saharial:

kpoprealitycheck:

saharial:

kpoprealitycheck:

Motif: is any recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story. Through its repetition, a motif can help produce other narrative (or literary) aspects such as theme or mood.

We’ve all seen Boys Over Flowers, we all laughed, cried, felt pissed off and basically went on a roller…

Awesome article! I remember when watching the Banjun dramas how often they would eat Pizza and that’s cos they were sponsored by Dominos - not something you always know unless you see the credits and listings at the end of an episode which I don’t on a lot of occasions. I often wonder how many social ideals are engineered into dramas along with the advertising and how many political points. By the time I had finished watching ‘Dr. Champ’ i was able to say ‘Korean beef/pork is better than foreign beef/pork, its more tender and has a better flavour, Its cheaper too, and better for the economy’  I swear every character said at least once in the drama that as they were always sitting down to eat meat. as soon as anyone commented on how nice the meat was the cook would say ‘that’s because I use domestic… etc etc’

Hello! I’ve actually replied to this via your formspring but i’ve checked that and i’m going to assume that your not active on that so i thought i’d take the opportunity to talk to you here instead after the last CF post. When i just read your comment i sat with a dopey grin on my face thinking “Yes, someone gets it!” I checked out the Banjun dramas after you mentioned it and found out Rain was in one of the episodes…  at pizza hut XD lol :D 

“ I often wonder how many social ideals are engineered into dramas along with the advertising and how many political points.” You could not have put together a sentence any more perfect. Considering the dramas are created for Koreans first and foremost it’s primarily going to have Korean social values and their politics. I think that’s amazing that they had that ‘meat one liner’ so often in that drama, whether it was part of the storyline or if there was a meat brand sponsor i don’t know but it’s abit condescending. Which sorts of challenges that if they know they have an audience outside of Korea, would they be deliberately saying that line? I guess they are taking advantaged of the Korean wave, i mean i bet their tourism is booming but that’s because kpop fans have perceived Korea to be this euphoria. ANYWHO, there are so many gender stereotypes and Korean ideals in dramas it drives me nuts sometimes (in a good analytical though provoking way lol). There is an obvious inequality value that still exists in korea especially since it’s represented in the media. I mean the latest was Hyuna with her banned bubble pop dance for being sexually provocative but it’s socially acceptable for men to walk around half naked. I’m rambling on aswell! Perhaps i should make an actual post instead of rambling to you (sorry :D). 

Anywho, please continue to write your comments, i really appreciate your opinion because they’re really rich and thought provoking. Not only that i don’t know everything and it’s great to get some perspective. Thanks heaps :D (I hope you don’t mind me reblogging.)

Kdramas are at times like hour long promos for products, music and social values. The scary thing is, how many people might think life in Korea is like this. I certainly don’t judge Western TV as indicative of our culture and attitudes so I don’t do it to Korean ones, but there will be a lot of people out there who get fooled into thinking this way and have a pretty nasty culture shock over it all.

Phones, sportswear, food, music, jewellery, toys… its in every drama. Look at ‘You’re beautiful’ and the merchandise from that - the pig-rabbit, the hair bow. Whilst  they were relevant to the story you do wonder to what extent things get engineered into the drama as a way of providing funding to make it in the first place. IRIS was even worse with merchandising, though even I got keen on having the USB that looked like a cross (but then I’m a bit of a tech head and i love sneaky USB designs).

There will be a saturation point one day and the initial fall out from it it won’t be pretty.

:D Wow that’s so true!

I’ve never said it but i personally felt Dream High was a big puff promo piece for the korean music industry. Not only did you have idols as actresses (with three of them belonging to JYP with the human JYP in it aswell trololol) but take that away and what do you have left? A narrative about rookies training in an arts high school to debut to fame and fortune. WHAT IS THIS I CAN’T EVEN? *jaw drops* 

I completely agree with what you said about the merchandise, products and services and even tourist destinations are engineered into the construction of a drama. It’s as if those are the foundations and a narrative and creativity is weaved between them. 

For example, Boys over Flowers and Shinhwa corp. I looked it up, :O it exists! Although i’m not too entirely sure if it was affiliated with the drama, i’m going to assume that it isn’t a coincidence, the logo and brand name was dropped so frequently. It was even represented as prestigious in the drama however as corrupt so i’m not to sure what (IF THERE WAS EVEN TO BEGIN WITH) their intention.

I have to admit though, i’m guilty as it has worked on me and it will work again. I have looked up on ebay where i could get the knitted headband Kim Tae Hee wears in My Princess and I have looked up the Boys Over Flowers necklace. 

saharial:

kpoprealitycheck:

saharial:

kpoprealitycheck:

Continuation of Visual Analysis from Part 2.

Above: Choi Ji Woo as the snow queen. However the shape of the unfinished circle reminds me OF THIS ……

I’m one of the weird  people that don’t get affected by CF like this at all. Maybe because I don’t find Song Seung Hun attractive? ahaha. Actually I think that the CF is aimed more at Japanese audiences as the stars they use are very popular there, especially with the demographics who can afford to buy luxury goods. Most drama and music fans of those stars who are  outside of Asia are more likely to be in education still and do not have the money power for that. Star goods like photo albums, t-shirts etc are aimed at the teen/20+ market and Lotte seem to sponsor a  lot of dramas too i bet and possibly aim the food angle at the younger audiences.

(i’ve only just had my morning coffee so am a bit rambly)

Hello! You are quickly becoming one of my favourite followers, i love comments and discussion :) Personally i think we are all influenced by media and advertising even if we don’t think we are. I don’t have alot of knowledge on japanese pop culture since i’m not into it but i think you made such a great valid point about the target audience. I completely agree about the luxury goods aimed at those with a high disposable income whereas the less expensive goods such as food (CHOCO PIE YUM:D) is aimed the younger audience since they cannot afford it. That’s awesome that you’ve noticed that, i just sort of bypassed. I think that this CF is still at some extent aimed at a young target audience to create a relationship with the consumer and the brand name which is brand loyalty so that when the audience grows up and becomes apart of a different demographic they will remember the connotations of the kpop euphoria and be influenced by where they shop. Also you are not rambly, you are great :D and i love your opinion :D 

I agree they are definitely aiming to create a brand loyalty in younger viewers who I am sure love seeing Big Bang and 2Pm and pirates and genies. I don’t know if you read it already, but you should have a dip into ‘the grand narrative’ which follows Korean sociology, advertising and gender roles in Korea. I think you’d really appreciate it and will probably find a lot of inspiration in what’s written there too :)

I am a religious reader of the grand narrative :D They are absolutely fantastic all their articles are just jaw dropping and eye opening. Thank you so much for recommending it even though i’ve heard of it because if i haven’t i would’ve shouted you a beer. I read alot of what they write and i don’t want to plagiarize so i’ve taken some inspiration and toned it down because most of my followers request topics that are popular such as body image, time management and self respect. Though THANK YOU SO MUCH for recommending it because it’s really encouraging me to write for myself with topics i’m interested in :) My confident tone in my other written articles that are sort of superficial and skim the surface of topics has led me to be a coward as i avoided confronting issues because i didn’t want to upset my readers and followers. (You’ve read the stuff at TGN, as much as i love it i remember the first time i read it and it opened my eyes to a whole new world. If i wasn’t so interested in the media and its influence, social values, advertising and sociology i’d have to admit that i wouldn’t appreciate someone tearing down my euphoria.) Anywho my point is you’ve really encouraged me to write about what i really want aswell :D 

Anywho, thank you so much for reading my stuff even though it doesn’t even compare with TGN. I really appreciate it and this discussion has been so awesome :D You sound like you know your stuff aswell, i’m still learning so every word means alot to me as i learn something new. Thank you! Looking foward to speaking with you again :)

saharial:

kpoprealitycheck:

Motif: is any recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story. Through its repetition, a motif can help produce other narrative (or literary) aspects such as theme or mood.

We’ve all seen Boys Over Flowers, we all laughed, cried, felt pissed off and basically went on a roller…

Awesome article! I remember when watching the Banjun dramas how often they would eat Pizza and that’s cos they were sponsored by Dominos - not something you always know unless you see the credits and listings at the end of an episode which I don’t on a lot of occasions. I often wonder how many social ideals are engineered into dramas along with the advertising and how many political points. By the time I had finished watching ‘Dr. Champ’ i was able to say ‘Korean beef/pork is better than foreign beef/pork, its more tender and has a better flavour, Its cheaper too, and better for the economy’  I swear every character said at least once in the drama that as they were always sitting down to eat meat. as soon as anyone commented on how nice the meat was the cook would say ‘that’s because I use domestic… etc etc’

Hello! I’ve actually replied to this via your formspring but i’ve checked that and i’m going to assume that your not active on that so i thought i’d take the opportunity to talk to you here instead after the last CF post. When i just read your comment i sat with a dopey grin on my face thinking “Yes, someone gets it!” I checked out the Banjun dramas after you mentioned it and found out Rain was in one of the episodes…  at pizza hut XD lol :D 

“ I often wonder how many social ideals are engineered into dramas along with the advertising and how many political points.” You could not have put together a sentence any more perfect. Considering the dramas are created for Koreans first and foremost it’s primarily going to have Korean social values and their politics. I think that’s amazing that they had that ‘meat one liner’ so often in that drama, whether it was part of the storyline or if there was a meat brand sponsor i don’t know but it’s abit condescending. Which sorts of challenges that if they know they have an audience outside of Korea, would they be deliberately saying that line? I guess they are taking advantaged of the Korean wave, i mean i bet their tourism is booming but that’s because kpop fans have perceived Korea to be this euphoria. ANYWHO, there are so many gender stereotypes and Korean ideals in dramas it drives me nuts sometimes (in a good analytical though provoking way lol). There is an obvious inequality value that still exists in korea especially since it’s represented in the media. I mean the latest was Hyuna with her banned bubble pop dance for being sexually provocative but it’s socially acceptable for men to walk around half naked. I’m rambling on aswell! Perhaps i should make an actual post instead of rambling to you (sorry :D). 

Anywho, please continue to write your comments, i really appreciate your opinion because they’re really rich and thought provoking. Not only that i don’t know everything and it’s great to get some perspective. Thanks heaps :D (I hope you don’t mind me reblogging.)

saharial:

kpoprealitycheck:

Continuation of Visual Analysis from Part 2.

Above: Choi Ji Woo as the snow queen. However the shape of the unfinished circle reminds me OF THIS ……

I’m one of the weird  people that don’t get affected by CF like this at all. Maybe because I don’t find Song Seung Hun attractive? ahaha. Actually I think that the CF is aimed more at Japanese audiences as the stars they use are very popular there, especially with the demographics who can afford to buy luxury goods. Most drama and music fans of those stars who are  outside of Asia are more likely to be in education still and do not have the money power for that. Star goods like photo albums, t-shirts etc are aimed at the teen/20+ market and Lotte seem to sponsor a  lot of dramas too i bet and possibly aim the food angle at the younger audiences.

(i’ve only just had my morning coffee so am a bit rambly)

Hello! You are quickly becoming one of my favourite followers, i love comments and discussion :) Personally i think we are all influenced by media and advertising even if we don’t think we are. I don’t have alot of knowledge on japanese pop culture since i’m not into it but i think you made such a great valid point about the target audience. I completely agree about the luxury goods aimed at those with a high disposable income whereas the less expensive goods such as food (CHOCO PIE YUM:D) is aimed the younger audience since they cannot afford it. That’s awesome that you’ve noticed that, i just sort of bypassed. I think that this CF is still at some extent aimed at a young target audience to create a relationship with the consumer and the brand name which is brand loyalty so that when the audience grows up and becomes apart of a different demographic they will remember the connotations of the kpop euphoria and be influenced by where they shop. Also you are not rambly, you are great :D and i love your opinion :D