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DISCLAIMER
The name and the concept was inspired by Angry Asian Man and The Angry Black Woman. In my posts, I cite my sources accordingly. All images I include are not mine. None of the gifs are mine. Nope, not even that green fan. Credits go to their original owners. Someone please make me a less artistically-deficient banner.
Angry K-pop Fan's literary work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
(Venting since March 2011)
I’m sorry to announce that I have decided to take a break from the K-pop blogosphere. You may have noticed that I have barely been updating these past few months, and on that note it may seem a bit sketchy that I all of sudden would like a break. The truth is I’ve just finished a busy semester (which explains the lack of activity), but unexpectedly, my summer kicked off with several events that have distracted me from the Internet. They’re nothing serious, but I feel I could use some time off blogging (and time off thinking about blogging).
Instead of not posting and not getting back to those of you who have sent in amazing questions and messages, I feel it’s more responsible to announce a temporary leave. I don’t know when I’ll be back, but be assured I will be (and when I do, I intend to make up for the lack of inactivity - there’s a crapload of stuff in my drafts folder waiting to be revisited and worked on!)
I will be closing the AKF askbox as well. Though I usually hesitate at the thought, I have a lot of messages I haven’t answered and would like to get around to when I return. I’m super uncomfortable with this situation because every question and issue is worth addressing, but this solution is the best I can think of. However, I will still be available for contact via my email address: angrykpopfan@gmail.com for anything urgent (especially for those of you looking for copies of academic papers featured on AKF for your own research).
Thanks for your understanding. As always, take care and have a great summer :)
**SPOILER ALERT: DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVEN’T WATCHED THE SHOW (AND ARE PLANNING TO), OR IF YOU’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF IT!
This post is long overdue. I watched “Answer Me 1997” (응답하라 1997 / Eundabhara 1997) way back in December which also happened to be my first Korean drama in years, but I remember not being able to write a proper reflection as I had intended to because I was still high with emotions and my thoughts were incoherent, a huge reason why I do not watch Korean dramas in the first place!
But I guess it’s still appropriate timing - it was recently announced that the show’s producers and writers will be returning in September for a second season “Answer Me 1994”, which will be focusing on Seo Taiji and the Boys! There will be a new primary cast, I’m assuming, because the cast of season one will apparently return only for cameos.
In the meantime, I took the the time and reignited my reflections (under the cut) after stumbling across this post: an interview with PD Shin Wonho on his thoughts about integrating a homosexual storyline into the show. A wonderful insight into the creative process (read: CREYZ) for those of you who have yet to read it!
I’d love to network with you guys and familiarize myself more with the K-pop scene in Canada, which I’m aware is not very big, unfortunately… (or at least, deprived of the many privileges our southern neighbor enjoys!) maybe we can do something about it? :)
AAAND OF COURSE, I WANT TO GET TO KNOW YOU GUYS!
“Beauty Recovery Room” by Ji Yeo
Plastic surgery has become an integral part of Korea’s current culture, often regarded as a integral step in the in self improvement process. Going under the knife, enduring bruises, scars, and being under general anesthetic several times are no longer considered risky or extravagant. They have all had multiple procedures and have plans for future augmentation. The photos were taken directly after their operation while they were resting and waiting to be healed.
It is a culture where men are judged on their financial balance sheet and women by their beauty. The male-dominated media endlessly reinforces its model of the ideal woman. As a result of these cultural forces Korea has become a beauty-oriented society where people are judged more for their appearance than their character. Korean women, often fall into the trap of trying to live up to the ideal personified in the media.
[source]
This is a showcase of original photography by Ji Yeo, a photography student pursuing her Masters degree at Rhode Island School of Design. This collection includes twelve incredibly provoking images of Korean women fresh out of the operation room, capturing the indescribable physical pain and mental distress they must be struggling through in order to achieve the guaranteed advantage in Korea’s extremely demanding society.
You can view the rest of the slideshow here, but be warned they are potential triggers for issues of body image and self-esteem. You can also read the rest of this project’s statement here (same link as above).Please take the time to browse through the rest of Ji Yeo’s website as well.
(seen via TGN’s Facebook)
Director Kim Jo Kwang Su and Kim Seung-hwan to be the first gay couple to get married; hopes this move will be a step forward for the legalization of gay marriage in South Korea
In case you haven’t heard*. Accordingly,
The director announced, “I’m going to invite Moon Jae In (presidential candidate), UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, and the President Park Geun Hye to my wedding. Even though President Park Geun Hye and I walk different roads both politically and philosophically, I think I should definitely invite her since shes’ the country’s president. I’m planning to invite many people who are in leading positions in Korea. I hope they can provide help in the advancement for the rights of the sexual minority.”
His wedding is scheduled to be held on September 7. However, even when he does get married ceremonially, his marriage will still hold no legal weight in Korea. On this, the director stated, “Homosexuals should be given the same rights as heterosexuals. We’re going to work hard to legalize gay marriage in Korea.”
*Sorry this is an Allkpop article. In terms of press releases, there’s nothing any better out there, I guess.
So stoked about this. It none the less won’t come without considerable backlash, but kudos to these two for taking the much needed first step towards change.
As for the netizen reactions? Netizen Buzz reports on a few mixed feelings (mostly about the choice of photos, one of which shows the couple sharing a kiss on camera), and some i-commentators clarified that as much as there were many homophobic responses from Korean netizens, there were also many of those in full support of the couple and the statement. Moreover, one glance at Allkpop’s comment thread will show no difference among i-fans. I wish to encourage everyone to remember that homophobia and ignorance can be found everywhere. I think that many of us tend to forget this when we observe K-pop and Korean culture. When we’re not careful, we end up isolating certain characteristics as ‘distinctively Korean,’ when in fact they’re just as ubiquitous in many other places around the world, let alone on the World Wide Web.
Here is the original TV Daily article in Korean, which is also the source of the photo above.
During my semester in Korea, I met up with Korean hip-hop crew STAZ OF MAN for an exclusive interview, saturated with amazing insight into what must go on in the minds of underground artists. It goes without saying that this was a dream come true as a music fan, and for those of you new to STAZ and curious enough to dive below the cut, I hope you walk away with a newfound favorite!
(crossposted from my other blog, The Culture Catalogs)
STAZ OF MAN group shot (sans HIDE MAN and Shin Seoyeon). From left to right: DJ E WHAN, MISS BANSH, LEGANIX, HALLEY STELLA, FR-03/DJ FRESHH, X-ELECTRO/VEE X KILLA, DR. KIDMAN/JAY KIDMAN, APOLLO KID, FENNY BLAKE/FENTANYL, ROSENYUCK (cr. STAZ OF MAN Facebook page)
Twelve friends have gathered together over a span of three years to form STAZ OF MAN, a Korean hip-hop crew with a vision for artistic expression that goes beyond making music. They also draw from realms of literary and visual arts: performance, costume design, image conceptualization, illustration, still and motion media; and all of which are fused with inspirations from American comic book culture and genres of hip-hop.
None the less, that may be the very least STAZ is all about. The best way to engage with them, if not purely in their work, is to hear from their own mouths. I met up with nine of the members during my time in Korea last December for a chat about their beginnings, their creative processes, and their aspirations as artists. Though it’s been a long time coming, I am grateful for the perfect timing of this publication - just hours ago was the release of their first music video ‘Command HQ’, an original track off their latest mixtape “STATONITE”, written by STAZ’s rapper/lyricist line X-ELECTRO (aka VEE X KILLA), the leader and founder of the group; APOLLO KID, one to watch out for; and HALLEY STELLA, formerly Daniel Star of New Block Babyz; and produced by JAY KIDMAN (aka DR. KIDMAN) (and if that name sounds familiar, it is - he is also the in-house producer for Independent Records).
‘Command HQ’ MV, directed by X-ELECTRO and PKON. Check out details about their “STATONITE” mixtape here (including the tracklist and download instructions)
All four were present for our insightful and fun talk, along with FRESHH (aka FR-03), DJ and producer; FENTANYL (aka FENNY BLAKE), cartoonist and art director; MISS BANSH, vocalist and lyricist; HIDE MAN, the group’s manager; and Shin Soyeon, photographer and the latest addition to the STAZ family. Designer and outfit manager ROSENYUCK and producer LEGANIX were unable to make it that day; as well as their scratch DJ E WHAN, who was (and still is) serving in the military.
RECOMMENDED WATCH: ‘Shocking Report: Foreigners Dating Koreans Conspiracy!’ (Brutal Rice Pictures @YT)
This production is a witty parody (and reaction) to that horrid coverage of Korean women dating foreign men released by MBC last year (which you should watch before this one, available here with English subs).
Gordsellar, one of the creators, posted his very interesting thoughts about the public response surrounding this parody, which you can read here. In summary, he highlights the unfortunate reality that expats, or foreigners in general, are highly alienated from offering any insight from their experiences in Korean society because of the fact they are not Korean (seen in comments that disparage the creators if they were not Korean; or praise they if they were; and in which it is assumed the creators are strictly either Korean or foreign, and not a collaboration between both). Summed up nicely by Gordsellar himself, “in a lot of the heads of foreigners in Korea, there’s a similar sense to what we so grouchily find in too many Korean heads: that East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet… ”
(seen via TGN on Facebook)
crmlmlk Asks:
angrykpopfan Said:
OMG YES! It sounds fascinating - if there’s any way you can share it with me (and the rest of the readers, if you don’t mind), please do!
Just want to share this awesome party anthem “Get Down” by the Philippines’ own Jayson Diwa of Cursebox Productionz, featuring Leahstar and Blud Bruthaz’s Krypta, an artist of great talents and reader of AKF!
Artist: Jayson Diwa, Krypta & Leahstar
Beat Produced By: Joey Claris
Arranged/Mastered By: Michael Negapatan
(Cursebox Productionz)
(And if you missed it, check out my K-pop spazz party interview with the Blud Bruthaz from earlier this year)
(Aaaaand speaking of interviews… well, check back in a few days! :))
Anonymous Asks:
angrykpopfan Said:
Yup, it was already brought to my attention and I just changed it, thank you! :)))
