing to talk about with students. Is it manipulation or is it simply good business? One could also compare it to American TV, music and movies and the reach of the US Entertainment industry.
I'd also be interested in talking to students about the influence of Youtube in spreading K-Pop, but also in spreading culture. What are the positives? What are the negatives?
AnonymousThe talk and readings by Professor Kokas were outstanding. She really discussed the nuances of the film industry as well as the political and economic interests that shape Chinese and American relationships and aspirations around cinema. She explained China's worries over a "cultural trade deficit", the creation of a Chinawood that can compete on an International level, and the desire for a movie industry that serves the Communist Party on a National level. From the American side, there is the global market and the demand for more audience members, and hence more money, but also concerns over China's influence on film content due to economic incentives by government officials.
Yet what I find interesting are the two different approaches to entertainment. Broadly stereotyping, the US approach is more of a money-first, Art for Art's Sake, while in China, Art should, if not have a moral purpose, at least fit a moral code. These two approaches come into conflict, but money essentially greases the wheels, allowing both sides to work together.
Anonymous"For the Eyes of North Koreans" is an analysis of the popular South Korean drama Boys Over Flowers and how it has become popular in North Korea. Apparently, against the rules of the government, the people of North Korea have gained access to Boys Over Flowers and love it. School kids are emulating the styles seen in the series (hairstyles, clothing). Defectors have spoken to this and have said that the series has gotten into the country via trade routes from China. The author suggests that "yet what seems to creep in to replace that failed system is the depressing ideology that social relationships are subject to the power of materialism". The failed system referenced here is the North Korean economy and the poverty that the people are living in. They suggest that the social differences and class differences are still relatable to the people of North Korea. Something that I found interesting here is that the producer of Boys Over Flowers was quoted in the analysis and says that he hopes that this gives North Korea a glimpse of what is happening culturally in South Korea so that when Korea is reunited, the South Korean culture won't feel so foreign. This makes me want to hear from someone who lives in North Korea. What might their feelings be on this analysis?
AnonymousThere are quite many of Chinese movies were joint made by Hollywood and China. Chinese actors or actress casting in Hollywood movies or American stars cast in Chinese movies. I can show the movies in my Chinese teaching classroom which could easily have the students make the connection between the East and West cultures through movies.
AnonymousWith K-pop, Hanlieu also are very popular in China. Most of the Korean dramas not only has Chinese subtitles, but also had voice doubting in Mandarin Chinese. Familiar with both languages, I can use some part of them in my Mandarin Class to engage the students into dialog practices. The students could watch the Korean dramas in Chinese language.
AnonymousI do not know about K-pop, but I enjoy all the vlogs of travel and food of different places. I used several short vlogs of travel as an intro into the historical events. For example, vlogs snapshots of Havana, Wall of CHina, Vietnam.... With better and clearer pictures, music, and narrated stories, students enjoy such clips.
AnonymousDr.Suk Young Kim's lecture about K-pop was very interesting for me personally when she said that K-pop started from a drama broadcast-ed in China in 1997. The name of the Korean drama was " What is Love? ( 사랑이 머길래?) " Back then, I was in China, and I was a fan of this drama, it became very popular in PRC.
But I did not know that the true global trend is because of the illegal copies of Korean drama from Mainland China to the global through China Town in most of the modern cities. It was really a side effect of the illegal copies which leads to a good means.
AnonymousDr. Kim mentioned that the K-pop stars were picked as early as the age of 11 to 12. Stars are result of many years of hard training and marketing. They are Produced and prepared for years.
This made me to think, that behind the brilliant performance on the limited stage, how many kids are sacrificing for their star dream?
