[Kara Schwartz]

I learned a lot from the video this week! I cannot wait to share ideas tomorrow night. I went back to Korean dad on Saturday attached is a picture of the yummy fish bread which tasted like a waffle with delicious red bean inside. It is slightly sweet nit savory 

 

[Kara Schwartz]

I learned a lot from the video this week! I cannot wait to share ideas tomorrow night. I went back to Korean dad on Saturday attached is a picture of the yummy fish bread which tasted like a waffle with delicious red bean inside. It is slightly sweet nit savory 

 

[Kara Schwartz]

I learned so much from this article. I also realized that while sometimes food exchange can enhance a culture's food oftentimes. Even in times of occupation, a culture can take the occupiers food and make it their own in a new unique way. This heals the past and the present relationship between the two countries. Ironically, while Japan introduced Soy Sauce to Korea; Japan since the 90s buys imported Kimchi from Korea. Can cultures heal through food? Perhaps they can? Or perhaps food is a soft power that can help start the important conversations that lead to the pathway to peace. 

And that is my idealistic view. On the more cynical side. Even if a person shares a cultural exhange trough food; racism and ethnocentrism still exist. When I lived in both San Francisco and Los Angeles, you can literally taste almost any countries and cultures food. I remember seeing an Eritrean restaurant in the Sunset district of SF next to an Ethipian restaurant. At first, I was like WOW! This is the great part about America two countries formerly at war own restaurants next door to each other now. But, perhaps, the owners do not get along. Maybe the fact that they are so close in proximity is progress. 

Also, maybe what makes Korean food so special are the careful balances of flavor from all the different cultures.

Okay, I am a dreamer today. Have a great weekend. And I loved these articles. 

Also, I am happy that the US helped Korea with flour based foods. But I really think the introduction of Spam anywhere should be verboten 🙂

[Kara Schwartz]

A few interesting things that I have noticed on my learning journey. 

A friend of mine from Iran informed me that Rhinoplasty is very popular in Iran. Statisitics confirm this. I find it interesting that both Korean and Iran are big plastic surgery fans, and Iran is also a fan of Korean dramas.

Korea though is not as big anymore on Rhinoplasty, which seems to have been popular previsously because of Japanese Colonialism. Jaw surgery is now the big status surgery for celebrities. This also means that the effects of colonialism on beauty are fading, and that the West is no longer the standard of beauty. So elective cosmetic surgery in Korea does not always have to do with the Western standard of beauty.

The Jaw surgery however sounds truly horrific. 

The article states that there are a few beauty standards at work or reasons for plastic surgery "“Gangnam-style beauty,” or ideal beauty in twenty-first century South Korea, is thus a mixture of 

old and new beauty trends, not without tensions and variations."

They also state that they are striving for a "globalized body" not East or West.

One last note on beauty. I have noticed this in a few Korean dramas. The gaze of the camera is typically in the West on the female body. It is not often subtle, but the camera seems to hover or pause on a woman's lips or hips, and often breasts. I remember Wonder Woman as a kid. She was always hanging upside down in a low cut costume. But, in Korean drama, I noticed something I do not see OFTEN in the west. The camera hovers over the man almost more. The actors are clearly working out night and day, but the camera will hover over the man's six pack, or eyes. I also noticed that the camera gazes not at the same features on a woman in Korea that the camera gazes on in the States. 

 

[Kara Schwartz]

HI!

I will comment on the articles, which were very interesting, but I wanted to share a food review of the unique restaurant Korean Dad in Veazie, Maine (literally, a minute from the Bangor border)  The owner, Changsu Lee works full time as the Chair of the Math department at Eastern Maine Community College where I once worked. His wife also works full time. They opened the restaurant, but did not have the time to run it full time. So, he posts the menu weekly on Facebook, and you order in advance for a Saturday pick up. 

He also sells BTS ready made coffee with pictures of the guys on the bottles. And some really nice Korean ornaments. 

I got the Spicy Tuna Kimbop, Veggie JapChae, and Beef Bulgolgi. 

The Kimbop is so special because the rice adds an extra flavor. It had some sesame oil in it. It looks like sushi. But Kimbop is not sushi. Sushi rice is made with vinegar, and Kimbop with a touch of sesame oil.  There were carrots, spinach, and I think pickled turnip in the dish as well. I think there might have been garlic as well. Oh, you also bring your own containers to help the environment!

The Japchae was marvelous. I have eaten it before, but this was just veggie. It was not oily, but flavorful and it amazes me how the noodles are prefectly their own texture, but the carrots still stayed crisp. There was also spinach, onion, and mushroom in it. 

The Beef Bulgogi was very good. It was served over rice. Usually, I have had it with rice on the side and lettuce. I really enjoyed this feast. 

I should mention that Changsu came to Maine as a Young Adult for college. He moved to the far north of Maine in Presque Isle for college. He has never left Maine. He now lives in Bangor, and he also teaches Korean once a week at the college. He ran an exchange student hosting students from Korea at Eastern Maine Community College (EMCC) He is creating community here in Bangor. And Bangor is a quiet and not the most vibrant town, so we are very grateful for him. He created a cultural exhange at  EMCC. The Korean and American students made friends for life. A few American students visited Seoul because of their friendships, and a few Korean students have stayed and are planning to become Americans. 

When I worked at EMCC it was during the 3/11 disasters of Japan. They Korean students along with support from the American students organized a fundraiser for Japan. I found this very touching. It seems through friendships, food, and education the world is a smaller place. 

Back to the restaurant Korean Dad. They also have fish bread. Which is red bean pasted inside of a bread shaped like a fish. I plan to get that next time. And I want to try Ram-Don noodles

And Saturday is coming soon! 🙂

[Kara Schwartz]

Just started watching "It's okay not be okay" Love the acting, soundtrack, genre jumping, great cinematography and style! New favorite only 16 episodes on Netflix!

And that make tons of reference to American films. This show has universal appeal.

[Kara Schwartz]

What commonalities do the Korean people and Iranian people share? I am interested in why K drama is so popular in Iran 

[Kara Schwartz]

The song is very good. I am not sure if it was in a drama, but it could be.

THanks for sharing BIg Bang

[Kara Schwartz]

HI

I feel that I need to watch more Korean dramas based on this week's lecture. I am going to try Our Blues and the Hospital List.

Here are three Aha moments:

1. Food is frequently displayed in Kdramas. I love this. I have always noticed food is not really eaten in American dramas unless it is a show about some kind of eating disorder. My father told me once (he is a huge BBC fan) that the thing he loves about Brit shows is that they are really eating or appear to be enjoying their food in their shows.

2. I love the fact that fans analyze the shows and try to find deeper meaning. I actually took a book out once on the thread of Buddhism and other themes that run through the Sopranos. And, I love that fans celebrate their shows with food and drink.

3. The sensitive man in Kdrama. I have already noticed that in Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and I love it.

Oops one more. I love that way that soft power or television is helping to bridge the gap in Japanese and Korean relations.

 

 

[Kara Schwartz]

I found this article very interesting. The Mother's Gaze is a very interesting concept, and it may be true of many shows, but not all. I like how the gaze or should we call it judgement is reinforced through the often humourous chamak and camera techniques. The chamak is not to be taken lightly. "The chamak not only shapes the narrative but also shows how MBC controls the discussion on what constitutes acceptable fathering" If Korean father's are inept at fathering this also communicates to the audience that women ought to have children and be the primary caregiver.

I find it very interesting that the show Dad! was based on the writer's experience with his own children. It seems like it could be quite funny at times. But I will be looking for a message it might imply.

The mother's gaze holds power in the domestic realm, but what does this mean for the future of women's power in the workforce?. It seems that these messages are counter productive to women's rights and equality. 

I will try to watch at least one of these shows to expereince this first hand. Also, maybe this is an exception, but the father in Extraordinary Attorney Woo seems to be a very intuitive and "maternal" or naturally paternal father. He is very domesticated yet, I find him to be strong. Could this be a sign of change?

Alas, as a woman who is child free (And I like kids! I work with teens, and I am a great Auntie to my niece and nephew - see there I go needing to defend myself, I do feel that this statment in the article gave me chills:

"Both shows position imagined female viewers as wives and mothers, placing an expectation on cis-femail viewers to eventually fulfull their biological duty to the state." Moon goes on to say that women are "delegitimalized as citizens and that women are bodies carrying wombs and labor power."

I live in rural Maine, and I am asked questions or hear comments all the time about choosing not to have children.

This is a global issue, I fear. But I digress.

Thank you for the lecture as well. I might have comments on that soon. This article was very insightful, and I am eager to watch Dad! Also, I never knew about Chamak until this article. Thank you

[Kara Schwartz]

The bright colors of the Squid Game workers and environment at the games were mentioned in this article, and how they starkly contrast with the dark desperation of the contestants. I think this was done on purpose. The colors are almost jarring and create a sense of urgency and can make one anxious. Also, the colors could represent irony. They are bright and not unlike the games chosen are games of childhood and the bright colors that appeal to children. It is ironic that now their lives are almost without happiness or color because of adult life choices and money troubles. My students went crazy for this series. They even inlcuded Squid Game for one of their Spirit Week celebration themes. But the question that was posed the other night is how do we get them to learn more than just about Korean culture. Last year, my co teacher was teaching a unit on the Philipines. I baked Ube cookies and I created a dynamic presentaion on Filipino festivals which the students loved. I think the sweet taste of the cookies (yes Teens always respond to food) and the joyous festivals appealed to them. When, we can get them to go beyond just watching to "tasting" a culture or experiencing certain aspects of a culture, I think they will want to learn more. Back to Squid Game. I think teens loved the aesthetic of the show. My niece told me she loved the set design and color scheme. She is an artist and a teenager.

What did I love about Squid Game. I loved all the characters who were real characters so to speak. Even those with questionable morals were appealing. Everyone had such realistic and strong personalities. There were no overdone archetypes of heroes and villians

Comments on second article to arrive shortly

 

[Kara Schwartz]

Been working on a iMovie today to introduce the countries we are studying this year. My video opens with Zico's any song

I am now a big fan 

https://youtu.be/UdyjeUwPz_E

 

[Kara Schwartz]

Hi!

I would like a certificate of completion 

 

thanks 

 

[Kara Schwartz]

I really liked all of your observations. K-pop music has world appeal because of the stars ability to fuse global elements while still be Korean, but is it cultural fusion or  a complete melting pot: where local identity becomes melted and one with other countries? Your question is the music then still Korean? So far I have seen a very interesting blend of cultures in the video I posted of NCT 127 which includes English and Korean lyrics and their moves and mention of Bruce Lee might be a nod to China and America and martial arts and there is an universal appeal of the cool martial arts guy. They move in a dance and choreographed fighting moves. But at what point does the Korean culture disappear because of the myriad of other influences? 
 

I think both can be achieved. But walking that line between fusion and completely melting a culture away is delicate to echo what Jerrica stated. Lisa Park your questions helped me think about fusion in music in general. And at what point does the Korean in K-pop disappear and other cultures take over 

 

[Kara Schwartz]

I think Train to Busan's themes resonated with American audiences so well because you have the fight against conformity (I saw the zombies as conformists especially the way they all fall over in one tumble - see scene with the zombie military and later attaching to the train) Su-an also speaks up to her dad about changing his ways 

I also think love over money and the tenderness of humanity is explored. Especially when Seoul Woo changes his ways and starts helping others 

Of course greed is explored but the movie despite being a zombie film has some laughs and many tender moments

what still haunts me is the scene when one party finally makes it to the safe train compartment and the folks led by vicious business man Yon suk tells them to go! The rage and fear he creates with his fellow train riders against the others is palpable and reminiscent of the inhumanity of war. The look on  Seok Woo's face is so devastating 

 

 

 

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