My name is TFG and I love Asian Entertainment!
I’m on a serious K-drama bender right now. And before you ask, I am not Asian, not even a little bit. So how did I develop a love of the Asian persuasion? I blame Transformers.
It would probably be more accurate to say that Transformers had me primed for the anime bug to sink its teeth deep into my soul. Win for Saturday morning cartoons.
Fast forward to my teen years, I watch Akira for the very first time. Am completely clueless about plot or storyline, but generally floored by the whole experience. Of course I immediately watch it again (finally figure out what the hell is going on) and am totally hooked.
Ninja Scrolls follows as well as a bunch of fabulous Chow Yun Fat movies. At this point selection is limited (I lived in a totally boondocks town, I’m shocked they even had Ninja Scrolls) so I make due with what I can find.
Forward a bit more, I finally make it to a city that has options. Am introduced to Escaflowne, Macross Plus, Gundum, Manga and much more.
Eventually I add in live action Japanese movies and various movies/shows based on manga I liked. This also introduces me to a bunch of K-dramas (Korean dramas) based on Japanese manga. And so the story unfolds.
Thanks to the rise in popularity of these genres, access has become much easier, plus the quality in translations has improved exponentially. I might never watch American TV again. =P
Okay, I exaggerate a little. But there is a sense of wonder that Asian entertainment engenders, that I find long gone from anything made here.
My expectations are so different; I can only attribute it to culture shock. This divergence in expectation and product is incredibly fascinating for me, especially concerning eastern Asian cultures– Japan, Korea, China, in that order.
The characters often make confusing choices, leaving much of the story rather unpredictable. What a novelty to actually be surprised by events. One Japanese movie I watched started out as a futuristic samurai movie, half way through, and without warning, it turned into a Zombie movie.
And the incredible drive these characters have, this astounding, fierce, fighting spirit that often faces overwhelming odds. A phrase oft found in K-dramas is ‘fighting!!’
I appreciate that not everyone is perfect, in fact flaws are often extolled, yet this never seems to hamper the striving. In fact it usually brings about more support from friends and family.
There is often sweetness and innocence and clarity of purpose, and so very much honor and saving face, family obligations and cultural pressures.
This cultural expectation often comes with tears, many many tears. Everything is so very dramatic and deeply felt, girls cry, boys cry, mothers, fathers and grandmothers cry. In the dramas, half the show is laughing and the other half is filled with tears. My friend calls them dramedys (drama + comedy).
Pairing this vast amount of tears with the stoicism that seems to run bone deep makes for some very interesting, shocking, and confusing dramatic shifts. Since I did not grow up within these cultures, nor suffer from the consequences thereof, I find myself appreciating all of this, without any personal resentment.
But best of all, they end. Not because some idiot executive complains about bad ratings, nope, they end because that is the plan; a complete story arc in a finite amount of time.
So I will happily continue to enjoy these brief glimpses into cultures that are not my own, cultures that create entertainment filled with innocence, unpredictability, hilarity, tears, sillyness, romance, violence, yelling, opulence, robots, waiting, longing, flaws, poverty, hope, bravery, geekery, and so much more.
(>^.^<) TFG
PS: I do realize that I am vastly generalizing here. Entertainment from everywhere has its flaws and dirty little secrets and I freely acknowledge this as being true. But it seems that my limited exposure, in this regard, works in my favor.
Tags: adaptation, anime, books, comics, drama, geeky, j-drama, japanese, k-drama, korean, manga, robots, romance, scifi, silly
February 22nd, 2012 at 10:31 pm
Welcome to our world!
February 22nd, 2012 at 11:31 pm
I totally agree! I am asian but I never really got asian tv. Asian movies sure- I was and still am a huge Chow Yun Fat and John Woo fan (their non american films mostly), love Sammo Hung and Jackie Chan. Watched a bit of anime but it was mostly just ported Robotech, I didn’t really pick up other anime until college or later.
But kdramas. Sigh. They are SO GOOD. I agree that part of the fun is that the characters are so emotional. But I really I love that the story arcs end. It’s so nice to actually see a satisfying relationship arc instead of endless “will they/won’t they”.
I also really like that unlike american soaps, they can’t rely on smut and sex to advance the storylines so the relationships actually seem much deeper and meaningful than they do in american TV. None of this “got drunk, slept together, whoops” stuff. More like “my agent bought your house from your friends who had tricked you into flying to china while they sold your house without your knowledge and now you have to live as my housekeeper to earn it back” kind of thing. You know, totally realistic. ;)
Also, the concept of redemption and of the power of love to make someone into a better person is a really strong theme throughout most dramas and it’s one I approve of.
You may enjoy these mini essays on korean drama cultural things from dramabeans (I love this site)- their recaps of Coffee Prince and City Hunter are fabulous:
http://www.dramabeans.com/2010/07/pop-culture-piggyback-rides/
http://www.dramabeans.com/2010/06/glossary-oppa/
http://www.dramabeans.com/2010/07/glossary-banmal/
http://www.dramabeans.com/about/glossary/
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Love those links!!! Its really great to get a more detailed cultural explanation for some of the goofyness.
And yes I love the ending. Though I do admit its a little sad sometimes, but I really look at it more as a Fairy Tale arc. They fall inlove in the very strange and convoluted ways of k-dramas and then they get their “Happy Ever After”. That’s a great place to end, because I really want them to have that happy ever after.
The dragging on and on and on that we get over here, the ruining of lives for ratings, the sex and scandal, it all bothers me. I like knowing there is going to be a resolution that will actually stick. =D
February 23rd, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Love the word Skinship. Might have to start using it! =D
February 23rd, 2012 at 4:55 pm
I have two pet peeves in kdramas.
1. I hate it when characters stop and talk to themselves.
2. Most kiss scenes are so weird.
February 23rd, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Its true, the kissing is strange, though the newer ones have gotten quite a bit more risque in that regard. Kissing actually looks like real kissing. But then there isn’t all that much kissing in most of the shows anyway, so I have always just ignored the mash mouthness of it all.
The characters do so much weird stuff, from my perspective, that the talking to oneself is just another notch in the weird chart. =P
I personally haven’t watched enough of them to have developed pet peeves, though stuff certainly does bug me.
But one thing that would be great, for us none Korean speakers, would be to have the subtitles color coordinated. One color for banmal and one for joen-dae mal. Its rather difficult to get that subtlety translated into English.
February 23rd, 2012 at 7:20 pm
Oh and I just had a thought. A k-drama club type thing, sort of like a book club, only we get to discuss k-dramas. =D
I wonder if there is such a thing here in San Fran.
February 24th, 2012 at 3:49 pm
I don’t think the English language has a good way to show the differences in banmal and jeondaemal. By nature, the modern English language is quite egalitarian. The closest comparison would be to start using thou, thee and such in the subs.
February 24th, 2012 at 11:48 pm
Thats why I think they should color code them. It would really help, but then it would also be a lot more work. =/
February 27th, 2012 at 12:30 am
That would be cool, especially when it’s something that adds so much to the layers of the relationships between two people. I’m beginning to maybe be able to tell the difference a bit (a lack of “yo” at the end of everything seems to be a good hint, but it’s still hard to hear and they have to talk a lot), but it’s still hard.
One of the reasons I loaned you “I Really Really Like You” is that they do one of the best jobs I’ve seen yet of trying to capture some of the banmal/joen-dae mal. The subtitles do get a bit more stilted and formal when conveying joen-dae mal, not quite like using thou and thee but it is definitely different. The bigger difference is that one character is a country hick and they do her subs with some funny words to represent how unintelligible she is to a normal city Korean speaker (what the hell is a “kawt”?). The extensive liner notes (don’t read until after you see the show since it contains a lot of spoilers) talk a lot about the subtitling choices they had to make to try to convey some of these subtleties.
I agree that the kiss scenes are pretty awkward and stilted but I kind of give them a pass since PDA is so formal in the shows anyway. It’s like watching an old fashioned masterpiece theater show where an exposed ankle was scandalous and just touching someone’s arm was practically like shoving your hand down their shirt. Given that the most mediocre korean actor seems to be able to convey more heartfelt longing and adoration in their gaze than 90% of most American tv actors (who may be able to kiss but otherwise have completely unconvincing chemistry), I’m happy to take the trade. Bring on the angst and woeful looks, oh yeah! :D
February 27th, 2012 at 9:59 am
Totally agree! Plus all the non-touching/longing/romance/fighting makes the times when they do kiss or touch that more meaningful.
Am watching “I Really Really Like You” next. =D
Love Secret Garden. Surprisingly engaging show with tons of plot twists. I’m still trying to figure out how to review it without giving away too many spoilers, especially since the end was really my favorite part.
February 28th, 2012 at 1:03 am
MMm, yes, that first time when they hold hands is totally squee-worthy :D
I hope you like IRRLY. It’s a quiet drama and honestly not much happens plot wise. But Peter and I loved the characters and the little triumphs and heartbreaks they had. We triple heart the dad, he’s so cranky and loveable.
If you want something with more zest and spark OMG please watch City Hunter. Infact I’d almost say watch it instead of IRRLY, given that huge list of shows you are hoping to get through! :D
So glad you liked Secret Garden!! I’m relieved that you liked the ending- it pissed off a bunch of fans so I was nervous to see what you thought. I couldn’t forewarn you about it at all because as you said, just about anything spoils it! :D Did you watch the interviews at the the end? Some of them were pretty fun.
Up next for us are:
Prosecutor Princess
49 Days
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho
and if I can squeeze it in- Personal Taste (the show that Lee Min Ho did before City Hunter)
February 28th, 2012 at 11:19 am
I’m watching City Hunter on DramaFever. But am slooooow. Soooo much to watch on there. I keep adding more to my list. Sigh.
I really wish my Apple TV would stream DramaFever.
Didn’t watch the interviews on Secret Garden, as it was like 2am when I finished. But will try and watch them. =)
You know, one of the great things about watching the k-dramas, is that I have no expectations. The end didn’t bother me at all. Especially after watching SamSoon, where it was clear that this aweful thing called Reality would rear its ugly head sometimes in the k-drama world. =)
February 29th, 2012 at 10:28 pm
Do you have a spare little computer to hook up to the computer? That’s how we’re streaming dramafever. Peter has an old mac mini he’s not using so we use it as our entertainment computer.
You definitely don’t have to watch the interviews but when I get interested in a show I love finding out all that behind the scenes stuff- especially the set and prop shenanigans that go on. Due to the tight shooting schedules, they do some interesting things with that.
I think you’re onto something about the expectations. We watched a fluffy tv show and Peter was like- I don’t want to watch any more. I liked it, so I said “but would you watch this if it was a korean drama?” and he grudgingly conceded that he would. Ridiculous plots and setups are somehow easier to swallow with kdramas, plus since you get the assurance that it will end, you don’t have to worry that it will go on forever.
February 29th, 2012 at 11:50 pm
No old computer for us. We recently did a spring cleaning and got rid of all the excess. Just dont have space for it. I did email DramaFever and ask for them to stream through AppleTV, so maybe, just maybe, that will happen. Never hurts to ask. =D
I know I’m rather jaded when it comes to american tv so I understand Peters reluctance.
And I really can’t say enough about a show ending. It feels so much more satisfying for a story to go out as intended then to drag on and on and just fade into oblivion.